Leaking Below Chainplates, How Bad is it?

[MarkSF]

The water's getting in because the seal at the deck is not good. This implies that water's getting into the core of the cored deck too. You need to fix that leakage as part of the repair.

[DeepFrz]

I trust your mast is down.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by SailorKeddy

OK, thanks. Calms me down, one step at a time! I guess my next question is, where do I start with the chainplate removal? Drill holes around it to get a saw in there and cut it out of the bulkhead? Or just start by removing the fiberglass and leave the bulkhead intact for the time being?

Not to add to your woes, but there's a good chance the bulkhead will have to be replaced. Until you remove the fiberglass you won't really know whether you've got a good attachment point for the new chainplate.

Sorry to be the bearer of such a grim prospect.

[Cheechako]

ya, check for soft wood in the bulkhead. If it's just in the deck/hull corner, not very structural (except to the chainplate!) Anyway, get rid of any soft wood.

[minaret]

Glassed in chainplates are never a good idea, and this is why.

[SailorKeddy]

Yeah, I had an idea this would be a bit of a project. So it goes, I got the boat for a song and shes mostly stout otherwise.

No, the mast isn't down but I do have the jib halyard attached to the rail and cranked on.