Storfidra 25 where are my chainplates?!!

[yourmomm]

Hi all. So I've been trying to renovate this boat with as light touch as possible, but I fear the time has come to get a but more destructive (something I'm keen to avoid, if possible).

I've checked all over, and cant find any evidence of the chainplates. Obviously they're encapsulated somehow, but the bolt patterns visible directly underneath the shrouds suggest that the shrouds are simply connected a deck-mounted pad-eye, without even a backing plate! Is this even possible?! I assume not, on a boat that's done numerous transatlantics, and sailed to New Zealand, from Denmark....

So, I'm assuming there must be something more substantial, (not visible), buried between the cabin (polyester) liner, and the hull, but there is no other evidence of bolts for such hidden chainplates, either to bulkheads, or to the hull itself. Short of taking a saw to the mahogany lockers, and an angle grinder to the the polyester cabin liner underneath them, to investigate more, is there any knowledge out there of how these chainplates may actually be mounted, so I can minimize my destructive efforts to inspect them?!

Cheers in advance....

Ryan

 

[sarabande]

Some stainless steel is a bit magnetic, so a small compass moved over the hull surface might give some location clues.

Or a cable detector ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/cable-detector/s?page=1&rh=i:aps,k:cable detector

 

[yourmomm]

Thanks. Have tried a cable detector and its not sensitive enough to pick out the chainplates from everything else metal in that vicinity. Short of an x ray, the only thing I could think of is taking a heat gun to the shroud, and using an flir camera, if I can find someone to lend me their cat phone....?

 

[William_H]

Presumably OP has a deck mounted pad eye for the stays to connect to via a turn screw. (bottle screw). This arrangement can be fine provided the back of the pad eye is attached to something solid. Usually the deck itself is not solid enough to take the pull of the stays. The back of the pad eye must be connected to the hull often by a knee of wood or similar or via another stay wire down to the hull. If the pad eye is near the gunwhale then it may be possible to0 spread the load into the hull via the gunwhale. Now I am just waffling with generalities which OP is probably well aware of. (apologies) One option might be to raise the mast and tighten up the rigging. If you can see any raising of the deck at the pad eye then you need to be concerned if apparently really solid thna maybe it is OK. I can appreciate that OP might want to see and check the structure under the pad eye for peace of mind. So the only option will be to open up the furniture and liner. Or pursue this question with manufacturer or support group if any. ol'will (so no help at all)

 

[dom]

So, I'm assuming there must be something more substantial, (not visible), buried between the cabin (polyester) liner, and the hull, but there is no other evidence of bolts for such hidden chainplates, either to bulkheads, or to the hull itself. Short of taking a saw to the mahogany lockers, and an angle grinder to the the polyester cabin liner underneath them, to investigate more, is there any knowledge out there of how these chainplates may actually be mounted, so I can minimize my destructive efforts to inspect them?!

I’d say forget the saw and angle grinder for a moment!

If you wish to examine, consider buying or better borrowing an endoscope camera (cheap these days), drill a discrete access hole and have a look. You can then take pics and post on here if you’d like a second opinion?

 

[yourmomm]

Ok. I found them! (I think) they're probably encapsulated in the toe rail, running horizontally under the deck, (one chainplate to port, and one to starboard, with all port / starboard
shrouds connecting to this single chainplate, on each side of the boat). This is why the cable/stud detector was just going haywire, everywhere I put it, along the deck! There is/are no vertical attachment/s of these chainplates to the inside of the hull topsides, nor to any internal bulkheads, as far as I can make out, which is why I was so confused, and couldnt find them.

Has anyone come across such a design in other boats? Given its 50+ years old, and theres no obvious warning signs of movement/water intrusion/degradation of chainplates, although it may be an unusual design, it seems like it might be a good one?

 

[yourmomm]

Not my boat, but you can see the toe rail running under the shrouds...