Bonding & Grounding for Metal Docks in Naples | CoHarbor Electric

Bonding & Grounding for Metal Docks in Naples

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — electricity and water don’t mix. But what a lot of folks don’t realize is that metal and water can be just as dangerous when the electrical system around it isn’t bonded and grounded the right way.

Here in Naples, metal docks, lifts, and seawall structures are common. They’re sturdy, they look sharp, and they hold up to the elements. But they also become part of the electrical system whether you mean them to or not. If something goes wrong — even a small wiring fault — that metal frame can turn into a conductor. That’s where proper bonding and grounding make all the difference between a safe dock and a deadly one.

At Coharbor Electric, we’ve inspected and repaired dozens of dock systems that were wired well but bonded wrong — or not at all. Sometimes everything seems fine until one day, someone feels that “tingle” climbing a ladder or walking barefoot on a wet deck. That’s the warning sign you never want to ignore.

So, let’s talk about how bonding and grounding work, why they matter so much on metal docks, and what we do to make sure every waterfront system in Naples is truly safe — not just “working.”

Bonding vs. Grounding — What’s the Difference?

People often use these two words interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing.

Grounding means creating a direct, low-resistance path to earth. It gives stray current somewhere safe to go.

Bonding means connecting all metal parts together — the dock frame, lift arms, motors, panels — so everything stays at the same electrical potential. That way, even if a fault happens, you can’t have voltage differences between components.

Here’s an easy way to picture it:

• Grounding = connects to earth

• Bonding = connects to each other

You need both for safety. Grounding carries fault current away. Bonding makes sure the fault trips the breaker instantly instead of energizing metal parts or leaking into the water.

Why It Matters So Much on Metal Docks

Metal docks and lifts are built strong for a reason — they take on waves, tides, salt air, and heavy boats. But that same metal, when unbonded, becomes the perfect pathway for stray electricity.

It only takes one cracked wire, one corroded connection, or one loose neutral in a lift motor to energize that entire structure. And because water conducts electricity so well, that current can leak into the water around the dock.

The result can be anything from nuisance shocks to electric shock drowning (ESD) — a silent, deadly hazard that happens when a small voltage in the water paralyzes a swimmer’s muscles. We’ve seen those news stories every summer. The scary part? It doesn’t take much. Even a few volts in the water can be enough to knock someone out.

That’s why we take bonding and grounding seriously — it’s not just “extra work,” it’s life safety.

What Proper Bonding Looks Like

When we wire or inspect a metal dock in Naples, we look at bonding as a system, not a step. Here’s what that means in real-world terms:

1. Everything Metallic Is Connected Together.
Every metal component — pilings, frames, lifts, rails, ladders, boxes, and even the boat lift motor housings — are tied together with continuous copper bonding conductors.

2. We Use Tinned Copper and Stainless Connections.
Bare copper will corrode fast in salt air. We use tinned copper bonding wire with stainless steel lugs and bolts. Every connection gets coated with corrosion inhibitor before it’s tightened.

3. We Verify Continuity.
It’s not enough to just connect everything — we test it. We check that resistance between all bonded parts is low (under one ohm). If there’s a break, that fault current might never reach the breaker.

4. All Bonding Paths Lead Back to the Panel.
Every metal part ties back to the equipment grounding bus in the main or subpanel feeding the dock. That’s where it connects to the grounding electrode system — usually a driven rod or plate on land.

This setup makes sure that if a fault happens — a wire rubs through, a motor shorts out, anything — the current has a clear path back to the breaker. That breaker trips instantly and cuts the power.

Common Problems We See in Naples Docks

We’ve worked on enough waterfront systems to recognize the patterns. Most unsafe docks weren’t installed by careless people — they were just wired before the rules got stricter or before salt exposure took its toll.

Here’s what we see most often:

• No bonding at all. We still find metal lifts and frames completely isolated from the electrical system.

• Broken or missing bonding jumpers. Corrosion eats through a lug, and suddenly the continuity is gone.

• Improper connectors. Standard copper lugs or steel bolts corrode until they’re barely holding on.

• Painted-over connections. Fresh paint looks nice but blocks conductivity.

• Loose neutrals. When neutral and ground aren’t tight or bonded properly at the panel, everything downstream is at risk.

Each of these might seem minor, but together they create perfect conditions for voltage to leak into metal or water.

Code Requirements for Dock Bonding

The 2024 National Electrical Code (NEC) has clear rules about grounding and bonding for docks, boat lifts, and other waterfront systems:

• All metal parts that aren’t supposed to carry current must be bonded together and connected to the grounding system.

• Bonding conductors must be copper (tinned preferred in marine areas) and at least #8 AWG.

• Boat lift motors must have an equipment grounding conductor running back to the panel.

• Panels and disconnects near the dock must have a continuous grounding path.

• GFCI or GFPE protection is required on all 15A to 100A circuits feeding docks.

It’s a lot of fine print, but all of it exists for one reason: safety near water.

What Happens When Grounding Fails

A few years back, we were called to a Naples property where the homeowner said he got “a shock” climbing his dock ladder after a storm.

When we tested it, we found 14 volts between the ladder and the water. That might not sound like much, but it’s enough to cause muscle paralysis if someone were swimming nearby.

The cause? The lift’s grounding conductor had corroded through inside the conduit. The dock’s frame wasn’t bonded to the subpanel ground. When the lift motor faulted, the current had nowhere to go but into the dock and water.

We replaced the corroded wire, added proper bonding jumpers, and installed new GFCI breakers. Problem solved — and the difference was measurable. Afterward, voltage between metal and water was zero. That’s what you want to see.

Grounding Methods That Work Near the Coast

We don’t use “cookie-cutter” methods for grounding on Naples docks. The soil, salt content, and structure type all matter. Here’s how we adapt:

• Driven ground rods when there’s enough soil onshore.

• Ground plates when space is limited or the soil’s rocky near seawalls.

• Supplemental bonding to rebar or lift anchors for extra stability in larger installations.

• Tinned copper bonding straps for flexible connections between dock sections that move with tides.

Everything gets coated with antioxidant compound before tightening, and every connection is accessible for inspection later.

Testing & Maintenance

Bonding and grounding don’t last forever — especially near saltwater. We recommend testing every dock annually.

Here’s what that looks like when we do it:

1. Visual Inspection: We check for rust, corrosion, or broken connectors.

2. Continuity Testing: We measure resistance between all bonded metal parts. Anything over one ohm means a problem.

3. Voltage Testing: We test between metal structures and the water to ensure zero potential.

4. GFCI/GFPE Testing: We confirm all safety devices trip within the right timeframe.

These tests catch small issues before they turn into safety hazards.

A Real-World Example from Naples Bay

One of our recent jobs involved a metal dock and boat lift system just off Naples Bay. The homeowner had installed new lighting and a fish-cleaning station, but after a few months, he started getting nuisance shocks near the lift.

We found the bonding wire between the lift motor and the frame completely gone — corroded to dust inside the conduit. The dock’s bonding strap was also missing on one side of the structure.

We re-bonded the entire system with tinned #8 copper, added stainless compression lugs, and verified continuity end to end. Once we retested, every voltage reading was balanced and safe.

He told us afterward, “I didn’t even know bonding was a thing.” That’s the truth for most homeowners — you don’t see it, so it’s easy to forget how important it is.

Final Thoughts

Bonding and grounding aren’t the most exciting parts of a dock project. They don’t light up or make noise. But they’re the quiet backbone that keeps everything — and everyone — safe.

Metal docks and lifts in Naples take a beating from salt, storms, and constant humidity. Without proper bonding and grounding, you’re leaving your system (and your family) at risk.

At Coharbor Electric, we design, install, and maintain marine electrical systems built for the coast — bonded, grounded, and tested right. Whether you’ve got a brand-new dock or an older setup that’s never been inspected, we’ll make sure it’s safe, compliant, and ready for years on the water.

⚡ Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule a dock bonding and grounding inspection. We’ll test every connection, verify safety protection, and make sure your system meets both code and coastal reality.