I did not measure the bolt size when I was on the boat and I was not sure if it 
was some unusual tread type.  Dave

Dr. David Knecht
Professor, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology 
University of Connecticut       
91 N. Eagleville Rd.
U-3125
Storrs, CT 06269-3125
860-486-2200

> On Jun 28, 2019, at 11:23 AM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List 
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> I don't know what size you are looking for but I whimsically found a 316 SS 
> 1-1/4" on McMaster-Carr for ~$11.
> 
> Josh Muckley 
> S/V Sea Hawk 
> 1989 C&C 37+
> Solomons, MD 
> 
> On Fri, Jun 28, 2019, 10:38 AM David Knecht via CnC-List 
> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
> That sounds like my setup. I saw a small wire extending underneath the keel 
> bolt washer and could not believe that was the connection since it was about 
> 6 AWG on the wire to the step and 14 AWG at the washer.  Not sure how it gets 
> from 6 AWG to that thin wire yet.  Anyway, I like the tapped aluminum plate 
> idea, but I was hoping to not have to remove the keel bolt nut since they 
> were recently torqued and I don’t have a torque wrench to re-tighten.  That 
> is why I thought it would be easier to put a second nut on top and tighten 
> the nut onto the plate.  I can get that tight enough with a pipe or 
> adjustable wrench.    I am not sure which is cheaper/easier; renting/buying a 
> torque wrench or buying a second nut, but if I can find a nut, that seems 
> like a simple solution.  Anyone know of a source?  Dave
> 
> S/V Aries
> 1990 C&C 34+
> New London, CT
> 
> <pastedGraphic.tiff>
> 
>> On Jun 27, 2019, at 9:54 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List 
>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>> 
>> Mine was like Chuck's.  
>> 
>> I found the wire to be shockingly small and  the copper terminals heavily 
>> corroded and poorly terminated.  If relatively low voltage and current was 
>> able to attach the 1/4-20 bolt to the washer I figure that the current and 
>> voltage of lightning will probably be enough to detach the bolt.  I made a 
>> failed attempt to drill and tap the keel bolt.  By failed I mean that the 
>> tap must not have been cutting square in the hole and I ultimately ended up 
>> breaking the tap after successfully cutting threads about 1/2 inch deep.  
>> The hardened steel of the tap was impossible to drill or extract.  This 
>> would have been the absolute best method had it cut square and not broken.  
>> I still recommend it.  BTW I was planning for a 3/4 inch long by 3/8ths SS 
>> bolt for anchoring the wiring terminal to the keel bolt.
>> 
>> Instead of bolting directly to the keel bolt I ended up making a ground 
>> plate out of 3/16th thick plate aluminum.  I cut a hole big enough for a 
>> keel bolt.  I left a tang of metal extending out to the side.  In this tang 
>> I drilled and tapped an hole for the 3/8ths bolt.  I locked the bolt in 
>> place with a nut and then sandwiched the ground wire terminal between the 
>> nut another.
>> 
>> My mast end of the wire just terminated at the metal step - again poorly 
>> with no real attachment to the mast.  Instead I reassembled with a 3/8ths 
>> bolt through the mast to act as a stud and then used a nut and washer to 
>> hold the new ground wire terminal.
>> 
>> Josh Muckley 
>> S/V Sea Hawk 
>> 1989 C&C 37+
>> Solomons, MD 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Jun 27, 2019, 6:17 PM CHARLES SCHEAFFER via CnC-List 
>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>> David,
>> 
>> Find the other end under the mast step. 
>> 
>> If it's like mine, there is a large washer under a keel nut with a 1/4" x 20 
>> stud welded to it, and the ground wire which is simply a foot long battery 
>> cable with eyes crimped on each end is fastened to the bolt. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> CS
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On June 27, 2019 at 4:49 PM David Knecht via CnC-List 
>>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: 
>>> 
>>> I need to replace my mast grounding wire with 4 AWG (according to my 
>>> surveyor).  It appears to connect at one end to the aluminum base plate of 
>>> the mast and that nut is accessible and a new cable can be attached with a 
>>> lug.  I have not yet found the other end. Could it be under the keel bolt? 
>>> I have been thinking of ways to attach to a keel bolt.  The easiest would 
>>> be if I could put a large enough lug on the end to go over a keel bolt and 
>>> then put another nut on top.  I have not found a lug that large so this may 
>>> be moot.  Can you buy a keel bolt nut?  Anyone know the spec or a source?   
>>> Could I trap a large lug between the existing keel nut and a second one?  
>>> An earlier thread discussed using braided copper instead but that appear to 
>>> contradict ABYC standards.  Any suggestions on the best/easiest way to do 
>>> this?  Thanks- Dave
>>> 
>>> S/V Aries
>>> 1990 C&C 34+
>>> New London, CT
>>> 
>>> <pastedGraphic.tiff>
>>> 
>> 
>>  
>> 
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