chainplate replacement

Anyone have any recommendations for a service yard to replace chainplate assemblies in The North Channel of Lake Huron?

While on the topic, is there anyone who has seen or had external chainplates installed, thus eliminating the one glaring flaw in our island packets design?

I wonder if the factory would consider using titanium for the chain plates if feasible, i don't know of the strength of the material, but I do believe it does not rust. I too will look at replacing ours in the somewhat near future.

With the help of an excellent fiberglass guy, I was able to replace my chainplates up in the North Channel. Getting to them was a real bear, but was able to get it all back together with no left over pieces. Getting to the starboard backstay plate for replacement (part of the replacement kit sent by Garhauer)was easy. Still trying to figure out how to get at the port backstay plate. Anyone have any experience with this or any tips?

I replaced the chain plates on my 1991 IP35. But before I took the plunge, I asked a reputable local yard about the possibility of installing external chain plates on the outside of the hull. My thinking was that in the event the internal factory installed chain plates were still "good" then the installation of external chain plates would be a nice insurance policy. Of course if the internal plates were bad, then the external install would be a "win". The obvious advantage to external chain plates would be ease of inspection and repair/replace in the event of deterioration.

However, the IP was not designed for external chain plates. As a result, the hull would not have the proper reinforcing for the installation of external chain plates. Additionally, the mounting of a external system would most certainly have to be done vertically, where as the internal factory ones are installed horizontal to spread out the loads. A vertical mounting would most likely not spread the load out sufficiently to accomplish the original goal of the chain plates, and could possibly concentrate the load in a manner which would be destructive to the hull.

I'm not an engineer, but this is just what my research and Q&A has turned up. Hopefully someone out there has had a successful install of external chain plates so that this subject/debate could continue...

We have just completed the external chain plate replacement modification to our 1985 IP-31. Our research data showed that in over 200+ IP's the factory only knows of 7 failures. Most of these were due to dissimilar metals of the welding rod and chain plates themselves primarily in older IP's. We had only evidence of one of our 6 shrouds showing signs of weld failure. We went with "stubby" externals which only extend less than 5" below the caprail. They are thrubolted to existing encased horizontal chain plate structure which showed no signs of stress or corrosion. Cabinets did have to be removed and replaced but this is pretty routine for the knowledgeable IP carpenter/technician. We are very pleased. Cost $1900 labor and materials. Sorry, I'm 900 miles from "Nomad" so pictures will have to come later. Mike and Carol, "Nomad" IP-31 #49

wow, 1900 is way under the 10,000 dollars that is getting tossed around. I would be interested in details such as pictures and who did the work. Any data on the integrity of this modification?

We had the Island Packet factory guy, Randy Myrick, who moonlights in the Sarasota/St Petersburg area do the work. He is the same one who also installed our new solid tongue&groove teak cabin sole. He's been at the IP factory for over 25 years . Great craftsman and wonderful guy. PM me for contact info if you wish. We have no data about the integrity of external chain plate modifications but the collective experience of the factory techs is that it is very rare that anything BUT the welds on the tabs is the failure mode. These external stubby plates tie directly into the horizontal "H" of the fiberglass encased chai plate anchoring system. We're confident. Pictures later. Mike "Nomad"

I second the desire to see details on the external chainplates and pictures! Thought about this for my IP27...

Enclosed are a couple of pictures of our 'stubby' chain plate attachments. Note that the tabs of the original chain plate are still intact. So, essentially these are additional fortification held by larger, longer clevis pins and relieve any stress that may be on the suspect welds. These are drilled directly into the upper horizontal bar of the original anchoring system as these have no signs of rust or deformity in the hull attachment straps. Hope this helps. Mike Raceboat61-S "Nomad". IP-31 #49

Raceboat61-S
How are those stubby chainplates working out for you?
Any problems?
Thanks
Ed