Failed Chain Plate

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Ellis14376

Ellis14376

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Aug 9, 2006
17
Beneteau 34 Bodkin Creek, MD
I have a 1981 8.5 S2.
The starboard side chainplates have leaked causing the bulkheads to rot compromising the strength of the chainplate as an anchor point for the standing rigging. Two of the three starboard side chainplates are compromised. Any advice on how to correct this? My plan is to cut out a section of the bulkhead and replace it with 3/4 inch marine plywood. Has anyone out there been down this road?
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
If you look in the project files you can see this repair done on my boat. Go to the boat info tab, umder 9.2a, under knowledge base.
 
sailcruiser

sailcruiser

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Sep 6, 2011
435
There are a few ways to correct this. If it were my boat I'd replace the bulkhead(s). I'm not a fan of piecing stuff together but that is my preference. Doing a patch is certainly easier. Do you have backing plates on your chain plates? If not add them! In addition to the bulkhead rot you likely have core rot too in the deck unless they were previously sealed well with epoxy. When you remove the chainplate probe the hole for wood fiber or wetness. To fix scrape or grind it out to dry solid wood coat that with a thin no filler epoxy let it dry and then prepare epoxy with high density filler and some chopped mat to fill what is left. I would do them all while you're at it to keep trouble at bay and then seal up using MaineSail's butyl tape and techique.


Mine had all been epoxied but one had a slight void and I found some rot. I'm in the middle of this process now. A dehumidifier will help dry things out faster. Don't seal in any visible moisture!

By the end of next summer all my through deck fittings will be re-sealed and all holes epoxied. This just minimizes leak damage to the deck. SC
 
Ellis14376

Ellis14376

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Aug 9, 2006
17
Beneteau 34 Bodkin Creek, MD
My plan is very similar to the 9.2 design, so I feel better about the approach. Thanks for the help.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
If you have the same design as the 9.2A I can attest to the quality of the repair described for my boat. It was done to the instructions of a marine surveyor who worked for Cape Dory for many years.
 
B

Bergovoy

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Mar 23, 2011
65
S2 9.2a Bradenton
did the same to my 9.2 and on mine the 'bulkhead' was not continuous anyways... it had 'KNEES" that were tabbed to the hull... I would remove the entire KNEE, as they arent that more difficult to remove... actually maybe easier...as you wont have to make a 'horizontal' cut and or create a patch...

On mine, I had to remove the back of the settee to access the hull/tabbing and from there, it was simple... I used an OSCILLATING type of saw, (aka ROCKWELL or similar), and cut the fiberglass parallel to the the hull and the entire knee came out in one piece...

I would use Marine grade plywood as the difference is that regular plywood has 'gaps' inbetween some of the layers/lamenates... look at the edge of plywood next time you are at home depot....

when you install the chain plates make sure they are in 'column' with the stays/end of the spreader bar)... drill holes the exact same size as the bolts being used.. they shouldnt move around in the hole...

the fiberglass, I cant really comment on.. I had someone else do it as i have never dont fiberglass and dint want to learn on this project... but, the person I hired epoxied two pieces together and then tabbed them to the hull.. I would have thought it best to tab each layer to the hull one at a time...but again, i dont know diddly about fiberglass...

anyways, not that bad of a project.. taking the settee and shelf apart was the hardest part..

good luck
 
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