Chainplates

[Todd Ciehomski]

I've finally finished the installation of my new bulkhead (O'day 25)and it looks pretty 'effin' good IMHO.My question is in regard to the chainplates. When I refasten the plates to the bulkhead, I'm considering putting a backing plate on the other side of the bulkhead. Does anyone know why O'Day didn't put backing plates on the aft side of the bulkheads? It would seem logical that a backing plate would provide more strength than just nuts digging into the wood!Thanks in advance.-Todd

 

[Buddy Richardson]

Todd,I'm finishing up installing new bulkheads also in my recently aquired 25 and I was wondering the same. I'm planning on either making a plate as you suggest or use some very wide stainless steel washers.Also my brother who is in the boat building business says the design of the chain plates makes them eventually leak. His idea is to make some slightly larger deck flanges and weld them to the chain plates so water cannot leak down. Then bond the unit on the topsides with 5200 and attach below to my fine new bulkheads. Luckily he can weld stainless at work. Attached is a picture of my chain plates. You can see a piece of the bulkhead tha remained on the bolt after it pulled through the deck when the mast fell down in a storm. (This is why I got the boat for free.)Note that one plate is bent... more work.--Buddy