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The PO had my sea berth turned into cupboards and the forward part (just forward of the 2 chainplates) into a spot for an A/C unit. I was not using the A/C so I removed it yesterday. On the starboard side there is a vertical rod that runs from one of the chainplates down - that makes sense, but there is also a horizontal rod that runs from the bottom of the main chainplate to the aft end of the aft hanging locker - is this standard or did the PO modify it for some reason? I cannot see what this would accomplish,

thanks for any input

Richard
#136

We had the exact same question. We removed the horizontal rod and replaced it with a regular bolt. Especially since the nut on the forward end was fused to the rod, so cutting it was the only way to get it out.

The vertical rod looks like it's there to compensate for the big hole in the bulkhead that provides the pilot berth foot-space. Ours is bolted through the bulkhead independently of the chainplates. So we didn't touch that one.

Ok, good to know that horizontal bar is original, still can't imagine what it's used for though,

Richard

I have the horizontal bar attached to the port aft lower bottom bolthole in my 1980 boat. The foot hole for the pilot's berth means there is not a lot of support to prevent the aft lower from rotating forward and up and out the deck. That long bolt goes to a full bulkhead forward which prevents the bottom of the aft lower from moving.

How important is the rod in the grand scheme of things? I don't know for sure but if you have had any water intrusion on the mainstay and/or the aft lower you may have issues with that knee hole bulkhead. I'm keeping the bolt installed on my boat just in case.

Just my opinion.

Good to know it's standard, I will leave all in place, thanks

Richard