Chainplates
Popeye,
I believe the 29 has the same design as my 27 does. We lost the aft-starboard chainplate in light wind last year. I happened to look at the stay and saw it very loose, went on deck and pulled chainplate that was now a inch or so higher than normal and it pulled up thru deck. Local yard quoted $500 per plate to repair.
after 7 weeks got first bill for $600 followed by another one for $1000 and they were still not none with it. My honey and I stole our boat back in the middle of the night. Went to yard following Monday and gave them a check for $1000 and said they could sue me for the rest. We then finished the repair of that one and replaced other two on that side. The repair of the other two took about 8 good hours on sat and 3-4 on sunday to finish up and retune rig. I can tell you how we did it if you need.
When you pull the access panels off look for clean smooth almost shiny stainless no pitting or minute cracks. use a mirror and look on the back side as well. The plate is just one long bar about 4' long running lenghtwise of boat with the 3 vertical plates welded to that. the offsets on the plates were probably smackbent (vise and big A** hammer) thats why they developed crevase corrosion and failed. I believe the PO of mine also keep an A/C unit plugged in with the shore power laid against these 3 plates, as the port side look brand new,and we check them every 2-3 months. You may want to pull off the loose F/gflass from around the plates to get a better look if you have any doubt grind away the glass until you expose the verticle piece down to where it is welded to the horizontal one. you will not loose any strenght and you can get a good look at it. Good luck.
Gary and Terri
Dunedin, Fl
