Hi Justin,

My thoughts on your earthed keel...

I would deem it unnecessary although American yacht forums have shrouds, masts and keels all connected because they seem to suffer a large percentage of lighting strikes when they're out on the water but even they disagree about whether the lightning conductors should run inside the cabin or just a wire dropped over the side when sailing because of safety concerns to people and the damage the lightning strike can cause to the boat hull
Although it can happen what are the chances of a lighting strike on a boat in the UK?
Should every home in UK have a lightning rod on the roof?
Seacocks made from bronze react very little with seawater it's where two dissimilar metals connected in sea water that corrosion occurs so if you link all these different metals like aluminium, iron, steel around your boat then there's a good chance there will be a potential difference between them and sacrificial corrosion can occur.
Your engine block is 'connected' to the sea through your prop and cooling system so the zinc anode corrodes to protect the 'iron lump'
The choice is entirely up to you.

Your LB system seems fine, just remember to ensure fuse panel is not linked to engine battery when starting engine.

Stevie

Hi Justin,

Sorry for the confusion, I call both a fuse panel and refer to them as either the 230 volt or 12 volt.
I shall try to refer to the 12 volt as a switch panel if that's the correct description.
If your switch panel is connected to the engine battery then you will need to ensure that all instruments etc. are switched off before starting the engine.
When the alternator runs up it  cause spikes in the voltage/current that has the potential to damage electronic equipment, anything switched on will also be switching on and off during the starting of the engine as the battery's power is been drawn by the starter motor, whether this could cause any problems to your solar panels as you say they are connected directly to your battery I don't know?
See the thread about twin batteries and you'll understand the problems encountered.

Stevie

Hi Justin,

Read through the tread for twin batteries and forgot that you asked about switches and cables in that thread (god I'm getting senile!)
Andy has got the Blue sea switch that ensure that the switch panel electrics and engine start electrics are totally isolated from each other on engine start due to the electronic sensor controller so if you forget to switch off your sat nav, radio or lights no damage can occur.
If you have a manual switch you will have to ensure that you switch all devices off yourself before engine start so as not to risk damage to electronic equipment.


Stevie

I have never had a problem either, in only slightly less than 45 years!

Hi Stevie - certainly no storm. Discussions like this are the life blood of any web site.
Is there a parallel with one's motor car where clearly all the electronic goodies manage to survive engine starting etc?
Boatwise I am a great believer in as simple as possible so when one is well off shore & something goes wrong one has a chance of sorting it.
I am reminded of a round the world sailor in the southern ocean with a flat battery. He wound a rope round the crankshaft pulley, led it to the boom end & gybed the boat = engine started.
John