I forgot to mention that i presently have old 3/32 wire and swages all around that needs changing; to small in my estimation. my turnbuckles are 3/8 and I've already bought good used 1/2 ones. The present lower is about 12" forward of the upper shroud chainplate and I plan to add the additional lower chainplate the same distance to the rear. Reason for doing this is the inboard chainplates are fastened to a 3/4 board taped to the hull and are buldging up the deck as there is a cross plate welded to the chainplates that presses on the underside of the deck. I suspect that the deck is doing most of the holding and is why it is buldging up. I have to work on the chainplates one way or another and adding a second lower would enhance the stability of the rig.

re: splicing. I'm to cheap to buy mechanical fittings and i figure that the 316 wire will outlast any swage. I figure that I can do at least one splice an evening; there is no wife to complain so the time is open. I saw another boat with split pvc pipe around it's shrouds and chainplates so i'm thinking of doing the same to keep the splices covered.

I bought the boat a few months ago and really don't trust the rig the way it is.

what inspired me is i saw another 29 with outboard chainplates and it looked nice and traditional.