Spc337 wrote:...Any thoughts on if my existing setup is OEM designed or altered by a prior owner?
The manner of routing the bonding circuit as shown does not look like an original installation by Boston Whaler. The several images I included above show the OEM installation of the bonding conductor on the transom of several Boston Whaler boats, and as can be seen by comparing those installations to yours, there is no resemblance. On that basis I infer that the installation on your boat was likely not the original installation from Boston Whaler.
Purpose of the bonding systemSpc337 wrote:I have read that the primary purpose of the Bonding wire is to manage static electricity between the filler on the gunwale and the tank and other metal components.
The several metal components of the fuel system are usually connected by rubber hoses, which are electrical insulators. Bonding all the metal components together gets them all at the same electrical potential.
When the metal fuel nozzle of the fuel pump is brought into contact with the boat's metal fuel filler, they should both be at ground potential. By bonding the boat system to an electrode in seawater, the boat system should be at ground potential.
I have read that the flow of an insulating liquid in a pipe can create an electrical charge. This is called "flow electrification." For this reason it is a common practice in fuel systems to have an electrical bond connecting all elements of the fuel system to ground.
Grounding of the hull of a fiberglass boatSpc337 wrote:The boat is technically grounded via the outboard engine...
The "boat" in the case of a fiberglass boat is not a good electrical conductor, so the boat is not very well "grounded." But the boat 12-Volt electrical system negative circuit is usually bonded to the engine chassis. The engine has exposed electrodes in the seawater. This brings the boat 12-Volt negative circuit to "ground" or "sea" potential.
Spc337 wrote:...which stands to reason why Boston Whaler [does] not couple the bonding wire to the engine ground.
I believe that Boston Whaler DOES connect the bonding circuit to the battery negative and thus to the engine chassis in their new designs. I don't have good insight on why Boston Whaler initially kept the fuel system bonding circuit separate from the outboard engine chassis and battery negative circuit. I cannot offer any speculation about that.