Mack:
Agreed those are not chainplates. As I recall, the chainplates come through near the front of the salon and are clearly visible from the ceiling to a bulkhead. Mine were covered with white plastic if memory serves. I don’t recall the support plates shown in your photo, but I agree it probably has something to do with deck tabbing (probably tied into the genny track). On my 1978 34 (which I sold about 10 years ago), there were several tabbing issues, including the main salon bulkheads. It was not difficult to repair, but doing so became necessary because bulkheads moved and doors wouldn’t close. We put a jack between the main salon bulkhead walls (just below the ceiling), pushed the walls back into place against the hull, and used West System to tab the walls securely in place. Worked fine. I don’t believe the bulkheads are connected to the ceiling either. I saw no need to do so, but make sure the interior partners are bolted to the mast. I believe this helps to hold the deck down. In addition, I had two deck leaks I could not resolve. The vertical poles in the main salon are held in place by a small deck fitting. As Nathan described below, I had water dripping down the pole on the starboard side to the bottom of the bulkhead and underneath the stove. I sealed that darn thing numerous times but could never completely stop the leak. I also had a leak further aft on the same side, and water accumulated at the aft end of the galley. I never figured out where that water was coming from. My windows also leaked. The listers here developed a window replacement technique using 3M tape and a certain brand of silicone that works like a charm. In my case, the ‘78 vintage had the old oval style windows like the mid-70s 33-1. I replaced them with Lewmar opening ports to ventilate down below. A huge improvement, especially on hot days. Aside from the above issues (which were a nuisance but repairable/manageable), the 34 was a great boat. A little squirrely with the chute up in 20 knots of breeze (much like my 42), but a great boat. Matt From: Nathan Post via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2023 2:31 PM To: Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Nathan Post <nathan8...@gmail.com> Subject: Stus-List Re: C&C 34 aluminum plates on bulkhead Hello Mack, I have a 1981 C&C 34 and those outboard vertical plates on the bulkheads are stainless steel, not aluminum. I would be very skeptical if any of those components have been replaced with aluminum. These components attach the deck to the bulkheads since to save cost (and allow the molded head liner) the bulkheads were not tabbed in to the deck. I haven't had leaks there on my boat at the point you describe (my genoa tracks seem well sealed). However, the windows are hard to seal and might be leaking and so it is also possible that is where the water is coming from and then dripping down to the bulkhead (I would say that is in fact a likely source of water in that area). Of course also check that the bulkhead isn't rotted. The plates on top of the metal poles close to the main traveler also are a problematic leak point (for me on the starboard side a little water drips down the inside of that tube and ends up under the stove). I would agree that if the bulkhead is rotted beyond repair and needs to be replaced that might be a deal breaker. Regardless you definitely want to check the whole deck for soft spots - around the head vent, chain plates and penetrations for the bulkhead attachments were the main problems on my boat (where I replaced the core in 2020 - see https://photos.app.goo.gl/8W4AdgmKqKxARvsY7 if you are curious about what I did). All repairable but good to know what you are getting into as it is a big project (I also glassed a lot of old holes that weren't needed and rebedded almost all the deck hardware, replaced the fixed windows, rebuilt the forward hatch, and added a bow roller and asym tack point https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN46y4vVixlceiv3AjB6UPNMGJqgTuuwxos4pobHlp1XsBQnteV-IcwYMBlBfcjXw?key=aTVDcEFMX3dzVFVSeFZVY256WWs5bkYtSlpWM2hR as part of the project). Feel free to reach out if you have other questions on the boat. Nathan S/V Wisper 1981 C&C 34 KCB Portland ME On Tue, Jan 31, 2023 at 1:33 PM Mack McKinney via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: Hi everyone! I'm seriously considering purchasing a 1980 C&C 34. I have yet to make an in-person inspection, as the boat is 4 hours away, but in pictures I notice attached to the partial bulkheads which separate the settees from the galley/nav area there are what appear to be chainplates. Those aluminum plates are rather far aft for any standing rigging. Their purpose, I reckon, is to reinforce the genoa track (correct me if I'm way off, and these are distinguished from the aluminum tubes which, I suppose, reinforce the mainsheet traveler. So, here's my question: there is noticeable water incursion, as there is some streaking on the port bulkhead below the "chainplate." I assume I need to be prepared for deck core rot, and possible rot in the teak plywood of the bulkhead. The extent of any rot, if it requires the replacement of that bulkhead, may be a deal-breaker. Thoughts? Am I on the right track? Thanks, Mack Formerly C&C 30-104 Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu
Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu