My chainplates came in from Westsail Parts, preceding my arrival from Saint Lucia. I don't know if I mentioned it in a previous post, but I had a professional rigger inspect my rigging and he pointed out some microcracks in almost all Annie's chainplates. Obviously, being a major component of the boat, they had to be replaced... "Easier said than done."
When Westsail built the W32, I don't think they were overly concerned with ease of replacement regarding the chainplates. I had to contort my body in ways that a fifty-eight year old man is not intended to contort. "I'm too old for this" was the phrase that echoed through my mind while being twisted in so many painful and unnatural positions. That was especially true while I was lying down in the hanging locker trying to reach the starboard forward chainplate bolts. (I eventually hired a young, small framed, mechanic from the boatyard to conquer that particular chainplate... it was well worth the twenty bucks).
Bottom line - the new chainplates are on and I can now move on to painting Annie and splashing her.
Fair seas and God bless!
Good job on changing the chainplates. One of mine bent in my hand when I replaced mine with one bolt holding to the hull. It might be a pain to replace, but well worth it.
ReplyDeleteOnce my soreness is over, I'll agree. LOL
Delete