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04-18-2018, 11:27 PM
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#1
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Member
City: San Diego
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 15
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Bonding and wooden boats
Folks,
What is the collected wisdom on bonding systems for wooden boats? I've heard much contradictory advice, but it's leaning about 60/40 toward NOT bonding, due to the galvanic damage it can cause to wood if any stray voltage gets into the bonding system.
I just replaced/upgraded my galvanic isolator on the shorepower system, but I'm considering stripping out the bonding system on my 45-year old wooden trawler. During a recent haulout, I did see some evidence of wood damage around through hulls.
Thanks!
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04-19-2018, 09:14 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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Sorry, but if your boat is 45 years old and you are just now seeing “some evidence” of damage, the system works.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
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04-19-2018, 11:19 AM
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#3
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Newbie
City: Camden
Vessel Name: Retriever
Vessel Model: Gus Skoog Lobsterboat
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2
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Do not assume "the system works" unless the system is tested. The resistance between bonded items must not exceed 1 ohm. The bonding system needs to be free from corrosion on terminals and good solid connections in order for the system to work properly otherwise damage as you describe may result. Bonding systems are often neglected.
The "do not bond a wooden boat" camp wins hands down in most Maine harbors.
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04-19-2018, 08:08 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
City: New Rochelle, NY
Vessel Name: Jerry Land
Vessel Model: Grand Banks/Alaskan
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 253
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We are not bonded for over 40 years
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04-19-2018, 09:52 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Between Oregon and Alaska
Vessel Name: Charlie Harper
Vessel Model: Wheeler Shipyard 83'
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,021
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My current wood boat has a copper plated bottom, bonding everything together. Most of the thru hulls/seacocks are from 1942 and still in excellent shape.
I've always use bonding going back to the early 1960s. I normally run a heavy brass solid wire on top of the keelson with similar wires coming from each bonded item. When I do the bonding, I weld the connections to avoid future corrosion. Usually each metal item is bonded and protected by a zinc, including any struts, rudders, shafts, props, and shaft housing. I also have brass brushes that runs on the shafts. I've never had a problem.
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04-19-2018, 11:27 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: LaConner
Vessel Model: 34' CHB
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,257
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In nearly 30 years of shipwright work in the NW, I have seen way more damage done by bonding than not. Done properly its fine, overdone and damage will happen.
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04-20-2018, 10:22 PM
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#7
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Member
City: San Diego
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xsbank
Sorry, but if your boat is 45 years old and you are just now seeing “some evidence” of damage, the system works.
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Damage is relatively recent and rapid, so I think I have a ground problem. However, the bonding system would seem to serve as the conduit for the electrical ground.
I'm leaning toward removing most of the bonding system. I do have an ElectroGuard system, which seems a pretty elegant solution for shaft protection. I'm considering also keeping the rudders and struts bonded also.
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04-30-2018, 12:42 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Seaford Va on Poquoson River, VA
Vessel Name: Old Glory
Vessel Model: 1970 Egg Harbor 37 extended salon model
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,264
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I disconnected all bond wires to through hulls only. I left the rudders bonded. And the metal fuel tanks need to remain bonded. Same wire runs from tanks to shaft log on my boat, I left that.
The only damage since 1970 was several through hull holes in the wood had been partially eaten. I came out to boat back in 2000 and heard lots of water gushing in and the pumps running. A backing block had disintegrated on an engine through hull, and the scoop had fallen down 3/4 into the water, so all round the pipe, water was rushing in. Had to haul out and fix it. The wood was crumbly and channeled round the thru hull. I wire brushed it clean to solid wood and epoxied in a piece and on the inside a solid block attached. Then I moved the through hull to a better spot.
Boat needed a haul out anyway and that was the first haul with me as the owner. Since I sealed the wood hull, I have had no problems at all with through hulls and the wood.
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