I have always struggled to seal the forestry chainplate penetrations in our bow locker.  It’s a difficult design to caulk, and it moves enough while sailing that even a perfect job has a short lifespan.  I have tried different products, and different techniques, and was not happy with any of the results.

So I asked the Amel experts here in Martinique it fix it. I figured I learn how to do it so that when it came time to do it again, I’d know how.  Little did I expect, there will be no “next time” for caulking these holes…

The Super Maramu forestay chainplate comes down through a slot in the deck, and then through a slot in the bow.  Both of these have been chronic leaks for us.



This is the inside of the locker, as built.  Instead of using a new method of caulking these holes that I could learn, the Amel staff eliminated the problem altogether.  As they explained to me, this was the only solution they found to make the system really watertight.  What they did, was build a box around eh chainplate, basically a tunnel so water just flow through and has no access to the locker at all.  

Here was the first step, after removing the hose and power wires:



A solid GRP angle was made, and then epoxied in place to make the tunnel for the chainplate.  It is not glued to the metal, so the chainplate can be removed if need be.

Once that was in place, it was glassed over and gel coated to make it pretty.



I wasn’t excited that they glassed over one of the nuts that hold the stem piece on the bow, but that is a minor issue I’ll deal with if I need to take it apart.  I’ll never have to worry about this leaking again, and that makes me very happy. 

Now, why didn’t I think of this???

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Le Marin, Martinique