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tominny · 25-01-2014, 07:26

I am considering to replace the chainplates on my 1977 Tartan 34C. There is pitting on some where the plates leave the deck, but no cracks.

Question: Is the pitting enough of a reason to replace them?

I was just quoted $135 per chainplate. They are 3/8" thick, 1/2" wide and 12" long. And I need 5. It seems quite expensive.

Question: Does anyone know how and where to get them done cheaper?

Material: I assume it should be 316 SS and #7 polishing?

Any advice on what to request/look for would be much appreciated.

robert sailor · 25-01-2014, 07:45

Pitting on SS chain plates is not a good sign...that coupled with age makes them an excellent candidate for replacement. Any good metal shop can make them for you given the use of the originals for patterns, have them properly polished. I expect when you get away from marine shops the price will go down. You might also check with Garhauer Marine as they also make chain plates and most of their stuff is reasonably priced. Good Luck!

Rhapsody-NS27 · 25-01-2014, 08:02

Another Nor'sea owner replaced his chainplates with Garhauer. When I haul out later this year, I will be doing a refit and looking into this myself. The pictures he showed show that they did a very good job on them. May just require sending the originals so all the holes line up.

When he took the old one's off, he only saw surface rust (I think) and one ended up breaking in his hands with little effort.

On the Nor'sea, we have 9. I don't know the costs as I haven't looked into myself yet but it does add up quickly.

jcapo · 25-01-2014, 08:04

$135 may be steep depending on where you are. I paid a little less than $300 each for 6 like these. They are 1/2" 316L and longest length is about 15" with 5/8" holes. Hole pattern is different on each one. I thought it was a bargain. This was in Ft. Lauderdale in 2010.

Rhapsody-NS27 · 25-01-2014, 08:21

Here's the video the guy I mentioned did for his chainplates he had made by Garhauer.
It's 3D so you might have to adjust the video.
At 10min, you can see the one chainplate breaking. and at 15:45 when he installs them to his boat.

Chain plates / Boat Jewelry - YouTube

CDunc · 25-01-2014, 08:34

Hi Tominny, I also own a Tartan 34C. Are you sure they are 1/2 inch wide? seems like a very skinny chainplate. I am not near my boat at the moment but if memory serves they were more like 1 1/2 inches wide and flair wider at the bottom where they connect to the boat. I did a lookup on a supply site, you can get a 24" x 24" sheet of unpolished 316 S.S. for less than $600. However if you count the time to make the plates, polish and passivate I would think that the price you were quoted seems reasonable. As for the pitting I think it depends on the extent of the pitting and how deep they are, riggers use a blue dye on turnbuckles that will show hairline cracks that are invisible to the eye, I would have a good rigger survey them first. IMHO

Cavalier MK2 · 25-01-2014, 08:39

If you want to make your own chain plates use flat bar stock, not sheet, if they are straight, then you only have to cut the ends and drill the holes and polish.

Cheechako · 25-01-2014, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavalier MK2

If you want to make your own chain plates use flat bar stock, not sheet, if they are straight, then you only have to cut the ends and drill the holes and polish.

tominny · 25-01-2014, 11:17

Thank you for the comments.

CDunc: correct, they are 1 1/2 inch, my mistake

**HappyMdRSailor** · 25-01-2014, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhapsody-NS27

Here's the video the guy I mentioned did for his chainplates he had made by Garhauer.
It's 3D so you might have to adjust the video.
At 10min, you can see the one chainplate breaking. and at 15:45 when he installs them to his boat.

Chain plates / Boat Jewelry - YouTube

OK... We all know about the dangers of chainplate corrosion... But that video was about the scariest thing posted on CF...

Thanks Rapsody!

PS: If I'm ever up Clarksville way, I'll look ya up!

Stumble · 25-01-2014, 12:20

I have said it before, and I will again. Stainless is a terrible material for chainplates. Have new ones made from G5 titanium plate and you never have to worry about them again.

tominny · 25-01-2014, 12:22

But what about galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals, i.e. stainless rigging and titanium plates?

wsulli · 25-01-2014, 14:49

Check onlinemetals.com 3/8 x1 1/2 316 ss bar stock $15.49 for a 12 inch piece

Nicholson58 · 25-01-2014, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by tominny

I am considering to replace the chainplates on my 1977 Tartan 34C. There is pitting on some where the plates leave the deck, but no cracks.

Question: Is the pitting enough of a reason to replace them?

I was just quoted $135 per chainplate. They are 3/8" thick, 1/2" wide and 12" long. And I need 5. It seems quite expensive.

Question: Does anyone know how and where to get them done cheaper?

Material: I assume it should be 316 SS and #7 polishing?

Any advice on what to request/look for would be much appreciated.

The short answer is fix it. I encourage you to look at the chain plate photos on this site. Member Galleries - Cruisers & Sailing Photo Gallery You will have to burrow down in to find them.

Ours were 1984. The photo you need to see and blow up is the microscopic crevice crack on each side of all 4 of our plates. The cracks were at deck level, surrounded also by small pits. They were in the zone just below the deck plate where the water is trapped - just like the broken plates on every boat that has lost a mast to a broken plate. I am told this is the #1 reason for loss of a mast.

Roxy Chain Plates - OLD PLATES, POLISHED - MICROCRACKS Cruisers & Sailing Photo Gallery This is the plate you need to see showing the crack & pits. The crack was not visible until I polished the surface with 300 carborundum in my DA sander.

Our plates are terribly tough to reach, remove and inspect so I replaced with Titanium at 200 per plate for the stock. It cost me 4 cases of beer for the machinist to finish them in the Mazak mill. 1/2 X 2-1/2 X 24.

Your pricing sounds a bit high. You can get the 316L stainless on line and look for a non-marine related ordinary machine shop for the work.