Chain plates

[rjbaren]

Thanks for the warning. The boat is in now in Fresh water and has been hauled for the season. I took photos but I don't know how to post them. It doesn't appear as any water has leaked near the chain plates. I have a few deck leaks that I want to stop and the chain plates seemed to be a good place to try next. I have done most of the toe rail screws, stanchions, hatches but there are still some little puddles I find in the bilges. I am not sure where it is leaking. Maybe the jib car track.
There is no rust on the chain plates, they are very clean. I can see one side of the lower shrouds bolted below deck and it too looks fine and dry. The chain plates seem to be embedded in fiber glass as I said, and there is no gap between the fiberglass blocks and the plates themselves is very very tight. I can't slip anything in there as there is no space. I don't think water is getting in there. I think it may be the caulk joint in the teak deck surrounding the fiberglass blocks. The areas that have sealer or caulk are the grooves between the deck that surround the blocks of fiberglass. There is about a 1/2 to 3/4 on an inch of fiberglass between the deck joints and the chain plates.
Any way I can attach a photo?

Thanks.

[Douglas]

I concur with Brion's wise words of wisdom .

Some books that I have read in the past , say to "never" pot SS especially when used in or around salt water .

This holds true with fiberglass rudders that have SS shafts potted in them .

Another SS potted problem occurs when boat builders embed SS lower bobstay chainplates inside the stem head .

As a safety measure , Marine Surveyors recommend to replace all SS structural fittings after 10 years exposure to a salt water environment .