[C38] Leaking Chain Plates

[Charles]

Phil,
Wow! I never have completely disassembled my chain plates. I did not 
know this was something folks did? Did you notice the lower end was 
"working" somewhat like we have seen with the backstay?

Charles Finn
Mighty Quinn #114
Great Lakes

Phil Gay wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> I can relate to what you are saying since I too sail our C38 in the 
> Northwest.
>
> I removed my aft lower chainplates in July and rebedded them. Removing 
> them was a major operation since you have to remove the cabinet faces 
> and remove both the shelves and vertical dividers in the cabinets to 
> get the chainplates out. When I removed the chainplates I found a void 
> on the port side where the plywood was butted together. The 1/8” void 
> ran fore and aft. I also found that the void channeled water all the 
> way back along the overhead deck liner and dumped it into the storage 
> space (a small cabinet on my boat) outboard of the stove. I filled 
> around the edges of the cutout for the chainplate with thickened epoxy 
> and rebedded the chainplates with 3M 4000 sealant. The silicone that I 
> had removed easily pulled out with no effort.
>
> Now I am tackling the mid and upper chainplate. It looked like a 
> simple task to unbolt the chainplate on the back side of the main 
> bulkhead from the lower part in the head and opposite cabinet. 
> Unfortunately the lower nut is encased in fiberglass which anchors the 
> lower part of the chainplate to the hull of the boat. I was able to 
> wrestle the starboard screw out of the fiberglass, but am going to 
> have to cut the head off the lower screw on the port side to remove 
> the aft upper part of the chainplate. After removing the starboard 
> chainplate, I again notice the slim vertical void where the plywood 
> was butted together. I plan to fill it with epoxy also. Again the 
> shallow silicone bedding easily pulled loose from the deck of the boat.
>
> It is abundantly obvious that Catalina did not intend these 
> chainplates to be removed, even though everything I have read says to 
> do it periodically and check for corrosion. Fortunately, I haven’t 
> found any serious corrosion yet. I do wonder if it is possible to get 
> good adhesion with new sealant without pulling the chainplates.
>
> Good luck and let us know if you discover any secrets.
>
> Phil Gay
>
> C38 049 Que Linda
>
> Everett, WA
>
> *From:* listserve-bounces at catalina38.org 
> [mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] *On Behalf Of *Steve Smolinske
> *Sent:* Sunday, August 24, 2008 10:25 PM
> *To:* Catalina 38 Listserve
> *Subject:* [C38] Leaking Chain Plates
>
> Hello All,
>
> I thought I had the problem fixed when I had the mast down, I took off 
> all the chain plate covers dug out all of the silicone and rebed the 
> openings with 4200, made sure the air pockets were out, then filled up 
> openings with excess and slowly screwed down the cover plates. I 
> cleaned up all the excess that squeezed out around the covers. The 
> last few days we have had some serious rain. Both port and starboard 
> chain plates for the uppers and lowers are leaking, the port like a 
> hose and the strbd slightly less. Inspecting the deck work I can't 
> imagine that much water is getting in if any at all, the seal all 
> around looks great. Since doing the repair we have had little rain, 
> now that it is back it looks as if no repair was done at all. Any 
> suggestions?
>
> Steve
>
> Peregrine #312
>
> Seattle
>
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