Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Hookup for Electric start on aluminum boat › Re: Hookup for Electric start on aluminum boat
Even here in salt water areas, negative ground engines on aluminum boats are the norm. The only time you see any problem is when there is no proper anode; and even then, you get corrosion from dissimilar metals, not the battery. Or, UNLESS there is a wiring PROBLEM, such as a positive cable with bad insulation, sitting in bilge water. The constant feed wire to a bilge pump’s automatic float switch, with the inevitable 65 repair butt connections, is a prime example to be aware of.
Regarding Gary’s story, this is more common than you think. Go to any large boat yard or Marina and observe all the shore cords dangling in the water. That’s fine as long as the insulation is good……but who wants to take that chance? Also, there is no shortage of DIY guys and professional hacks, that should not be messing with 120/240 voltage on a boat. There is no way in a million years that I would swim among boats at a marina.
Long live American manufacturing!