Grounding wire to a keel bolt

[SL91First310]

I am trying to find out what exactly the wire connected (or was
connected, it broke) to the most aft keel bolt is meant for. All the
keel bolts seem to be in great condition, but this one that had a
ground wire connected, did have a little rust on it. How important is
it that I replace the wire that was grounded to this keel bolt. It was
a wide, thin wire without any covering. Is it used to help keep the
bolt from rusting? I am going to trace it out and see where it goes.

Thanks,
Stephen
Beneteau First 310

[Bill Jarvis]

Stephen,

Beneteau usually has a wide thin braided cable connecting the rig to the
keel for lightning protection. You might want to check the lowest parts of
the shrouds inside the boat. That may be the other end you are looking for.
They may have a thing like a diode in series with the wire.

Bill

[Randy Rohrbeck]

Stephen,

Bill's right, the other end is behind the middle of the port settee.

Randy

[SL91First310]

Thanks!

[Larry Robin (DB)]

If it was like mine it is the ground wire from the standing rigging. It was connected to the chain plate for the shrouds. Mine was flat woven copper and was corroded to the point of falling apart. I replaced it with a length of marine battery cable with crimped on lug fittings.

Larry C'est Moi! F310

[Uwe Mewes]

I have what looks like a "In-line fuse" in addition. It's not just a one
piece ground wire.

Uwe Mewes
F305
Heaven Can Wait

[SL91First310]

Yes, you guys where right on, I traced it back and found it connected
to the bottom of the shrods.. There is a fuse or a diode connection
right near the shrods...It was right behing the middle port settee. I
just need to find something to replace the braided cable from the keel
bolt to the fuse...Thanks...

[erics...@charter.net]

I believe that's a spark gap, kind of the reverse of a fuse. It should
be open, which normally prevents an electrical connection between the
mast/rigging and the keel. However, lightning easily jumps the gap, so
it effectively grounds the rig during a lightning strike. That's what
in my F285. There are other devices which serve the same purpose.

[Larry Cohan]

SL91First310 wrote:

>I just need to find something to replace the braided cable from the keel
>bolt to the fuse.
>
>

Having been hit by lightning with no hull damage, I strongly suggest
that you replace it with the same braided cable. Talk to Ward
Richardson at Beneteau and I'm sure he'll help you find it. Don't mess
with some Harry Homeowner substitute ... your life may depend on it.

Larry Cohan

[Larry Robin (DB)]

Mine has that too. As someone mentioned it was set up for lightning protection. It is not a fuse, but I'm not sure what is called. I believe it prevents the standing rigging from being grounded all the time and will allow a large charge to jump the gap. I just needed to replace the cable from the keel bolt to "in-line" thing-a-ma-bob".

[SYNERGY]

I measured the length and went to an electrical distributor in the
area. Bought the same lightning ground wire used on homes and two lug
connectors. A lot less expensive. I assume that the type of lightning
that strikes boats is the same kind that strikes houses.

RON
SYNERGY
NOANK

[Denny Wertheimer]

No NO NO. the lightning that strikes a boat is totaly different . If it is for a boat it must be more expensive. haha

Denny Wertheimer

s/v Breeze Pleeze 42CC
314-330-5001

[Dl...@aol.com]

In a message dated 01/02/2006 01:59:16 GMT Standard Time, denny.we...@sbcglobal.net writes:

No NO NO. the lightning that strikes a boat is totaly different . If it is for a boat it must be more expensive. haha

i don't believe that i typed exactly the same message almost word for word - but hit the delete button rather than the send button - as i thought that was a silly but very true response.

 

are you psychic too :-)

 

regards

 

David