[C320-list] Chain Plates

[sail0983 at aol.com]

Recently Jeff Church provided the steps for rebedding your chain 
plates. This prompted me to take a close look at the chain plates on my 
2004 (983) boat. While have never seen any water around the chain 
plates in the cabin or any evidence of water leakage upon close 
inspection I did discover some evidence of rust around the edge of a 
couple of plates. This indicates to me that there must be some water 
getting through the seal on the deck. Now my questions: (1) do you need 
to step the mast to do this work. (2) If you don't have to step the 
mast what is the process for slacking the standing rigging. (3) Should 
you use the main halyard to hold tension on the side that you are 
working on. (4) Is it reasonible for a boat at the end of its 4th 
season to need to have the chain plates redone.

David Marchant
Solomons, Maryland
Illumination - 983
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