E-35 III chainplates and rigging overhaul

[Rhett_m]

Hi all. I wanted to share a few pictures of my rigging project. Hopefully it helps someone out who’s going through, or thinking about doing this. After sailing on a relatively calm day in Southern California, I snapped the u bolt on the port forward untold right at the deck due to crevice corrosion. I believe these I bolts with the flat top were original from Ericson in 1982. I decided to replace all of them, but I had a hard time sourcing them. I wound up having some made from 1/2” 316 stainless rod from Casey at pacific offshore rigging. I had the two starboard aluminum backing plates made by dynamic marine machining. The port ones were sanded and re anodized. I bedded with 4200. I also put a thin film of 4200 on the mating surface of the aluminum block in hopes that it alleviates friction on the fiberglass surface, thus reducing the chances of it wearing the anodized surface causing corrosion. Right now I’ve only done the lower shrouds, but I have the parts to do the side stays. I’m going to drop the mast when I do those because I’m going to refurbish the mast step.

 

[Frank Langer]

Rhett,
Looks very good! However, it looks like you are putting 4200 on the inside aluminum piece as well. While I understand that one wouldn't want water dripping inside the boat, it would give you an earlier indication of water getting inside the deck in the future. But maybe I am missing something.
Thanks for sharing this!
Frank

 

[Rhett_m]

Rhett,
Looks very good! However, it looks like you are putting 4200 on the inside aluminum piece as well. While I understand that one wouldn't want water dripping inside the boat, it would give you an earlier indication of water getting inside the deck in the future. But maybe I am missing something.
Thanks for sharing this!
Frank

 

[Rhett_m]

Rhett,
Looks very good! However, it looks like you are putting 4200 on the inside aluminum piece as well. While I understand that one wouldn't want water dripping inside the boat, it would give you an earlier indication of water getting inside the deck in the future. But maybe I am missing something.
Thanks for sharing this!
Frank

That is a very good point. I may regret it down the road. I did consider that, but I decided to do it to try and give it some abrasion resistance against the bare fiberglass. The last ones corroded out because the anodized surface wore off. I did over drill the holes and filled with epoxy then drilled new holes for the U bolts. Fingers crossed it seals well from the top.

 

[Frank Langer]

That is a very good point. I may regret it down the road. I did consider that, but I decided to do it to try and give it some abrasion resistance against the bare fiberglass. The last ones corroded out because the anodized surface wore off. I did over drill the holes and filled with epoxy then drilled new holes for the U bolts. Fingers crossed it seals well from the top.

Rhett,
A few years ago I actually drilled 1/8" holes thru the inside fibreglass under the deck, about every 18" along the toe rails, headsail track and at the chainplates. I can easily check for any dripping or wetness in the headliner to get an early warning of leaks. Although they have all stayed dry since I did this, it gives me some peace of mind.
Frank

 

[Rhett_m]

That’s a really good idea. Even better that they’re bone dry! I actually took the entire headliner out of my boat, sanded and painted with an epoxy paint. I found all kinds of random leaks after I did that. Thanks for your input!