X-Ray Chainplates (While on Boat) in Florida

[svladybug]

Does anyone know a company or service who will come and xray the chainplates. They are glassed in so i cant take em for inspection.

I found this great article http://www.irwinyachts.com/Drawings-...hainplates.pdf

Now i need to get this done. My boat is on the hard in Fort Pierce.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

[PAR]

What make, model and year yacht do you have? Do you have an idea of it's general history and maintenance?

[beetle]

Originally Posted by svladybug

Now i need to get this done.

I'm curious - why, NOW, do you need to get this done? Is there something in particular that causes you to believe that you need to xray the chainplates?

I'm thinking of age, rust, discoloration, a prior problem, etc.

[svladybug]

Well, i had one break where it goes through the deck ! unfortunately they are glassed in so its difficult to visually inspect.

I have decided to go ahead and replace just them replace them by mounting new on the outside of the hull.

Its an 84 built boat, slocum 43. I did find a couple of firms that would x-ray but its cheaper just to get new plates.

[osirissail]

If one broke off, then I would definitely suggest removing all the others and either replace them or make sure they are mounted so you can inspect them and be sure that trapped water cannot accumulate around them. The outside the hull mounting is good if the angles on the shrouds/stays is close enough so you do not have to recalculate the rig tension requirements. Just be sure that the face of the chainplate mating to the hull is totally waterproof.

[zeehag]

darlin--yer temptin fate if ye sail that boat without changing them
not spend money on xrays-- that is overspending. the age if your boat says--"CHANGE ME NOW, PLEASE!!"...you do not want it to say--you shoulda done that....good idea placing them outboard rather than internal--i am doing same with my formosa -- mine was built 1976 and has OBVIOUS cracking.

[svladybug]

Yup, i am doing the rigging as well. and new batteries, sails, yada yada. its time.

[Noname1]

I'm glad for you that you have decided just to go ahead and do it.
I won an 11 hr tow from the USCG in El Caribe due to my hopeful (wishful?) thinking the chainplates had just another 100 miles in them. I mean it was only 100 mile island hop. What could possibly go wrong?
I will never have SS chainplates or anything else SS I can avoid on my next boat. Everdur or titanium from now on.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by svladybug

Yup, i am doing the rigging as well. and new batteries, sails, yada yada. its time.

whew!!!!!!!
i am gonna back my internals and replace my externals and go..after i replace all the fasteners i can reach---or drill out...

[beetle]

Originally Posted by svladybug

Well, i had one break where it goes through the deck ! unfortunately they are glassed in so its difficult to visually inspect.

Good thing you're replacing all of them - if one failed and you didn't lose the mast consider yourself lucky. No need to x-ray anything at that point, just replace all of the chainplates.

What is the mast material, and what is it's age? If you're dealing with 30 year old aluminum, keep a sharp eye out for small cracks at holes in the mast wall - aluminum work hardens and the cracks are indicative of hardened metal that is now brittle to the point of failure.

[Sailing Partner]

Is there a rigger, in southern Florida, who will do x-rays? Ours are internal and glassed in...with only one easily accessible. We're currently in Marathon, heading up to Punta Gorda in the next couple of weeks.

[model 10]

You may not want X rays, perhaps ultra sonic or MRI. The Aviation world has all kinds of mobil guy's running around doing testing.

[roverhi]

If you have glassed in chainplates, you have a disaster waiting to happen. Glassed in plates almost guarantee crevice corrosion and eventual failure. I wouldn't take a boat out of the slip with glassed in plates.

[Sailing Partner]

I have a 41' sailboat built in 1977 with four forward glassed in chain plates and has been in sailing service the entire time without chain plate mishap. Needless to say it has left the slip and returned safely numerous times. This factual experience overrides your ill advised opinion.

[Lojanica]

Originally Posted by Sailing Partner

I have a 41' sailboat built in 1977 with four forward glassed in chain plates and has been in sailing service the entire time without chain plate mishap. Needless to say it has left the slip and returned safely numerous times. This factual experience overrides your ill advised opinion.

FYI I just finished a chainplate replacement. Here's what I found: 10 external 316 ss 3/8" electropolished chainplates with 2 attached to an internal 3/8" 316ss 90 degree bulwark. All external chainplates passed inspection but the 2 internal 90 degree bulwarks all corroded IN HALF.

The 90's were very susceptible to crevice corrosion. Caveat emptor.