[C38] Backstay chainplate removal

[Max soto]

Thanks for comments and pics. Everything have helped a lot.
 I have compared many pics and comments.  And Now I now how it works and how to get it out without removing the whole wooden knee, like Chucks boat, or cutting the cockpit liner like PO did on Marc’s boat. 

A while ago I was watching a video of Joe Launie’s boat ( Macavity, The last C38) And noticed the raised  lazarette hatch/seat. So I remember that Rich West Replaced that chainplate on Legacy. both hulls are 1989 models, so I contacted him   He said his chainplate just slide off easily out of the wooden knee. On my boat that will be impossible, so I asked for pics. Now it makes sense.
  The wooden knee design is different, and his has not been modified. Mine is attached on three different points, hull, stern and cockpit liner, Rich’s and Joe’s are attached to hull and stern only. Check attached pics. First three pics  are his, and last three  are mine. Check the space where he put his hand between the knee and the cockpit liner. 
So now I have three options:
1- cut the wooden knee following the red lines that I drew on my pics and leave it like that. This way I’ll be able to slide out the chainplate and will be easy to Remove/install and inspect in the future. 
2- same as #1, but reinforce a little bit more the fiberglass at hull and stern for some peace of mind!
3- epoxy back the wood piece that I’ll cut, For full strength.  (3 point attachment will be way stronger than 2), but will have to cut again for future inspection.  That sucks just by thinking about it. 
So, What’s you guys think? 
BTW,  Rich says Hi to the association.  He crossed the pacific ten years ago on His C38 Legacy, lives in NZ and has been cruising the South Pacific all this time.   He is now in Fiji for the typhoon season. 
All comm
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Max Soto A.
+506-8312-1367
Alajuela, Costa Rica

> On Oct 3, 2020, at 09:51, Charles Finn <Charles at finn.ws> wrote:
> 
> 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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> 
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