[Public-List] Chainplates

[Wes Gardner via Public-List]

Fortunately, my knees and bulkhead show absolutely no stain or discoloration at all.  Someone must have kept at the chainplate cover plates.

The bolts for my uppers are definitely deformed.  For me, a dismasting just isn't worth the risk. I have access to a bench top drill press so it's just a matter of slacking one shroud at a time, rig a temporary as required, unbolt the chainplate and drill it out.  I've read all the threads on the list and I've not heard any problems with actually getting a drill in there to drill the knee or bulkhead-there's not a lot of room, but it looks doable with a small drill driver.

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 1, 2015, at 6:33 PM, Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net> wrote:
> 
> Have there been any failures of these bolts besides the one Yves Gelinas
> experienced in the Southern Ocean?
> 
> Gord #426 Surprise
> (just back from the 2015 Misery Trip, not quite Southern Ocean but a good
> facsimile...we made it back OK, broke nothing, nobody got hurt... My wife is
> annoyed with me for doing it... )
> 
> 
> On 2015-11-01, 6:10 PM, "Wes Gardner via Public-List"
> <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
>> My mistake! You know I kept looking at my chainplate bolts and in my mind
>> thinking "yup, those were upgraded to 5/16" because they were new and
>> shiny....seems when I put the 7/16 wrench on the head of one, I realized it's
>> just a 1/4-20. Yeah, they are shoulder bolts (I believe I read that the
>> originals were 1/4-20 but with thread the whole way), so they were replaced,
>> but not upgraded to 5/16. Furthermore, they set the bolts with the nut on the
>> chainplate end allowing the chainplate itself to bear on the threaded part of
>> the bolt before the shoulder started....geez, at least turn the bolt around.
>> My understanding is that most of these failure issues have been in shear,
>> right?
>> 
>> And when I looked really close, the bolts for the uppers are stretched a
>> little bit.....hmmm
>> 
>> I was going to bed the actual chainplate, where it contacts the knee, in 5200
>> as it will never need to be removed from the boat again. However, I'm going to
>> bed and seal the chainplate covers (mine has Shaefer cover plates) in 4200.
>> 
>> I'm also going to change out the backstay bolts as well.
>> 
>> Can anyone add any helpful hints or "gotchas" specific to the Alberg 30?
>> 
>> Wes
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>