Chainplate picture

[SEADANCE]

Hi Guys,Here is a picture of one we walked away from several weeks ago but he is considering again.I've mentioned this boat before. Can you tell me what you think is going on with the chainplate and its surroundings? I asked the dealer about it and he said that was that way when he bought it from the PO and he does not know what it is. He said it was a chronic factor in a boat this age 1979 30' Hunter but he said that area was solid. Could it be water damage from the porthole at one time?I'm raising an eyebrow...The only thing this boat has going for her right now in my opinion is that she has been updated with lots of goodies and she is claimed to have been taken care of.....but why not this area?B/Seadance

 

[Tim R.]

Not good

Leaking chainplates spell potential disaster. They need to be rebedded and if they have been leaking for a long time, chances are there is hidden rust and rot. Not usually an expensive or overly compicated task to resolve but could open the door to much bigger problems once you get into it.I would also be very leary of a boat with chainplates attached to cabinetry and not the bulkhead. Tim R.

 

[bob Gorman]

Leaking

My guess would be that the connection between the chain plate and the deck was or is leaking. You need to check for rot in the verticle member where the chain plate is through bolted and check for delamination of the deck core where the chain plate goes through the deck. The chain plate needs to be completely rebbeded, if you have delamination on the deck or verticle member this is a bigger problem. Did or do you have plans to have a surveyor look at the boat?

 

[Ross]

I would like to look behind the door

That block appears to run down inside the back of the settee. It has been wet. Any deck penetration is subject to leaking. It may only need some attention on deck and some new varnish on the wood. Look at it now as though it were already yours and you needed to correct it. All problems can be corrected but some are a little too much. My ancestor came to this country when it was still a British colony and we have the axe that he brought with him. Granted it has had 8 new handles and 4 new heads but it is the one that John Hill brought over on the boat. Sometimes boat repairs can get that way too. Enjoy the search. ;D

 

[Waffle]

Spend a little more money

get a little newer or better boat. I agree that the chainplates look jury rigged.

 

[CharlieCobra]

Umm, that's ugly.

I don't think I'd trust that setup in a breeze.

 

[Ross]

I didn't ! Set the chain plates outboard.

Replaced the bulkhead and plugged the holes in the deck.

 

[SEADANCE]

Thank you guys

I am walking from this boat ...sticking with the one we have the offer on.(we were looking for "back ups" in case this too good to be true deal falls thru)B/Seadance

 

[CharlieCobra]

Probably a pretty good idea...

Even my old V-21 has the chainplates bolted through the hull. That's probably a big reason I don't worry about taking it out in a blow.

 

[Ross]

Charlie, The reason they moved the chainplates

inboard was because they started to make the boats so beamy that the sheeting angles went bad. Some of todays boats are not even three times as long as they are wide.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

The interior looks familiar.

I cant place it,but it sure looks familiar inside. I think its the placement of the old radar that looks familiar. My first thought was when i saw a boat like that was, "OK, how do you look at the radar when you are outside solo sailing?". Anyway, seems like not all that long ago, I was looking. I think it was an Allied Princess 36. Tony B

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Ross.....you are right

My Catalina 30 had a beam of 10'-10" which when multiplied by 3 = 32.49Ft.But its a difficult choice to make. My Cat 30 seemed much larger inside than many of the older 32 and 34 footers. Do I want extra comfort at the dock or do I want better sailing ability when at sea. The choice has a lot to do with whether you live aboard or not and the type of "seas" you regularly encounter.  Tony B

 

[Ross]

Tonyb, It helps if you are of small stature

My boat is bigger for me than it is for most people because Nancy and I are both only about five and a half feet tall and reasonably thin.

 

[RichH]

Water damage .....

... from uncaulked chainplate holes in the deck. From the pic there seems to be no tell-tale 'rust blooms' around the attachment stainless bolting that would indicate that the wood base is wet i nternally and that the bolting is being destroyed by crevice corrosion, etc. Since the chainplate is fully exposed (easy to remove and work on) if this boat tickles your fancy, make it a contingincy of sale that a surveyor be allowed to disassemble the plate and its bolting and inspect for internal rot etc. of the plate woodbase structure. Since this is a 'good' type of construction for easy repair and if the base is found to be wetted, negotiate a suitable deduct so that you can have it repaired properly. I'd be more concerned about that claptrap angle bracing at the interface of the bulkhead and the side. If the bulkhead has come detached from its tabbing, shows evidence of prior movement ... then THAT might be a more serious problem if the bulkhead has loosened .... caused by manythings such as rotted mast compression post or wet spot under the mast step, collision damage, etc. etc. etc. . Boats are like choosing women ... you dont need to chose the first one you see; and, when you find the 'right' one ... you'll get that feeling that it IS the 'right' one. <g>