Derik
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2018
- Messages
- 160
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Pearl Grace
- Vessel Make
- Marine Trader/Sun Deck 44
In the middle of October I bought a 1985 43' Marine Trader Sundeck. During the survey we noticed it had bonding wires from each thru hull valve and to various other components (swim steps rudder bolts). It however didn't have a main zinc off the transom but instead simply had everything grounded to the bots motors. Several of the bonding wires were broken or detached but everything looked good as far as component corrosion only the rear rudder bolts appeared to be corroding.
Upon further inspection the rudder bolts were bonded to the bronze interior rudder struts thus they were corroding.
I have had two Marine Electricians look at it. One said either disconnect everything or attach everything again but no main transom zinc is needed.
The other said either re attach everything again and install a transom zinc with buss bar and run everything to it rather than the engines or disconnect everything and for sure don't have bonding from a bronze strut to a stainless rudder bolt or bolts. This guy put something in the water and did a reading on each engine which showed it was within the criteria for current/corrosion.
I am cutting the connection from the stainless bolts to the bronze immediately but wanted your advice on bonding or not bonding the thru hulls valves.
Leaving them as is or installing a central zinc on the transom.
I am leaning towards cutting everything to the valves and stainless bolts and going the non bonding route since the boat is in good shape and not corroded other than those few strut bolts which have minimal corrosion.
Upon further inspection the rudder bolts were bonded to the bronze interior rudder struts thus they were corroding.
I have had two Marine Electricians look at it. One said either disconnect everything or attach everything again but no main transom zinc is needed.
The other said either re attach everything again and install a transom zinc with buss bar and run everything to it rather than the engines or disconnect everything and for sure don't have bonding from a bronze strut to a stainless rudder bolt or bolts. This guy put something in the water and did a reading on each engine which showed it was within the criteria for current/corrosion.
I am cutting the connection from the stainless bolts to the bronze immediately but wanted your advice on bonding or not bonding the thru hulls valves.
Leaving them as is or installing a central zinc on the transom.
I am leaning towards cutting everything to the valves and stainless bolts and going the non bonding route since the boat is in good shape and not corroded other than those few strut bolts which have minimal corrosion.