Every time someone talks about replacing their chain plates, i.e., large tangs, I wonder about materials and costs and such. I made the chainplates on my old boat, Passage, from silicon bronze in my little wood shop. It might be harder to find bronze plate or 'strap' these days, I don't know anymore. Size is another matter as my chain plates were only 1/4" thick but bronze is easy to work, especially compared to SS, easy to bore, easy to shape, and time honored in performance. Or so it seems to me.