Titanium chain plates have arrived....

The expensive ones are on the left.

I'm really happy with the service from Allied Titanium and if anyone is contemplating this route I have no reservations in recommending this gentleman who has provided outstanding service thorough the process; 

 Ken Schaefer

        Sales Representative

  16192 Coastal Hwy, #162507

        Lewes, DE 19958

      www.alliedtitanium.com

     ken.schaefer@alliedtitanium.com

       Office: (302)722-8200 Ext 103

       Cell 302-249-3295

       Skype: (302) 725-0982

          Fax: (302) 497-7111

Titanium Chainplates make no economic sense....

but then again neither does a sailboat.  Let me start by saying that I have ordered 8 titanium chain-plates for an average cost of +/- $200 each, when you take into account titanium bolts, nuts and washers.  My frugal cruiser friends will have a fit, but its not all my fault.  I served 23 years in a small underfunded Navy of a small (now poor again) country.  On the rare occasion when we got to buy new equipment we knew that it would be worked twice as hard and be expected to last twice as long as its original design.  We therefore OVER specked the requirement.  Now that I am personally picking up the tab this illness causes me many sleepless nights.

Titanium Chain-plates are a no-brainer for the following;

1.  Rich people.
2.  New boat build (especially where the chain-plates are buried.)
3.  People who have to pay a "professional" $70+ an hour to remove and install the chain-plates.  
4.  Neurotics like me.

They are not recommended for;

1.  Any boat with Baggywrinkles.
2.  Any production boat under 30 ft.
3.  Cruisers who price their time at 25Cents an hour and spend hours sorting old screws and dubious SS fittings into little boxes (Jim, you know who you are).


So far Allied Titanium had been a pleasure to deal with (except for giving over my CC details bit).

http://www.alliedtitanium.com/products/marine/vupdc_Detail.php?UPDCID=51746003

N.B.  Ignore the quoted price, I'm not that neurotic.
 

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

Titanium Chain Plates...

Check this out;

Practical Sailor

Its worth picking up a Dec 2011 issue, or even better suscribe.  I will post more later, but I think its a runner.  $200 (approx) per chainplate from Allied Titanium.  No corrosion issues.

Allied Titanium