Rodger,
The risk is electrical corrosion and the generation of stray currents.
Although it is also important in a car, it is more important on a boat in
salt water, as salt water is an incredibly good electrolyte. Each electric
consumer must have its own return path. Never use a bond for a return path.
In fact, bonds should be avoided if at all possible, because bonds can act
like antennas. Your goal is to create circuits only where there is a
consumer. Stray currents cause corrosion and wood rot. Stray currents can be
caused by a multitude of things, like dissimilar metals (electrolysis), auto
transformer action from RF emissions and safety earth connections to shore
power. Sources of stray currents are notoriously difficult to detect, let
alone find. We use sacrificial anodes to fight against electric corrosion,
but they are a Band-Aid, not a cure. How often have we seen bronze
propellers wear out, but we know that if we take the same propeller and toss
it into the ocean for a hundred years it will reemerge as pristine as when
it was tossed. If you violate the rules, be prepared for the consequences.
Steve

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Well, excuuuse me.

Please, tell me the risks.

--

Roger Long



"Steve Lusardi" wrote in message
...
Rodger,
You didn't ask a question. You made a statement. Unless your question was
"Why should I not be considered stupid because I knowingly violated code
without understanding the engineering behind the code?" If that, in fact
is your intention, I'll leave my opinion unstated. If you would ask what
the risks are, I would tell you.
Steve