Aluminum Hull Grounding Question

[elengineerio]

Should the aluminum hull be grounded to the negative battery terminal or is this a dumb question because the outboard engine automatically grounds it through the mounting bolts of the engine. Am I overthinking it to worry about electrolysis affecting boat components?

 

[richw46]

My long gone Starcraft wasn't grounded to the negative post. There weren't many electrical components on it but I did add a flasher and just ran wires back to the battery. Bow and stern lights were double wire. The engine, like you said, had its ground at the battery negative and sacrificial anodes on it. I don't think there's any need to add a ground from the battery to the hull.

 

[jbcurt00]

Never ground to an aluminum boat, the current will devour the aluminum

 

[Scott Danforth]

^+1.... Never use an aluminum hull as ground

 

[mike_i]

Agree with the above, not a good idea.

 

[dingbat]

Should the aluminum hull be grounded to the negative battery terminal or is this a dumb question because the outboard engine automatically grounds it through the mounting bolts of the engine. Am I overthinking it to worry about electrolysis affecting boat components?

In reality, the motor and the power distribution circuits should be completely isolated from the hull.

If you have continuity between either your in for problems down the road