Making chainplates

[Ryan]

Can anyone offer a reason not to fabricate your own chainplates? I am looking at replacing the 6 on my 25' boat, and I can get 304 stainless bar stock for a fraction of the cost of new chainplates. I don't mind the work in cutting and drilling, and I have access to tools capable of handling the material. Any reasons not to undertake this?

[TomP]

Ryan,

If you were to look closely at the "off-the-shelf" chainplates you will see that they are polished.

You can certainely fabricate your own. If you want to polish them you can, but at the very least passivate them. When you drill thru bar stock you expose the carbon in the root of the stock, passivating them will bring the nickel and chromium to the surface so they will not rust.

Be carful with sizing. the stock should be at least as large, if not larger, than the originals. Skene's Elements could help you determine the exact size.