I have never done this, but pretty sure I will need to remove inspect and maybe replace some or all of the chainplates. A bolt on the middle side stay plate simply sheared off and if I hadnt had the boat out on the trailer to clean the bottom would have not noticed for a long time.
The boat is in the water and a dock at the end of a pond - a few small boat wakes come in now and then.So I have the fore and back stays in place and have attached the spinnaker halyard down to one turnbuckle on one side, and the jib halyard attached to a turnbuckle on the other. Tightened both as much as I could. I assume this is plenty of support while I am removing the other two turnbuckles/plates on each side?
My plan is to do both of the plates for the middle stays, that go to the top of the mast, and then move the support lines to those turnbuckles and do the other 4 stays that attach at the spreader. Sound like a plan? Not sure if the hull will need fiberglass patching where the plates attach.
Also I know the 316 stainless is better than the 304 - should I figure out how to get 316 bolts and plates, or not worth it. Again, the plates may be ok, hope to start getting some off today.
Thanks
Yes, it is a good plan that should be plenty of support.
316 for the plates, 18-8 (304) for the fasteners.
http://www.bosunsupplies.com/StainlessInfo2/