I had to replace my upper chainplate on the starboard side (cracks). While I was at it I replaced both uppers. That was 2 years ago. I wanted to replace them all but that's the way it is when you have a schedule.

In May of this year on a sucky passage my starboard forward lower broke (sounded like we hit something). We're now replacing the rest of them along with the backstay chainplate.

My question is,, do the uppers take more stress than the lowers or backstay or is the stress somewhat equal on all the chainplates.

My thought was that the lowers don't take as much stress but then when the lower broke I started rethinking that assumption. Now I'm starting to believe that the lowers take more stress.