2004 342 Fuel Tank Grounding

kingsqueen

During a recent survey to sell my 342 Fiesta Vee he said I need to ground my fuel tanks. The buyer wants me to take care of this prior to signing paperwork.
Why wouldn't they be grounded from factory. These are original tank. Does anyone know where tanks are located and. How to ground these?
Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Stodge

They are not easily accessible.  I'd be interested to know how exactly the surveyor came up with that observation.    Might be worth asking them.

Handymans342

They have to be grounded for the gauge to work

Stodge

Hmmm, could the sender be grounded without the tank being grounded?

Handymans342

No, the sender is only one wire which carries no voltage and only resistance. A sending unit is a variable resistor. Usually the ground wire is connected to a screw that holds the sending unit to the tank.

Stodge

Makes sense but I wasn't 100% sure that was the case.  Makes me more confused by the comment from the surveyor about grounding the fuel tanks.

wm61356

The surveyor may be referring to the practice of "grounding or bonding" to prevent a static spark form occurring when fuel is being added to the tank. This is done by  attaching a ground wire or strap from the tank to the fill connection to prevent an electrical arc when the fueling nozzle is inserted.

randy56

I didn't think you could see the tanks in a 342 ? did he ?

Handymans342

Doubt he did

Black_Diamond

Really hard to see the tanks, the starboard one being extremely hard to see. 

Liberty44140

Since none of these boats came from the factory with a separate ground from the tank to the fill I would ask for documentation as to why this boat is an exception. Can the surveyor document that sea ray, Larson, crown line, regal or any production builder does this? 

Handymans342

I was right again.

raybo3

Handymans342 said:

I was right again.

Oh Good God..............

Stodge

Didn't know we were keeping score.  I better start answering questions correctly.  

Handymans342

LOL

LaRea

@kingsqueen - what exactly did the report say?  Fuel tanks are always bonded.  It would be extremely unusual for yours not to be bonded - as in, somebody would have to physically disconnect the bonding wires.