Shroud Tension Update

ktucker8 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006

Well Thanks to you all for taking the time to warn me on these chain plates and to get the rigging inspected plus advise! The welder I had sent the chain plate to has called me and said there is numerous stress cracks in the chain plate so he is making me a new one. You folks were right! i will definitly be pulling the other 5 plates to have them inspected1 then I will get the boat over to Svendsen's in Alameda to have the rest of the rigging inspected! I appreciate your time in guiding this Newbie! Ken

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006

You're welcome Ken... we'd rather have you take the time and get the rigging checked out..than have you check out...

knothead · #3 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006

Good choice Ken. The only thing i'll add is that often it's a good idea just to bite the bullet and have the stick pulled. That way you can pull all the chain plate at the same time and have them duplicated. Oh yeah, since you are going to pull them all, just have new ones made. Don't put the old ones back even if you don't see anything wrong. It's money well spent. It may cost you a little less if you don't take them in one at a time also.
You can use the opportunity to check everything on the mast while it's down. It is easier to do a more thorough inspection with the mast on horses. You can check lights, sheaves, lube the track etc. You can remove the stays and shrouds and lay them out to get good measurments. You will know your boat better and get some peace of mind.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006

It might also be worth taking the screws out of the mast fittings, and coating them with anhydrous lanolin or Lanocote, and putting them back. This will help to help prevent galvanic corrosion from occurring.

If you find any areas with a lot of white powdery material..that is probably someplace that you've got a galvanic corrosion problem, and it should be cleaned and investigated further.

ktucker8 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-01-2006

I have 4 new chainplates made of 304 stainless to install this weekend! I am going to pull the fore and aft ones next. Ken

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktucker8

I have 4 new chainplates made of 304 stainless to install this weekend! I am going to pull the fore and aft ones next. Ken

I would recommend that you get 316 stainless chainplates rather than 304 stainless...because 304 stainless has known issues with chloride stress cracking in saltwater environments IIRC. 316, although not quite as strong, will generally last longer, due to the higher corrosion resistance IIRC.