madabouttheboat
Well-Known Member
Anyone know who offers the best price for calibrated 6mm anchor chain. Need 30 mtrs.
Cheers
Cheers
Best price for Calibrated anchor chain?????
- Thread starter madabouttheboat
- Start date
Birdseye
Well-Known Member
couldnt give you an up to date price but when I bought some a couple of years ago I went to a lifting tackle place out of yellow pages who ordered direct on the manufacturer. the price was half that of the outfit who supplied the windlass - EC Smith if I remember right.
the lifting tackle place didnt know what they were ordering ie calibrated meant nothing to them, but they put it on their order and so it arived. you can get cheap shackles from the same source.
the lifting tackle place didnt know what they were ordering ie calibrated meant nothing to them, but they put it on their order and so it arived. you can get cheap shackles from the same source.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I recently bought 60 metres of galvanised, calibrated British-made chain from Griff Chains Ltd [see website]
I was happy with the price and the quality.
ps suggest you order it with an enlarged link at the end so that you can attach it to the anchor with a decent sized shackle.
I was happy with the price and the quality.
ps suggest you order it with an enlarged link at the end so that you can attach it to the anchor with a decent sized shackle.
homa
Well-Known Member
You don't say where you are,
If you're on the east coast then I'd recommend Eye & Co nr Felixstowe, they're excellent.
Just a satisfied customer
If you're on the east coast then I'd recommend Eye & Co nr Felixstowe, they're excellent.
Just a satisfied customer
Malish
Well-Known Member
second vote for Griff, much cheaper than online chandlers (probably because they make the stuff)
Mudplugger
Well-Known Member
And a second vote for EYE @ Felixstowe. Exceedingly competetive! pricing, Certificates with calibrated chain, but you will probably be safer taking your gypsy with you
Dipper
Well-Known Member
Good point from Mudplugger about taking your gypsy to check (if possible).
I was once told by a major distributor that there can be differences between the same stated gypsy size between different manufacturers. Because calibrated chain can vary either end of the calibrated scale (there is apparently a range within which the named size can lie) not all calibrated chain will fit all windlasses. They recommended that if for example you had a Vetus windlass you bought Vetus chain and similarly Lofrans windlass - Lofrans chain, Lewmar etc etc.
I'm not sure whether this does cause problems in practice and I would guess that 99 times out of a hundred you would be OK.
I was once told by a major distributor that there can be differences between the same stated gypsy size between different manufacturers. Because calibrated chain can vary either end of the calibrated scale (there is apparently a range within which the named size can lie) not all calibrated chain will fit all windlasses. They recommended that if for example you had a Vetus windlass you bought Vetus chain and similarly Lofrans windlass - Lofrans chain, Lewmar etc etc.
I'm not sure whether this does cause problems in practice and I would guess that 99 times out of a hundred you would be OK.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
They recommended that if for example you had a Vetus windlass you bought Vetus chain and similarly Lofrans windlass - Lofrans chain, Lewmar etc etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well they would say that wouldn't they. The calibrated Griff chain I bought for my Lofrans Royal windlass was to DIN 766 specification and it fits perfectly. If you look at the Lofrans gypsy it has DIN766 cast into it. I would only bother to send the gypsy to the chain supplier if it was not covered by a DIN specification.
They recommended that if for example you had a Vetus windlass you bought Vetus chain and similarly Lofrans windlass - Lofrans chain, Lewmar etc etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well they would say that wouldn't they. The calibrated Griff chain I bought for my Lofrans Royal windlass was to DIN 766 specification and it fits perfectly. If you look at the Lofrans gypsy it has DIN766 cast into it. I would only bother to send the gypsy to the chain supplier if it was not covered by a DIN specification.
rogerthebodger
Well-Known Member
Go a speek to a company who services electric chain hoists as the chain is calibrated and must be changed every 5 years I think. You may get some old but useable chain at a good price. If it is not galversided very easy to get by many suppliers from yellow pages.
Used to work in hoist manufacture many years ago when I lived in the UK
Used to work in hoist manufacture many years ago when I lived in the UK
GMac
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
They recommended that if for example you had a Vetus windlass you bought Vetus chain and similarly Lofrans windlass - Lofrans chain, Lewmar etc etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm in with Twisterowner.
Lofrans do not make chain, they buy a lot from an Italian manufacturer last I heard. The same manufacturer supplies Eye Co in the UK somewhere and is used extensivly on Maxwell Winches in NZ and around the world.
The same applies to Lewmar or did. I would heavily suspect the same applies to the rest of them as well i.e. don't manufacture chain and winches
DIN766/A is a standard set by the ISO (International Standards organisation). There is also EN818-3 and one or 2 more others which you will not likely see. All of these are 'short link chains'.
The standard sets the manufacturing rules. The DIN766/A for example says the chain must be made of a minimum grade steel, meet minimum break loads, set mimimum levels for elasticity (when does it start to stretch), type and size of weld and weldzone, calibration tollerances (8 thru 13mm DIN766/A is +2.5/-0.5mm per 11 links) and so on.
Each Standard is just a tad differant is some way, often sizing is one as is strength. The EN818-3 for example is 25% odd stronger than the DIN766/A (by the way the '/A' is important as there is a /B and a /C as well but very rarely seen) but has less calibration (8mm is 0.6mm and 10mm is 1.0mm and that's per link) and has some quite differing link dimentions, 10mm being 2mm differant than the 10mm DIN is one.
So it realy is quite simple, if your winch requires a XXmm DIN766/A chain just go find a good one at the best price. BIG NOTE here the 'best price' will more than likely be chinese made, we have yet to see a chinese made short link meet a standard is said it was and we have seen quite a few chains. Lack of calibration is a big problem with them as is early stretching. Using un or poorly calibrated has killed many a anchor winch owners wallet.
If you're not sure ask for a Test Certificate. Test Certs are standard bits of paper in the industry and should be easily available. This will tell you what metal, loads, tollerance, standard, manufacturer, country of manufacture and so on. It will tell you the actual proof load of the chain, this is the actual load applied during the testing phase before it leaves the factory. The 'Proof Load' is usually 1/2 of the break load and twice the Working Load Limit (WLL or SWL). NOTE - differing ratios are used in the US (US HT G4 is basically a slightly differant sized EN818-3 standard chain even though the WLL's are very differant) Lots of good stuff.
I'm sure most people have an idea of what the general quality from each country is and also realise their anchor chain helps keep them alive while they sleep.
Have fun and boat safe
They recommended that if for example you had a Vetus windlass you bought Vetus chain and similarly Lofrans windlass - Lofrans chain, Lewmar etc etc.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm in with Twisterowner.
Lofrans do not make chain, they buy a lot from an Italian manufacturer last I heard. The same manufacturer supplies Eye Co in the UK somewhere and is used extensivly on Maxwell Winches in NZ and around the world.
The same applies to Lewmar or did. I would heavily suspect the same applies to the rest of them as well i.e. don't manufacture chain and winches
DIN766/A is a standard set by the ISO (International Standards organisation). There is also EN818-3 and one or 2 more others which you will not likely see. All of these are 'short link chains'.
The standard sets the manufacturing rules. The DIN766/A for example says the chain must be made of a minimum grade steel, meet minimum break loads, set mimimum levels for elasticity (when does it start to stretch), type and size of weld and weldzone, calibration tollerances (8 thru 13mm DIN766/A is +2.5/-0.5mm per 11 links) and so on.
Each Standard is just a tad differant is some way, often sizing is one as is strength. The EN818-3 for example is 25% odd stronger than the DIN766/A (by the way the '/A' is important as there is a /B and a /C as well but very rarely seen) but has less calibration (8mm is 0.6mm and 10mm is 1.0mm and that's per link) and has some quite differing link dimentions, 10mm being 2mm differant than the 10mm DIN is one.
So it realy is quite simple, if your winch requires a XXmm DIN766/A chain just go find a good one at the best price. BIG NOTE here the 'best price' will more than likely be chinese made, we have yet to see a chinese made short link meet a standard is said it was and we have seen quite a few chains. Lack of calibration is a big problem with them as is early stretching. Using un or poorly calibrated has killed many a anchor winch owners wallet.
If you're not sure ask for a Test Certificate. Test Certs are standard bits of paper in the industry and should be easily available. This will tell you what metal, loads, tollerance, standard, manufacturer, country of manufacture and so on. It will tell you the actual proof load of the chain, this is the actual load applied during the testing phase before it leaves the factory. The 'Proof Load' is usually 1/2 of the break load and twice the Working Load Limit (WLL or SWL). NOTE - differing ratios are used in the US (US HT G4 is basically a slightly differant sized EN818-3 standard chain even though the WLL's are very differant) Lots of good stuff.
I'm sure most people have an idea of what the general quality from each country is and also realise their anchor chain helps keep them alive while they sleep.
Have fun and boat safe
GMac
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Go a speek to a company who services electric chain hoists as the chain is calibrated and must be changed every 5 years I think. You may get some old but useable chain at a good price. If it is not galversided very easy to get by many suppliers from yellow pages.
[/ QUOTE ]
Could have already been very loaded, usually not galvanised (potential big strength loss if you galv it), usually funny sizing compaired to anchor chains if using a gypsy, short lengths, less stretch being high tensile, some very, hence less shock absorbsion (it doesn't tear apart it snaps)
Its a good very strong chain and very highly calibrated but as an anchor chain?... I don't know and won't be trying it.
Go a speek to a company who services electric chain hoists as the chain is calibrated and must be changed every 5 years I think. You may get some old but useable chain at a good price. If it is not galversided very easy to get by many suppliers from yellow pages.
[/ QUOTE ]
Could have already been very loaded, usually not galvanised (potential big strength loss if you galv it), usually funny sizing compaired to anchor chains if using a gypsy, short lengths, less stretch being high tensile, some very, hence less shock absorbsion (it doesn't tear apart it snaps)
Its a good very strong chain and very highly calibrated but as an anchor chain?... I don't know and won't be trying it.
rogerthebodger
Well-Known Member
Chain for small chain hoists is not high tensile as it has to take very high shock loads and yes it has been loaded but my point is it has to be scraped (by the H & S regs in the UK) a long time before it looses significate strength
As I said I used to design Hoists and also lived in Cradley Heath in the UK center of chain making and have seen all types of chain made
Anchor chain will never have take the shock load that hoist chains take and there is no comparison with the cheep stuff supplied by the average yacht chandler
Galvising will have very littlr effect on strenght as temperature in not heigh enough to effect steel compersion. If it did it would anneal the steel thus increase its shock loading capability
If cliff differs I will bow to his better knowlege
The original poster asked for the "best price for Calibrated anchor chain"
As I said I used to design Hoists and also lived in Cradley Heath in the UK center of chain making and have seen all types of chain made
Anchor chain will never have take the shock load that hoist chains take and there is no comparison with the cheep stuff supplied by the average yacht chandler
Galvising will have very littlr effect on strenght as temperature in not heigh enough to effect steel compersion. If it did it would anneal the steel thus increase its shock loading capability
If cliff differs I will bow to his better knowlege
The original poster asked for the "best price for Calibrated anchor chain"
GMac
Well-Known Member
Opps, I'm sorry if I got it wrong.
Here all chain hoists have high tensile chains and how do you shock load one. Chain hoists here must be very differant things than your chain hoists.
Here all chain hoists have high tensile chains and how do you shock load one. Chain hoists here must be very differant things than your chain hoists.
