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Looking for your ideas on attachment point for backstay bridle. Whilst fitting new chainplate (u-bolt) for Starboard side of Backstay Bridle, I found the following. From above (outside it appears the GRP is about 4mm (maybe 5mm) thick. When I started tightening the nuts, they just kept going and there was a cracking sound. It appears there is a wood backing that has been glassed in. You guessed, brownish water started dripping down. Access is difficult. Has anyone done any work in this area or encountered the same problem? I am thinking of cutting and fitting a larger backing (plastic cutting board/stainless/aluminium/ply/hardwood) say 150 by 60mm and just tightening the nuts to squash the now soggy original backing. Will try to dry the area as best I can today. Does anyone have more knowledge of the chainplate attachment point? Cheers, John

John is the soggy stuff actual fibreglass or is it an added backing plate made of timber. If it's fibreglass you should dry it all out and see what is left, then perhaps re-fill it with some fibreglass resin first, taking it out to good substrate. Then get a decent backing plate to spread the load a little more.

If it is a timber backing plate that's gone soggy and the glass is OK, then clean it all up and replace the backing with, as you say, cutting board or stainless. If you use cutting board, make sure you use at least 40mm diameter washers so the u-bolts don't pull through the plastic.

Hope it works out for you.

Job done. Used backing board, made up a few pieces (different sizes and thicknesses). After numerous trips into the deep dark corners of the starboard aft side I am happy to report that all is secure. It was trial and error trying the different pieces, bolt on check, unbolt, try next combination. Cheers John

I often think about the condition of mine. I think if i do, do it i will make up a plate that bolts through the transom and the backstay attaches at the top of the plate. Now you have scared me i might have to have a better look at mine

In all 3 cases of chainplate/securing point damage on my boat water was the cause.
Cheers, John

P.S. Things could have been designed and built to be stronger (then again, built to a cost and some THs have been places). Places i will probably never go.

If anyone needs to replace the smaller chainplates (fore and aft lowers and stern),Blackwood (order online and delivery is about $10) have 316 s/s at really low prices, HOWEVER, they are round u-bolts, not same shape as original