Help chainplate leak question

[tnathan]

hello all,

I have been trying to get my beneteau 361 out of winter storage. The marina called me last week and said they notice a leak and wanted me to authorize an hour to troubleshoot. This week they called and said it looks like it was coming from the port chainplate. And, they aren't comfortable making the repair with the shroud attached. So they want to drop the mast even though it could be supported by the other 3 stays, while lashing the shroud to the deck cleat. This how I have done this kind of work in the past myself. And, I recall the last mast I had dropped on a 27 foot boat cost around 1k. Granted this is a 36 foot boat and they may be operating at a higher quality than I was, but they are quoting me 4K.

Not sure I need to unstep the mast or even if I did that it should cost 4K. Does this pass the smell test?

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Nope. Had the mast pulled in February on my Catalina 36. It was about $700 round trip and storage. I was already on the hard for bottom paint.

I routinely pull stays and shrouds at the dock without pulling the mast

Les

 

[jssailem]

Have to agree with Les not the yard.
My 35 has two lowers and one upper. With the upper being attached to the mast head.
Can attach the Main halyard to a mid point aft of the upper chainplate and a jib halyard forward of the chainplate to stabilize the mast. Then I can loosen the upper shroud turnbuckle and remove the chainplate for repair. Re-attach the chainplate and reverse the process.
If I had to remove all the chainplates at one time or work on the mast base then I would remove the mast do the work.

 

[tnathan]

Ya I am Gibson island near Annapolis for the first time so I may have the misfortune of living in a high rent district for boats, but get the sense I am being worked over. I bought this boat two years ago and she has passed tow surveys with flying colors and was told she is of the cleanest 361s out there.

I took it to Gibson for winter storage and was told the lines are all shot and need to be replaced. The deck is highly sun damaged and needs extensive polishing/compounding to protect the fiberglass from damage or else I am risking crazing. The forestry appears bent and may need repair, but I need to pay to have them go up the mast and check or else the system may fail. The engine sounds like it is running rough and could be a serious problem, which they later diagnosed that was due to the muffler tube having fallen off.

Thanks for your quick feedback confirming what I suspected. I think these guys are off the hook. Now what to do. Need to get her out of there and get this leak, if it exists, repaired elsewhere or do it myself. Ugh.

 

[Gunni]

Nathan; Call Jimmie at The Rigging Company in 'Naptown and ask him to take a look at it. You don't need to remove the mast for this job if you are pro rigger. Jimmie is a pro.

 

[tnathan]

Clear and to the point. Much appreciated. Once I get the boat out of the pokie I will give Jimmie a call.

 

[BigEasy]

Definitely do not pay $4K for this job. The mast absolutely does not need to removed. Rig one temporary shroud with a spare halyard on the side that you are working on after slacking the shrouds on the opposite side a little bit (not completely). After rebedding the chain plate, reattach the turnbuckles and shrouds, then tension slightly. If you are doing one side, might as well be done with it and do the other side in the same manner. This is doable if you want to take on this project yourself or call the rigger that Gunni recommended to get an estimate. Don't be fooled by the appearance of the chainplate; there is no cover , what you see on deck is a solid casting. You can view the schematic of the associated parts on the Beneteau spare parts website to understand what you are dealing with. Another owner and I wrote up a procedure detailing the method for taking it apart and rebedding and posted it on the 343 group website. If you want to take a look, I will be happy to send it to you if you email me.

 

[DougM]

I would not be concerned at all about disconnecting a shroud with the mast up.
As others have said, just secure one or two halyards to the toe rail. I have done this with my 323 which isn't that much smaller than your 361.
I have even had a lower shroud turnbuckle come completely undone in winter storage and found the shroud dangling when I returned to the boat in the spring (the split ring was laying on the deck, not having been put back when the shrouds were loosened for storage)

 

[Maurice]

Stay away From the Rigging Company!!! they did the chainplate leak and other repairs on my 361. All failed within a year. Left my portlight open for rain as well. Then told me they fired the bunch that did the work!!!! Came back and re-bedded, and later found rigging was way too tight. I don't know where they get their technicians from!!!

 

[Tally Ho]

Stay away From the Rigging Company!!! they did the chainplate leak and other repairs on my 361. All failed within a year. Left my portlight open for rain as well. Then told me they fired the bunch that did the work!!!! Came back and re-bedded, and later found rigging was way too tight. I don't know where they get their technicians from!!!

This thread was from 2017....

just sayin...

Greg

 

[jssailem]

You read my mind Greg. Perhaps it is being confined that has us exploring old messages. You know like this that wash ashore in a bottle.

I of course unpop each cork. You never know when you might find a treasure map.

 

[Tally Ho]

You read my mind Greg. Perhaps it is being confined that has us exploring old messages. You know like this that wash ashore in a bottle.

I of course unpop each cork. You never know when you might find a treasure map.

That must be it @jssailem

i hauled out last Saturday and already getting bored.

Cheers,


Greg