CAUTION: Before turning on the hot water heater insure that the tank is
full of water. Permanent damage will result from operating the heater
with an empty or partially full tank. To check that it is full, simply
open the hot water tap on the pressure water system and watch for
continuous water flow.
On each Cape Dory that has been fitted out with a factory installed 110
volt AC system we have included or added a #8 green coated copper wire
as a ground. This wire is led from the common AC ground to the engine
and is in turn tied into the boat's ground system.
This ground cable is a safety feature installed to avoid serious
electrical shock hazards should a connection to a faulty dockside power
source be made.
Under no circumstances should this cable be disconnected irrespective of
claims that a certain amount of electrolysis could be created by the
addition of this wire.
BONDING SYSTEM
All thru hull sand seacocks below the waterline, including the stern
tube, are connected to one another, to the engine block and to the
external ground plate with a continuous loop of #8 copper wire. This is
done to minimize the effects of electrolysis should one fitting become
"hot" for any reason. Generally, a fiberglass hull is considered to be
non-conducting and as such the chance of stray electrical currents
forming is minimal. (Bonding system is standard on all diesel equipped
Cape Dorys.)
As more and more electrical equipment is added to a boat, it becomes
increasingly important to be alert TO THE THREAT OF ELECTROLYSIS. We
recognize that there are various types of instrumentation available to
further monitor strong currents and any potential difference between
ground and the thru hulls. These instruments can all be added to the
supplied ground wire system.
LIGHTNING GROUND SYSTEM
Your Cape Dory is equipped with a lightning ground system installed in
accordance with the American Boating and Yacht Council (A.B.Y.C.)
specifications. Every shroud and stay 1s connected to an external
ground plate by a #8 a.w.g. stranded copper wire. Other equipment
requiring bonding include the engine, fuel tank, mast step and fuel fill
cap. Within practical working restraints, the wires are lead directly to
the ground plate.
While no one can predict how lightning will react when it hits a spar,
we know from actual experience that this system offers added protection.
During a lightning storm refrain from touching any metal objects such as
shrouds, mast, stanchions, pulpit, etc., as these may attract lightning.
www.capedory.org - 32 -
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