Storfidra 25 where are my chainplates?!!

[Yourmomm]

Hi all. So I've been trying to renovate this boat with as light touch as possible, but I fear the time has come to get a but more destructive (something I'm keen to avoid, if possible).

I've checked all over, and cant find any evidence of the chainplates. Obviously they're encapsulated somehow, but the bolt patterns visible directly underneath the shrouds suggest that the shrouds are simply connected a deck-mounted pad-eye, without even a backing plate! Is this even possible?! I assume not, on a boat that's done numerous transatlantics, and sailed to New Zealand, from Denmark....

So, I'm assuming there must be something more substantial, (not visible), buried between the cabin (polyester) liner, and the hull, but there is no other evidence of bolts for such hidden chainplates, either to bulkheads, or to the hull itself. Short of taking a saw to the mahogany lockers, and an angle grinder to the the polyester cabin liner underneath them, to investigate more, is there any knowledge out there of how these chainplates may actually be mounted, so I can minimize my destructive efforts to inspect them?!

Cheers in advance....

Ryan

[Auzzee]

I don't know much about the particular boat, but it appears, from the rudimentary drawings on Sailboatdata that it must have a deck stepped mast. As there appears to be no compression post as such (at least in the photos I can see on the 'net), I assume the load is taken by a beam above the forward bulkhead.


If indeed it is a deck stepped mast, the chain plates need to be more substantial than if it were a keel stepped job. The terminal points seem to be well outboard so, I assume, the bolts either go into a formed longitudinal beam under the deck to hull join, or more likely, there will be a steel 'knee' glassed onto the inside of the hull, generally beneath each cap shroud terminal, and which turns under the deck for the specific purpose of taking the load of the rigging.

Generally this would be mild, rather than stainless steel, and is probably quite large and about 1/4" plate with a small gusset at the turn. If you have your mast installed and the rig tensioned, take a look from close to either end of the boat, along the topsides, to see if there is a small dip in the topsides below the point where the shrouds attach to the deck. This could be the telltale that demonstrates the chain plates are attached to the inside of the hull. In many older boats, the tension on the rigging will deform the hull slightly where the chain plates are physically attached.

The system is quite good providing the attachment point doesn't have cracks around it where water can get in. If you suspect water has got in, there is little option but to operate to make sure there is no serious corrosion...remember a rigging failure will always occur when it is under the most load!

What you may be able to do is to look inside under the turn at the hull-deck joint and see if there is a small ridge or step below and to either side of the on deck attachment points. If there is you may be able to carefully drill a small (say 1/8") hole upward, from the bottom of the ridge or step, to see if any rusty water or other corrosive crap comes out. If not, it's a fair bet the plates have maintained their integrity.

I reiterate, I know nothing of these mighty little boats and I am making suggestions based on my history with mush larger craft. However, I hope you get the problem sorted out without any great difficulty. Please keep us updated on the results. Best wishes.