Sabre 30 chainplates cover

[ymsailor]

Hello everyone.
I just purchased my first sailboat, 1980 Sabre 30 and noticed that chainplates need to be rebeded. I have read a lot of information on this forum and planning to rebed with butyl tape. But looking at the chainplates covers, they are not tight around the chainplate. What I mean is that they are tight along the sides of the chainplate but has at least 1/4 inch space in front and back of the plate. It seems like the cutout for the plates is longer than it should be to make a good seal under the plates.
Is this normal or should I buy more tight covers? Any Sabre owners here can shade some light on it for me?

Thank you.

[GaryHLucas]

Actually those covers are a big reason why chainplates leak! All chainplates move under loads that constantly change. Those plates shear the sealant off the chainplate, causing leaks. Better to have a 1/4" gap between the cover and the chainplate all the way around. The same applies to the deck itself. If it touches the chainplate anywhere it shears the sealant off and leaks.

[ymsailor]

I see...It does make sense, but all the pictures of chainplate covers I see are neatly cover around the chainplate with 1/8 gap in posts on how to rebed them, I'm confused now....