Tidewaiter2
Well-Known Member
Have finally regalvanised shot blasted 27.5m 10mm chain span short link. Duly joined it to existing 30m 10mm span in chain locker with a joining link left by previous owner.
Now this link has a slightly tapered hole drilled through the captive pin and both sides of the receiving link.
When I tapped the pin out with a drift, the hole had a wooden, possibly hardwood peg through from one side to the other- not possible to pop it out, had to shear it and clean out hole afterwards.
We have a old S/L manual windlass, so no need to hand the chain normally.
Protem, while not actually sailing, and to get the chain below again, I popped a cocktail stick in- it's a loose fit- definitely not long term!
Now, I'd like some advice/ shared wisdom from my fellow forumites;
1)Should I whittle or turn down a oiled hardwood splinter to fit, as the original.
2)I've got some correct gauge galvanised fencing wire offcuts, which could be turned over or the ends twisted together inside the link to secure the joining link.
My thoughts are;
Option 1) means the peg will swell and secure the link, would never snag hands handling chain, the link pin could just be drifted out if we needed to buoy and slip the anchor and that span of chain for any reason. Risk of rot in the peg and loss of span and anchor at worst.
Option 2) would mean no risk of link failure due to rot, (assumes locking wire eyeballed every couple of months when anchoring. Slipping the span would mean pliers to sever the wire and pull it straight and out, then drifting the pin out. Damage to crew's hands would need to be guarded against.
What do people think, I'm undecided at the moment, but lean towards option 1).
Now this link has a slightly tapered hole drilled through the captive pin and both sides of the receiving link.
When I tapped the pin out with a drift, the hole had a wooden, possibly hardwood peg through from one side to the other- not possible to pop it out, had to shear it and clean out hole afterwards.
We have a old S/L manual windlass, so no need to hand the chain normally.
Protem, while not actually sailing, and to get the chain below again, I popped a cocktail stick in- it's a loose fit- definitely not long term!
Now, I'd like some advice/ shared wisdom from my fellow forumites;
1)Should I whittle or turn down a oiled hardwood splinter to fit, as the original.
2)I've got some correct gauge galvanised fencing wire offcuts, which could be turned over or the ends twisted together inside the link to secure the joining link.
My thoughts are;
Option 1) means the peg will swell and secure the link, would never snag hands handling chain, the link pin could just be drifted out if we needed to buoy and slip the anchor and that span of chain for any reason. Risk of rot in the peg and loss of span and anchor at worst.
Option 2) would mean no risk of link failure due to rot, (assumes locking wire eyeballed every couple of months when anchoring. Slipping the span would mean pliers to sever the wire and pull it straight and out, then drifting the pin out. Damage to crew's hands would need to be guarded against.
What do people think, I'm undecided at the moment, but lean towards option 1).
