Cruiser chain plate covers

[Happysailor]

Hi all,

On our Cruiser 41 (2014) I have found some nasty leakage from our PS chainplate cover. Noted already another thread on the site and this was solved by a strong hose down with HP washer..
Seems to be a rust run, from an area which should all be stainless. Did anyone have the same experience?

Interested about your found causes and how the space can be inspected/ cover to be removed (footrail to be loosened?)

Looking forward to your replies!

[tiger79]

Mine also had rust stains down the hull. The cover is fibreglass and is glued on with Sikaflex or similar.  I had to destroy the cover to remove it!  Sourced a new cover from SVB.  Modified the lower edge of the new cover to allow better drainage.  Glued the new cover on and rigged up a simple weighted lever arrangement to apply pressure to hold the cover in place while the glue set.  No need to loosen the footrail, the cover just slides under it.

[Happysailor]

Thank you for the reply and the pictures!
Did you find any reasons for the rustruns (besides poor drainage?)

[tiger79]

The rust stains were a mystery!  The chainplate and its bolts all looked good.

[Happysailor]

Having seen the picture, I have decided to give it a good clean first. Today I cleaned the surrounding of the cover very well and with hard brush, I cleaned the drain gap at the bottom and thoroughly flushed the hollow space through. There was at least a lot of muck coming out of it.. perhaps it does the trick? Wait and see!