The result of salt water leaking behind the aluminum chainplate.
The chainplates on my Columbia 10.7 were (and are) aluminum. The chainplate openings leaked into the interior and caused corrosion on the backside of the chainplates and contributed to the rotting of the bulkhead between the main cabin and the V-berth.
I decided to replace the existing short (14”) chainplates with longer one (approx. 48”). This doubled the number of fasteners holding the chainplate to the new bulkhead.
As further reinforcement, I routed a 3” wide groove ( the width of the chainplate) about 1/8” to 3/16” deep in the bulkhead where the new chainplate would lie. I then laminated layers of 3: wide fiberglass tape in the groove. The fiberglass tape was laminated in place with epoxy resin. The tape continued down the groove and then splayed out over the hull and stringer at the bottom of the groove.
The chainplate opening and the new chainplate were then properly installed and sealed --- but that’s another story!
Capt’n Pauley
If you've ever wondered why it's important to seal your chainplates, look no farther.
These are the old aluminum chainplates, about 14" long.
A view of the new bulkhead with the 3" groove cut into it.
The lower end of the new bulkhead with the fiberglass tape and epoxy in place.
The upper end of the new bulkhead with the fiberglass tape and epoxy laminated in place.
Another view of a new chainlate. The longer chainplates double the number of fasteners used.
A close-up view of the upper end of one of the new chainplates.
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