Chain plates
- Thread starter tom cooper
- Start date
Tom, welcome aboard. These guys are thoroughly versed in the world of sailing and they love to share and follow along in each other's adventures in sailboat projects. I'm certain there's someone on here who is familiar with the Irwin Mark III. Is this the 37' or the 43'?
I don't know much about your question as it concerns your boat. Looking at images online, your chainplates look similar to the Vagabond 42 in design.
Chain Plates
Pictures are always welcome. How old are the chainplates? One article I was reading suggested that they should be replaced every 20 years and 40 years was pushing it.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
-Will (Dragonfly)
I don't know much about your question as it concerns your boat. Looking at images online, your chainplates look similar to the Vagabond 42 in design.
Chain Plates
Pictures are always welcome. How old are the chainplates? One article I was reading suggested that they should be replaced every 20 years and 40 years was pushing it.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
-Will (Dragonfly)
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,752
Welcome Tom. As you will quickly discover pictures are an excellent way to share your challenge. There may be a boat owner with the exact same boat or you may find that the engineering experience here among the boat owners can help you find a reasoned path to a solution.
We all have similar challenges and the designs of boats are mostly universal. As an example I have to primary chainplates and 4 secondary ones. Plus the plates bow and stern. They are similar to many other brands of boats. Having removed mine, refurbished them and reinstalled them I may have the info you need. A picture or two of your chainplates would tell in a minute. At the same time the hundreds of other talented boat owners might also recognize the issue and provide help.
Glad you found your Irwin. They are nice boats and serve their owners well.
We all have similar challenges and the designs of boats are mostly universal. As an example I have to primary chainplates and 4 secondary ones. Plus the plates bow and stern. They are similar to many other brands of boats. Having removed mine, refurbished them and reinstalled them I may have the info you need. A picture or two of your chainplates would tell in a minute. At the same time the hundreds of other talented boat owners might also recognize the issue and provide help.
Glad you found your Irwin. They are nice boats and serve their owners well.
1/ why do you need to replace stainless steel chainplates? are they bent or damaged?
2/ if chainplates are leaking at the hull-to-deck joint, you need to clean the area thoroughly of old caulk. on my boats, the chain plates i've had were stainless cross- shaped with an upright tang, a flat plate thorugh bolted to the deck with backing plates, and a lower tang section that bolted to steel plates on the hull. i needed to unfasten the chain plates belowdeck by loosening the bolts that hold them. you have to support the side stays somehow if you're removing chainplates. (number each bolt and be sure to put it back in the same hole when you're done.minor distortions in the chain plates over the years, from differential loading of the chain plates under sail. may make it difficult to re insert the bolts into different holes. .) unfasten chain plate bolts from down below, unbolt deck plate bolts from the deck, NB stays must be off. then bring the chain plates out. clean them off . clean the deck of grit and old caulk. get proper new caulk and read directions. when you reset the new plates onto new caulk, do NOT immmediately tighten the deck bolts as you'll squeeze all the caulk out. let the caulk cure for 24 hrs or so , tighten deck bolts, then bolt below the deck.
2/ if chainplates are leaking at the hull-to-deck joint, you need to clean the area thoroughly of old caulk. on my boats, the chain plates i've had were stainless cross- shaped with an upright tang, a flat plate thorugh bolted to the deck with backing plates, and a lower tang section that bolted to steel plates on the hull. i needed to unfasten the chain plates belowdeck by loosening the bolts that hold them. you have to support the side stays somehow if you're removing chainplates. (number each bolt and be sure to put it back in the same hole when you're done.minor distortions in the chain plates over the years, from differential loading of the chain plates under sail. may make it difficult to re insert the bolts into different holes. .) unfasten chain plate bolts from down below, unbolt deck plate bolts from the deck, NB stays must be off. then bring the chain plates out. clean them off . clean the deck of grit and old caulk. get proper new caulk and read directions. when you reset the new plates onto new caulk, do NOT immmediately tighten the deck bolts as you'll squeeze all the caulk out. let the caulk cure for 24 hrs or so , tighten deck bolts, then bolt below the deck.