Thursday, April 5, 2012

Titanium Chainplates - the future....

Just read my second magazine article about Titanium Plates and it all seems to make sense.

• High strength to weight ratio,
• Low Density – approximately half the weight of steel,nickel and copper alloys,
• Inherent Flexibility – an elastic modulus that is approximately 55% of steel,
• Extended Fatigue Life – more than twice that of steel,
Exceptional Corrosion Resistance – resists chlorides, seawater, sour and oxidizing environments,
• Superior Erosion Resistance – erosion corrosion, cavitation and impingement in flowing turbulent fluids,
• Non‐magnetic.


First I pulled the existing chainplates.  Not a major job as I had already removed most of my hull panels and when I replaced them I left the chainplate bolts accessible and exposed.  Keep in mind also that I have no Mizzen.


The little guy on the right is an upper mast tang.


Before you take measurements off Teds original plans or use one of the plates as a template for the rest, ask yourself the  question;  "Do you feel lucky, Punk".  A lot of the holes line up, some don't.


It will be no fun refilling the existing holes in the fiberglass and re-drilling them.

I will probably order Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) Titanium with sand blasted finish.  Interestingly someone suggested that the polished finish is too shiny while the blasted finish is cheaper and holds the deck sealant better.

Allied Titanium

4 comments:

Ocean Dove said...

If the original chain plates last 25 years or more is the extra expense of Titanium necessary so they can now last 50 years or more?
just a thought.

The Incredible Hull said...

Yes, But I worry about the one that only lats 10 years because of crevice corrosion. A 30% premium does not appear too for this peace of mind. I will admit to a certain level of neurosis about chain plates.

builder said...

I'm with you on the titanium. Wish I thought of it a couple years ago before I installed mine. If a stainless plate is gonna fail, it will at the worst time (in a blow) and the ensuing disaster could be cascading (losing a rig). Yes, worth the extra peace of mind.

Christopher Grreimes said...

Actually, Titanium is corrosion free in the natural environment, so titanium chainplates would last virtually indefinitely.