[C38] Backstay chainplate removal

[Charles Finn]

I looked into this a few years back as I had some gel cracks that sort 
of suggested my backstay chainplate was in trouble.  My good news was 
the wooden knee was just fine and I was just being a worry wort 
expecting no working of the hull cracks to manifest after 40 years!  
There was elongation of the bolt holes in the wood knee, but no rot.   I 
did however scope out the project and it is substantial!  I was told you 
probably would need to cut out the knee from the outside of the boat in 
order to sufficiently reinforce and connect the new knee (which was in 
my fresh water case going to be aluminum).  I was told that wooden knees 
were common but a stupid idea much like that wood under our mast step!   
Indeed, it was are real achillies heel for the J boats in the 80s as 
well.  I was givne an estimate back then of $10,000, but I would have 
most certainly done the job myself as it is really chainsaw and fiber 
glassing and then cosmetics (ok, it would be a LOT of that! But hey this 
is Max we are talking to here!)

If I were to take this on today, I would also address the problem of the 
rudder post on our boats which is another problem as there is no 
bearing... just stainless rudder post wearing on fiberglass which in my 
case has required insertion of mylar sheet shims to get rid of the wear 
slop.  I would have the post removed and replaced with bearing and a 
water seal.  I would also take this opportunity to install the autopilot!

Regards,
Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn #114
Great Lakes

On 9/28/2020 4:42 PM, Max soto wrote:
> Hi everybody, has anyone removed the backstay chainplate on a 38?  I need to replace mine and seems impossible without removing the wooden knee  it is attached to inside the lazarette.   Any thoughts??
>
> Regards,
> Max Soto A.
> C38 Estancia
> Alajuela, Costa Rica
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