I use teak sawdust mixed with epoxy to repair holes and any bad spots in my bulkheads or other wood on the boat.

:: On Chain plate inspection.
::
:: After removing bolts/washers, nuts . . . make sure the
:: bulkhead through the holes looks shinny and burnished.
:: Poke around with an ice pik or sailmakers needs to
:: inspect the integrity of the plywood.
::
:: Replace bolts with some nice hex head shank bolts; the
:: kind with 3 or 4 hatches on the head of the bolt
:: indicating maximum strength.
::
:: My boat is a one knee forward reinforcement only design.
:: Some of those washers have sunk into the forward knee.
:: So, right now, I just doubled up on the washers with the
:: sunk one acting as a sheer ring of sorts. Anyone have a
:: better solution? Can the 1st (outside) sunken layer of
:: the plyfood on the forward bulkhead knee be filled in
:: with some sort of epoxy vs. replacing the knee itself?
::
:: Also, on the bulkhead; the bottom portion of the chain
:: plate is tipped into the bulkhead by a milimeter or so.
:: Anyone glass over where the chainplates attach on the
:: afterside of the bulkhead? Any other solutions for
:: reinforcement/repair?
::
:: mb
::
:: :: The rig was down when I did this but it is not
:: :: neccessary. The whole process was quick, although time
:: :: adds up if you have to dig out balsa. That sounds like a
:: :: good job plan described in Ralph's message.
:: ::
:: ::
:: :: :: There's no need to take the mast down. The aft lower
:: :: :: shrouds will hold the mast up while you work on the
:: :: :: chain plates. This would be a good time to check the
:: :: :: balsa core in the deck around the chain plates. Dig out
:: :: :: any wet or rotten balsa core; let the hole in the deck
:: :: :: dry out; tape the hole under the deck: fill the hole
:: :: :: with epoxy and silica filler; re-drill the slot for the
:: :: :: chain plate; check for rot in the chainplate bolt holes
:: :: :: in the bulkhead; repair any damage with epoxy; re-drill
:: :: :: the holes; replace the bolts if they are corroded;
:: :: :: re-bolt the chainplates to the bulkhead; and re-caulk
:: :: :: the chainplate holes in the deck.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Andy, thanks for the reminder. I have not done a thing
:: :: :: :: to mine except visually inspect them. I want to reseal
:: :: :: :: them this winter and am wondering if you took down your
:: :: :: :: rig to do it. I can see where I may be able to keep the
:: :: :: :: rig up, but since you have recently done it, did you
:: :: :: :: drop your mast?