Chain plates

[rjbaren]

I have decided to re-bed my chain plates in case they are the culprits of the many leaks that plague my boat. After removing the covers I see the plates are set in a block of fiberglass. It looks as though the plate is sitting vertically in a rectangular block. The only re-bedding was to re-caulk the teak deck around the fiberglass blocks that the chain plates are in. If the chain plates ever needed to be replaced I would have no idea how to go about it. Is it a good or bad thing to have the chain plates set in the fiberglass in this manner. The boat is a Cheoy Lee Pedrick 1983.

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
Pardon the alarming heading. More exclamation points than absolutely necessary. But what you are describing is the single most likely cause of a dismasting in a sailboat rig. The fact that you have had leaks only amplifies the likelihood; it is almost certain that a good bit of that water has made its way into the pocket that the chainplate is sitting in, and the metal has been merrily crevice-corroding away for a long time. How close to failure do you think it might be? Oh, and there are other things that kill chainplates, like salt, fatigue, and less-than-optimal alloys. All of those have been at work for the past 30 years, too. There is basically no way that these chainplates can be considered trustworthy.
It will be difficult to address this problem. You might be able to bypass the current location and install new chainplates. You might be able to carve away the existing setup and install something rational. But it is clear that you need to do something. Soon.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[rjbaren]

Thanks for the warning. The boat is in now in Fresh water and has been hauled for the season. I took photos but I don't know how to post them. It doesn't appear as any water has leaked near the chain plates. I have a few deck leaks that I want to stop and the chain plates seemed to be a good place to try next. I have done most of the toe rail screws, stanchions, hatches but there are still some little puddles I find in the bilges. I am not sure where it is leaking. Maybe the jib car track.
There is no rust on the chain plates, they are very clean. I can see one side of the lower shrouds bolted below deck and it too looks fine and dry. The chain plates seem to be embedded in fiber glass as I said, and there is no gap between the fiberglass blocks and the plates themselves is very very tight. I can't slip anything in there as there is no space. I don't think water is getting in there. I think it may be the caulk joint in the teak deck surrounding the fiberglass blocks. The areas that have sealer or caulk are the grooves between the deck that surround the blocks of fiberglass. There is about a 1/2 to 3/4 on an inch of fiberglass between the deck joints and the chain plates.
Any way I can attach a photo?

Thanks.

[Douglas]

I concur with Brion's wise words of wisdom .

Some books that I have read in the past , say to "never" pot SS especially when used in or around salt water .

This holds true with fiberglass rudders that have SS shafts potted in them .

Another SS potted problem occurs when boat builders embed SS lower bobstay chainplates inside the stem head .

As a safety measure , Marine Surveyors recommend to replace all SS structural fittings after 10 years exposure to a salt water environment .