Chainplates.

[Gordonmc]

Got my chainplates back from the galvanisers and am ready to refit with spanking new ss coachbolts.
I have some concern, however, about getting a good seal in the deck where the chainplates emerge. By way of explanation, the plates are mounted on the hull stringers internally. The deck is canvas covered ply.
It was impossible to tell what had been used previously as it had degraded.
My only thought so far is to drive oakum in leaving a trough and top with Sikaflex.

Any thoughts?

 

[ccscott49]

Good idea the oakum and sikaflex, but do you really want to use stainless to fit them? The galvanising will deteriorate and the stainless may corrode without oxygen, you'd be much better using bronze, from classic marine. IMHO

 

[Mirelle]

I second that. Did mine last year, replaced galvanised bolts with bronze when the chainplates came back from the gavanisers. The pair that I did twelve years ago (and forgot that I had done them) were perfect. The galvanised bolts on the others were a bit nasty...

Now,my limited experience of chainplates passing through the deck (my old gaff cutter has external chain plates passing over channels) is that you will get slight movement here. If you can get a good caulking seam round them then I would certainly caulk it and Sikaflex over the top. Another method, which I am about to try on bulwark stanchions, is wooden wedges and a few coats of Coelan, but I have not tried this yet (it's impossible to caulk these without taking the bulwark rail off, which I am too idle to do this year).

 

[Peterduck]

The caulking is fine, but I would be inclined to use cotton rather than oakum,as it will expand when wet much more than oakum. It was always my understanding that caulking above the waterline [where you have alternating wet and dry conditions] is best done with cotton, and below the waterline, where conditions are much more stable, in oakum.
Peter.