Chain Plates on Miller 44

[Excalibur5]

I am seriously looking at purchasing a Miller 44. One thing came up in the quick inspection (pre-survey) and that is the chainplates. They are original so are highly suspect due to the boat being built in 1980. The main problem in my mind is that they are bonded into the inside fiberglass of the hull.

These penetrate at the far edge of the toe rail, so my thinking is leave the existing ones in place and use them as a backer plate for a new, externally mounted and through bolted chain plate. The rig geometry shouldn't change much (only move the plates out around an inch or so).

Any thoughts? Am I nuts?

Attached is a photo of one of the chainplates, you can see the rust streak and surface corrosion..

[Stumble]

I hate external chainplates. They just add to the potential corrosion areas, they in no way limit the problem.

From what I can see I wouldn't trust what you have there even as backing plates. They need to come out, be replaced, and refitted. I would go with titanium instead of stainless however.

[roverhi]

Going external is the easiest way to replace the chain plates. Save you a ton of work and fabrication costs. The old ones will work fine as backing plates. Looking at the old one pictured, think it's well past time to get new chainplates.