Sailing Catalpa · video

What this video covers

The crew of the 40-year-old Pearson sailboat Catalpa is replacing corroded, cracked chain plates as part of a major refit to ensure structural integrity for future ocean passages.0:50 The original stainless steel chain plates showed significant degradation, including cracks near the deck interface where moisture and lack of oxygen caused crevice corrosion.0:41 New custom-fabricated 316L stainless steel chain plates from Schaefer Marine were installed, utilizing a water-jet cutting process to ensure precision and maintain material integrity.5:55 The project also includes installing new Hammer Marine rigging, applying KiwiGrip non-skid coating to the deck, and upgrading interior lighting to dimmable, red-and-white Lumatec LED dome lights to improve power efficiency for off-grid sailing.18:01 During the refit, the owner accidentally damaged electrical wiring in the anchor locker while using a die grinder to clean chain plate holes, necessitating repairs to terminals and wiring insulation.14:57 Replacing aging chain plates is a critical foundation for rig safety, as hidden cracks can lead to mast failure under the high loads of heavy weather.10:17

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