Testing for a short through hull?

[Grant Brown]

Is there any way to test to see if my hull is grounded? My 19.5 foot Spectrum has a significant amount of corrosion. I am concerned that the battery might be grounded somewhere or possibly a short. The wiring harness was hacked up pretty good by the previous owner (splices and taps everywhere, accessories & lights powered by speaker wire) and the nav lights currently don't work and appear to be shorted out somewhere.
How should I test for current through the hull?

Grant

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Testing for a short through hull?

Use an ohm meter and touch one probe to the negative terminal of the battery and the other to the hull. Whether you like it or not, you will see continuity because the negative battery cable connects to the engine block and the engine is bolted to the transom so the hull is grounded. If the boat is in the water most of the time and you are using shore power for battery charging or other purposes, that may be the source of the problem.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: Testing for a short through hull?

So continuity is not really a problem unless there is current flowing through it? In my case it may be the lights shorting to ground.
If I put an ammeter between the hull and the battery ground there should be nothing right?

Grant