Fuel filler grounding/bonding

[BrentwoodBayliner]

One of my motors is out of the boat for repair, revealing a grounding wire I see dangling from the metal fuel filler neck, unconnected.

I know it needs to be connected to something.. but what? The fuel tank? The boat's ground? The boat's bonding system? All three?

The boat is a gas-powered 1981 Bayliner 3270 which originally came with two (problematic) aluminum tanks. They have both been replaced with Moeller poly tanks.

So.. if the fuel tanks are not metal, does the filler neck even need to be electrically connected to anything..?

Thanks for your help!

 

[psneeld]

Grounding system.

Yes, connect the fill if it is metal...it's to carry away any static built up on fuel hose nozzle or your fuel fill.

 

[rslifkin]

With poly tanks, it should connect to the boat's bonding system. On my gas boat with aluminum tanks, the tanks are bonded, and then the fuel fills are bonded to the tanks.

 

[Fleming]

To further clarify, the boats bonding system and grounding system both connect at some point to the DC- terminal of the batteries. You need to see <1 ohm resistance between the fuel fill and tank (if it's metal) and the negative battery terminal for the reason psneeld mentioned above. It's a USCG requirement.

 

[C lectric]

I too will chime in that YES the metal of the filler port needs to be grounded to prevent static charges from building up.
Actual fuel flow through the filler hose could cause static buildup.

GROUND IT.

 

[BrentwoodBayliner]

Will do! Thanks for the input everyone!