Replacing Chainplates in San Diego

[theonecalledtom]

Polishing the SS on the boat recently I found some small cracks in one of our chainplates. Does anyone have recommendations on where I should go to get a replacement manufactured?

I'd like to get the rest XRayed, again does anyone have recommendations for where I should get this done?

Many thanks!

-Tom

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by theonecalledtom

Polishing the SS on the boat recently I found some small cracks in one of our chainplates. Does anyone have recommendations on where I should go to get a replacement manufactured?

I'd like to get the rest XRayed, again does anyone have recommendations for where I should get this done?

Many thanks!

-Tom

pm me--i am not giving away my secrets easily ..>LOL....

[PAR]

Remove them and take them to a machine shop. You can get them "Magnifluxed" fairly inexspensivly, which will highlight most all possible defects (cracks). You could xray, but this is usually such a cost that only the truly anal or racers on a budgit get into. How old are these chain plates and what type of life have they experienced?

[theonecalledtom]

Going to guess the chainplates are 30 years old and have crossed the pacific a couple of times plus been up and down the west coast. In other words well used. Only one shows visible damage.

[sabray]

Having pulled mine I decided that I would replace them. Them being S.S. bolted through knees passing through the deck. Had they been bronze I may have held onto them. Labor hours to pull them and cost to check it was easy to decide on replacement. I bought 316 stock and bored a lot of holes. Not a bad job to do.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by sabray

Having pulled mine I decided that I would replace them. Them being S.S. bolted through knees passing through the deck. Had they been bronze I may have held onto them. Labor hours to pull them and cost to check it was easy to decide on replacement. I bought 316 stock and bored a lot of holes. Not a bad job to do.

thankyou gods-- there IS hope for the world!!!! lol--i am glad others think as i do regarding the outrageous pricing of that tiny bit of ss..LOL.. up to 2000 dollars for one. LOL. gimme a righteous BREAK!!!! and with a 1976 built boat, they MUST be changed out-- a friend of mine learned that the hard way , mid pacific....oops..... best to do it now than in mid pacific/atlantic without parts on hand.....

[PAR]

Ditto Zeehag, if one is showing signs, then the others can't be very far behind. Given their age . . .

[Sailmonkey]

they're really easy to do to yourself. I bought a northern tool drill press ($90) $40 worth of titanium nitride bits, 316 stainless flatbar (12' 1/4"X1.5") for $75. Cut the flatbar with an angle grinder and polished with same. Now all the plates are new!! it took about 8 hours of total time for the drilling, condiserably more for the polishing.

[jackiepitts]

Seems it would be a bit more complicated if the chainplates are glassed in?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by jackiepitts

Seems it would be a bit more complicated if the chainplates are glassed in?

Ummmmm......yeah that could be a bit of a problem

[rebel heart]

Talk to Fritz at Pacific Offshore Rigging (tell him Eric from Rebel Heart says hello). He has some great contacts for welders and other rigging construction folks (in addition to being the best rigger in town himself). Really nice guy, great rates, quality.

[zeehag]

rebel heart--- i have to do this the 2 knot broken shoestring budget methd-- handy metal mart is just across the bridge and the places to punch included--they charge by the punch---

jackiepitts---i figgered for the internal ones i will back them with external ones and re-fasten. that way i havent any surprises-- this IS a 40 yr old boat with ORIGINAL chainplates..LOL... easy answer--REPLACE ALL. there is 1 that was replaced and the replacement crew butchered the boat... we go external .....

[jackiepitts]

Zee....that is exactly what we were thinking. I guess the trick is getting the angle right. Mexico does some great fabrication work.

[zeehag]

jackie---iif you arw in sin dieo--dont have to wait for mexico-- we have nasty city --er national city... with all the fittings and stuffies.. come on down.
i figgered i would tie of my shrouds and stays side at a time to replace and use one of the doubles for a pattern at the handy metal mart and go for it with both knots in my budget none the worse for wearing them..LOL

[jackiepitts]

In Mazatlan right now but not looking at needing to do the chainplates quite yet. May head up to SD next summer and look into doing it then....good info!