Check your chain plates!

[mrybas]

I pulled my chain plates for replacement....they were pretty scary looking!

[a64pilot]

How old?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

How old?

That was my first thought too. Second was I guess these won't buff out.

[mrybas]

I bought the boat 6mo ago, so I don't know but they could be original (1991)

[CSY Man]

Smart move.
I did mine 14 years ago, big job, 9 plates.
Had new ones built from 316 SS, then electro plated.

[Don C L]

54 years going on mine... I'm too scared to look
actually their fine, but thanks for this tip... there are MANY folks who should be checking theirs.
And on a side note, has it ever struck anyone else as strange that long chain plates, with bolts in a line, often are not putting strain on all the bolts? Just one or two? In the very old days some chain plates on glass GRP boats were triangular or diamond shaped... that seemed to make more sense to me...but what do I know

[a64pilot]

It's impossible to load a long string of bolts evenly. It takes the plate to stretch just a little to load the other fasteners. It impossible as the accuracy to machine it is very, very tough.
People often think I'm crazy when I talk about steel stretching, but steel is more elastic than rubber, a bolt tightens cause it stretches, if it didn't stretch, then it would go from tight to loose in a fraction of a turn. Also why Springs are made from steel.

[Flyingriki]

Did the surveyor find these?

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

It's impossible to load a long string of bolts evenly. It takes the plate to stretch just a little to load the other fasteners. It impossible as the accuracy to machine it is very, very tough.
People often think I'm crazy when I talk about steel stretching, but steel is more elastic than rubber, a bolt tightens cause it stretches, if it didn't stretch, then it would go from tight to loose in a fraction of a turn. Also why Springs are made from steel.

I wish I could find them but I am pretty sure the first Columbia 29s and the Bounty IIs had chainplates bolted to the bulwarks with horizontal bolts. I'll look around.

edit: found one, and damit it's on a boat for sale close by... one of those I've always lusted over... though I think I'd prefer the Pearson or Reliant maybe...I am tempted to call... must... resist... temptation!!!
Anyway, if you look closely at the far side, stbd side forward lower chainplate, you may see it has 5 bolts through the bulwark.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Flyingriki

Did the surveyor find these?

Very good question

[bletso]

Originally Posted by mrybas

I pulled my chain plates for replacement....they were pretty scary looking!Attachment 153128Attachment 153129

I'd say past scary!

[mrybas]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Very good question

I decided to go without a survey as the boat was on the Caribbean side of Panama and it was going to cost me about $5,000 to fly a surveyor down from the States and couldn't get a good recommendation of a surveyor in Panama.