Chainplate alert! Sun Magic 44

[MalcolmP]

Chainplate alert!


Kjetil Hagland has just posted this warning in the Sun Magic 44 Facebook group. 

www.facebook.com/groups/717821301755457/

It is possible that this fracture might occur with other designs using a similar system, so worth checking.


I noted recently that my port side chainplate had a 2 mm gap to deck. I decided to open under deck to get access to the bolts.

The pictures are self explanatory.



There is a long crack in one weld in the bracket below.



There are serious consequences if this fails so I will take it out and have it repaired.




I recommend that all owners perform an inspection of this.



I tightened the bolts a litle bit. The gap between the chainplate and deck did not change much.

So i assume this gap has been there always and I have just not noticed this before. How do your chaiplates look like?

Kjetil Hagland  April 2020

[Charlie-Bravo]

That looks alarming !
The good news is that this is not a fatigue failure which could effect all of the same design, but contamination of the parts being welded and/or the filler material, so not a generic design failier ..... just an unlucky build, with a fabricator welder not paying enough attention .... or being told to hurry up.
The clue is the central crack, welds solidify from the edges of the parent material toward the centre of the weld, and concentrate any contamination at the middle, seen it quite a few times ...... alarmingly on nuclear and petrochemical things rather than yachts.

Still worth others checking ....... might have been the same welder !

Great post with good photos, hope you find a good fabricator to re weld it.

CB
( very qualified to comment)

[MalcolmP]

Apr 13, 2020 18:28:38 GMT Charlie-Bravo said:

CB
( very qualified to comment)

Thanks CB I have passed on your comments to the SM44 Facebook group.