I looked through the forums and didn't see this one addressed, but thought that someone may have already been down this road, so...

My starboard chainplate has begun to pull out. The metal tang has slid more than 1/4" upwards. The hanging locker plywood is collapsing, and there are major cracks in the cabinside gelcoat, and the veneer in the cabin is wet at the chainplate area. I am sure that the core is too.

Has anyone had to repair this area of the boat? Does anyone know what the sandwich of materials are in this area?

Any/all help would be appreciated before I begin to dig in.

Thanks,
Jon
Margay - 455

I recored my bulkheads a few years ago. The core was the consistency of oatmeal in some areas...not good. I did all the work from the head and closet side, leaving the veneer in the main cabin alone. The fiberglass on both sides is 1/8" to 1/4" (sorry I can't recall the exact size). I believe the core is 3/4". There is about a 2 sq ft area that the chain plates bolt through that is marine grade plywood, the rest is the usual balsa core. It took quite a bit of work to remove the closet and head cabinets, but then you have a nice big area to work with.

I also redid the backing plate with 1/4" aluminum. It was just plastic like what was used under the stantions.

Hope this helps,

Scott

Jon - you can get the marine plywood from Boulter Plywood in Somerville MA. http://www.boulterplywood.com/

Thanks Dave and Scott, Much appreciated.

I pulled the hanging locker side fiberglass away from the core, and found it to be a combination of plywood and balsa. The plywood was in a triangular shape beginning at the hull/bulkhead interface, and continuing on about 30" across the overhead. At the bottom, it extended about 6" and then angled up to meet the top.

Mine was completely saturated, as was some of the balsa.

I replaced with marine plywood and several layers of glass with matting.

We went out for a shakedown sail yesterday, and everything seems secure now.

Thanks again for the insight.

Jon - Margay #455