Sunlight 30 engine earth braid

[artyman]

Hi all,

The earth braid (about 5 feet long)which connects the engine to the top of the P bracket inside the engine compartment, has disintegrated since new 24 years ago.

The braid went into the fibre glass pile/lump above the P bracket but I can't see how it was attached.

I've filed some of the glass pile above the P bracket but haven't come to metal yet.

Do I keep going, or drill down or what do you suggest.......

There's another earth point in the bilges along side the chart table so I am assuming the 2 points are both necessary??

£5 to the lifeboats for the best answer which works for me.

Dorset Bob

[MalcolmP]

I stand to be corrected, but I don't think that all Jeanneau P brackets have this braid anyway. If your p bracket does not appear to have any significant dezincification and is generally in good condition, you may well be able to forget about trying to reconnect. If the braid had disintegrated some years ago effectively you would not have any bonding to the bracket anyway

Is the secondary point you mention connected to a skin fitting or what? In any case the P bracket will be pretty isolated, although some cutless bearing can have carbon rubber which may allow some connectivity back via the shaft

Malcolm

[artyman]

Hi Malcolm,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Before I started this little job the 5 foot earth braid was in one piece but on its last legs and it protruded from the fibre glass above the P bracket. I have assumed that Jeanneau wouldn't bond it into the (unconductive?)fibre glass above the P bracket so (once again) I have assumed that there is a conductive earth point somewhere in the P bracket fibre glass stack.

I'm off to the boat shortly, will reinspect the area and report back perhaps with some images.

The other earth point (in the bilges)next to the chart table is a through hull fitting and could easily have the engine earth braid attached to it, if required.

So, the 5 foot earth braid connection point remains a mini mystery...

Bob

[Trevor]

The age old argument of bonding is a complex one. To bond or not to bond..that is the question. I am not in favour of bonding anything that exisits in isolation. I figure no galvanic current can flow when no conductive path exists. Others may advocate that you are best to bond all underwater metal so that they are all protected by the sacrifical anode.

Clearly it seems that Jeanneau in general do not bond as through hulls on new boats are not bonded.   The water inlet for the engine may benefit from bonding because a path may exist anyway through the salt water inlet pipe.

I figure the bonding of the P bracket may make sense as it would then be at the same potential as the prop shaft and propellor which means it will get the same protection from the propeller anode as the shaft and prop.

Good luck and let's know what you decide.

Regards,

Trevor
SV Sapphire