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Gas Tank Ground for 56 17 ft Sportsman

Your old Chris-Craft electrical system can be a challenge. If it runs on "juice" pose your questions and offer your advice here.

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Jim Godlewski
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Gas Tank Ground for 56 17 ft Sportsman

Post by Jim Godlewski » Sun Apr 25, 2010 6:58 pm

Hello All,
After reading posts here, I think we are going with rubber fuel line instead of copper. Although I am considering copper for the fuel vent line. I plan on adding a fuel separating fuel filter as well.
I read the original copper fuel line served as a fuel tank ground. Removing this leaves the tank ungrounded. Right? How do I add a ground to the original fuel tank? Is this mandatory? I do not see any tabs or anything that would lend a wire attachment.
Thanks.
Jim

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1956 17 Sportsman CC-17-2310
1930 Model 100 7152

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Al Benton
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Post by Al Benton » Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:32 pm

Jim,

The metal tank should be grounded. I've heard that filling can build up a static charge in the tank. If not grounded it could discharge through the filler nozzle and cause a spark.

The filler tubes on my Connie have a rubber extension up to the fuel inlet. There's a band clamp on the metal tubes with a wire connector attached and a ground wire connecting them together. That may work on your riser tube. Run the ground wire up to the grounding terminal on the engine block.

Al

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evansjw44
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Ground

Post by evansjw44 » Mon Apr 26, 2010 10:03 am

You absolutely need to ground the fuel tank. And yes, the copper fuel line was the ground conductor. New tanks have a ground tab welded on to them. You might use a #10 awg stranded conductor, bared and slipped under a stainless hose clamp around the fill pipe near the tank. A coating of connection grease would be good here as you have some dis-similar metals you want to keep dry. If you have a lip around the edge of the tank end seam you might find a clamping detail at a good electrical supply store that can be affixed to the lip to which you can connect the gound wire.
Jim Evans

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Re: Gas Tank Ground for 56 17 ft Sportsman

Post by Jackson Cove » Sun Jun 15, 2014 10:44 am

I was reading thru this post as am doing ssimilar to my 17ft CC Deluxe Utility. My tank is Al and was built in mid 90s. to be USCG compliant I had 1/4 turn valve in bottom of tank removed/patched. Also added a 1/2" MNPT fitting on top of tank adjacent to dip tube fitting. Dip tube has CG Approved 1/4 turn valve and anti syphon device. Using A1-15 Flex hose to engine. For vent I will use A2 flex to transom fitting. Yet to be installed. For ground I used a brass T in the tank vent fitting. One side of the T will go to vent. The other is plugged but I added a 1/4" dia threaded bronze bolt, soldered into the plug, to attach a ground wire.
Others were interested in the tank mounting. Rather than using a strap lagged into the tank support, I used AL straps bent as original and used SS turnbuckles fastened to teh engine stringers. Seems to be a more secure and functional method than original.
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