Do I need a Grounding Plate???????

[mick1973]

Hi everybody, I'm renovating my 1990 Intrepid 30'. Basically I'm just replacing everything and I've notived that there is a bronze ground plate located in the bilge area. when I bought the boat 9 years ago the plate was'nt connected to any thing and I'm wondering if I can, safely, do without a grounding plate. I read somewhere that in the event of a lightning strike these plates can explode and leave a hole in the boats hull.


The boat will be powered by twin fourstroke 250hp engines and initially or eventually will have the following accessories:
VHF
Stereo
GPS/Fishfinder
Trim tabs
Jack Plates
2 3700gph bilge pumps
Fresh water pump
Salt water pump
Bait pump
Standard lighting

 

[Boatist]

Re: Do I need a Grounding Plate???????

Are you sure it is a grounding plate or could it be a heat exchanger for fresh water cooling.

Normally only need a grounding plate if you are a Ham or useing the HF Marine band. You do not need it for VHF radio as all I have seen do not need a ground plate.

Lighting I have no idea.