"Evan Gatehouse" wrote in message
...
Thomas Wentworth wrote:
Yesterday, a break in the winter weather, allowed me to take a look at a
boat that I am interested in. The hull was factory laid up, nice hull,
classic design.

The remainder of the boat was "homemade, finished by whomever".

Although the work done by the builder was not up to professional
standards, it wasn't totally awful. There is much cleaning up, painting,
etc that needs to be done.

Two major repairs stand out. And this is where I need your expert help.

The bulkhead amidships is plywood. At the bottom of this ply is rotted.
There has been some repair.
The "chainplates". They come through the deck and are supported by the
underside of the deck. They are NOT CONNECTED TO THE HULL, THE
BULKHEADS, OR THE ANYTHING. THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
DECK.

I was stunned. This boat was surveyed 2 years ago. The surveyer did not
mention that this was a problem.

Am I wrong, don't the chainplates need to be connected to very strong
supports such as bulkheads that are connected to the hull or the hull
itself?

Please tell me what the supports for chainplates must be.

Thanks,,

Wentworth

If it's a small boat (say 24' or less) this has been done, often with
lower shrouds. Especially if the chainplate is near the deck edge. I
agree, it's not a good idea. Decks tend to pull up of course. Best bet
is to glass in a kneee at the chainplate location and bolt a proper
chainplate to the knee

Evan Gatehouse

........................................

Evan,, thanks for the reply. The boat in question is a 35' full keel boat.
This is a pretty heavy displacement boat. As such, I would think that the
sails, rigging etc would be a large load. I know I was very confused when I
looked at the chainplates from below. I have never been in a boat anywhere
this large that didn't have chainplates that came through the deck and then
were connected to a bulkhead or some strong member that was attached to the
hull.

In fact, I think I remember looking at one boat that had chainplates that
were bolted thru the hull and then thru a block or something on the inside
of the hull that was fiberglassed over.

On this boat the chainplates came through the deck, down under the deck and
then connected to a flat piece of metal that was screwed up into the deck
supports. These were pieces of wood and not very think.

Wentworth