A chainplate is a metal plate used to fasten a shroud or stay to the hull of a sailboat. One end of the chainplate is normally fastened to a turnbuckle which is connected to the shroud or stay, whereas the remainder of the chainplate normally has multiple holes that are bolted to the hull, or the chains.[1] This distributes the load across the hull, making it possible for a somewhat lighter hull to support the load of the shrouds and stays.