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07-07-2017, 09:47 AM
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#1
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Guru
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,760
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Rusty Anchor Chain ?
My anchor chain is rusty yet it does not appear to have lost thickness. I do end for end it occasionally. I've read that there is approximately one tenth the amount of metal lost as compared to the amount of rust. How do you determine when the chain is at the end of its usable life?
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Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
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07-07-2017, 10:05 AM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,663
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When you can no longer keep your decks clean.
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Keith
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07-07-2017, 10:09 AM
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#3
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Valued Technical Contributor
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,786
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Well, there are two considerations: how much metal and strength is lost to rust and how big the chain is in relation to your anchor loads. 1/4" G4 and 3/8" BBB have approximately the same safe working load limit- about 2,600 lbs and 5/16" G4 is about 3,500 lbs.
Most cruisers would use 5/16" G4 for your size boat.
Yes, I agree that rust will expand to about ten times the metal lost. So scrape off a piece of chain that is typical, down to bare metal and measure the link diameter. Then compare against new dimensions.
Note that 1/16" of diameter lost on 5/16" G4 will result very approximately in 35% loss of the original WLL as the WLL is related to link area, not diameter. If you have lost that much then I would replace it.
And finally consider that galvanized chain loses no metal to corrosion until the galvanizing wastes away. So you may want to start again with new chain.
David
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07-08-2017, 11:33 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
City: Brisbane
Vessel Name: Beluga
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 46eu 2006 hull#289
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 223
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Howard,
'Magic' is a very very nice boat. In my biased opinion.
If the chain is rusty, and you anchor out, then get a new chain. I would. And you will sleep better when on the hook.
Just saying...
H.
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07-08-2017, 12:02 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,760
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Interesting replies. Thank you. FWIW, the chain is 3/8 BBB
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Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
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07-08-2017, 05:49 PM
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#6
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TF Site Team
City: Brisbane
Vessel Name: Insequent
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 50 Mk I
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,262
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My chain had surface rust, enough to make a mess of the deck but little link corrosion as far as I could see. It is 5/16 BBB. I was going to replace with longer G4 chain, but getting a drum of new chain to the slip, or anywhere else convenient, was going to be a big PITA.
So I end-for-end the existing chain. The bitter end had a fairly good amount of galvanising left. Prior to putting it back in the locker I ran it through a bath of phosphoric acid and when dry painted the whole lot in 10 m increments.
I'm hoping to avoid rust until next year's haulout when I'll be able to drive a drum of new chain up under the bow for hauling aboard.
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Brian
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07-08-2017, 06:01 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Stuart FL
Vessel Name: Lucky Lucky
Vessel Model: Pacific Mariner 65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,760
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That's one good looking anchor chain.
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Howard
Lucky Lucky
Stuart, FL
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07-08-2017, 07:11 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: St Augustine,Fl
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,799
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hmason
That's one good looking anchor chain.
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I agree with Howard
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07-08-2017, 07:41 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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Timely post .
I just this week inquired about re galvanizing my 100meter x 8mm short link chain and to my surprise the cost was 20% of replacing with new chain .
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07-08-2017, 09:28 PM
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#10
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,567
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Greetings,
Mr. I. Rasta chain!
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RTF
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07-08-2017, 10:21 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: East Coast
Vessel Name: M/V Maerin (Sold)
Vessel Model: Solo 4303
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 886
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Had my 3/8" BBB chain as well as my 40kg Rocna re-galvanized in 2014. Cost was $900 and change. I also used the pickup truck under the bow method while the boat was on the hard, worked great for both directions! My 400 ft of 3/8" weighs 668 lbs. so handling it is a The galvanizer was in VA, Southern Galvanizers IIRC. Not particularly inexpensive, but not as costly as replacement! I end 4 end it every 2-3 yrs. It can be hard to find a galvanizer who will do chain.
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