Hi, Douglas,
Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the bow from the anchor side - the chainplate connected to the forestay toggle goes down a foot or so and is bolted to the bow. The welding is not structural, but you're right - there is surface corrosion.
The boat is 35 years old and manufacturing and rebedding of the same bow plate would be a major and expensive undertaking... This bow plate does make me worry - it's the only original chainplate on the boat, even though the new ones have developed just as much corrosion in the last 2 years.
I was on a delivery trip last year on a Tayana 52, and the bow chainplate did fail at some point, so it's a scary thought. Luckily, we noticed it just in time, so the mast stayed in place:
http://www.sailblogs.com/sbgallery/p...w/sbnfu8mu.jpg
It would be great if there was a way to protect the forestay in case the bow chainplate fails, but I can't think of anything that could really help in my case.
Thanks,
Gleb