Calibrated Chain

[Ian_Edwards]

I could use some help from all you technical experts out there, ’cause I’m getting very confused about calibrated chain, the different standards and prices, which vary by a factor of about 2, for apparently the same thing. I’ve searched the forum and read some good stuff about chain, which has helped, but it’s still not clear, at least not to me.
I’m looking for 60m of 3/8” Calibrated Galvanised Chain to fit a Quick windlass. The boat is a Dufour and it beats me why a French builder fitting an Italian windlass would specify an imperial chain! The Technical info’ on the Quick site says it should be ISO compatible chain, but it doesn’t say which ISO standard. I’ve searched and found ISO 4565 mooring small craft, but can’t seem to find the detail without buying the standard and because this is a one off exercise I don’t really want end up with an expensive standard I have no further use for, especially when I don’t even know if this is the correct standard.
If I can find the correct ISO standard and the tolerance on the chain spec’, I’d be able to understand a bit more about what to look for when buying the chain. There seems to be two issues, the tolerance on the size of the chain links, bar diameter and pitch, which need to fits the windlass properly and the specification of the steel, grade 30, 40 etc. It seems that the higher grade steels are stronger, but are they more prone to fatigue? And don’t know which grade is best suited to cruising the West Coast of Scotland where we tend to anchor most nights?
The recognised “quality suppliers” sell grade 30 hot dipped to ISO 1461:1999, but don’t say to what dimensional standard, 60m cost about £500 VAT inc, excluding delivery. I can buy 60m of calibrated chain from several chandlers for about £260 VAT inc, excluding delivery. I don’t know to what standard the chain is made, yet, but I intend to ask.
I don’t mind buying the expensive stuff, if I need to, but would like to understand more about how to make the decision.
Has anyone out there been thro’ this loop before? If so, what conclusion did you come to?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers ... Ian

 

[gianenrico]

A) In my knowledge (which may be short!!!), the 10mm calibrated chain (and apparently only this size) has TWO different ISO std concerning geometrical dimensions of the chian itself (look to any chian maker web site, being italian I can say Catenificio Rigamonti, Maggi Group or Catenificio Weissenfels, I'll see if I can post the links http://www.catenificiorigamonti.com/pgm/shopping/index.php?id=27&e=0,1,4,39

http://www.maggigroup.com/Files/08_Catene.htm

http://www.weissenfels.com/en/products/catene_per_usi_vari/catalogo_pdf_yachting ), and this is important in order to have a perfect fit between gipsy and chain.

B) Commercially available chain is either G30 or G40 (Grade 30 or Grade 40); chainmakers can supply an ISO chain up to G70 or even G80: the sbreaking point in this case is much higher and allows you to use an 8mm rode instead of 10mm; advantage is that by same weight you have same strenght and 30 to 50% more scope. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gifBear in mind that fron here onward You are walking on a minefield of "anchor and rode war(s).

Cheers

 

[duke]

I bought chain in 2002 from Bradney Chain and Engineering company
Quarry Road, Dudley West Midlands DY2 OEB Tel 01384 636233

I was replacing 60 metres of 3/8" chain and sent them a sample. They advised 9.5mm as follows:

9.5 mm dia Grade 30 short link chain, calibrated to 30mm pitch, 60 metres long with enlarged links each end
Hot dipped Galvanised, Mark E199 Test 17.9 Kn.
At the time 60 metres cost £223 plus vat.

They were very help so might be worth giving them a ring to see if they can clarify matters for you.

 

[alan006]

I have just had a simular problem so I learnt a little which might help.
I had to get two new anchors and new chain for my tug when it was recoded over Xmas. I knew what size chain I needed (13mm) and I knew what size anchors I had to get ( 50 kg and 75 kg). I bought them from a company in Corrnwall called Macsalvors who were very helpful and explained the setup to me.
If I understood it correctly the term"calibrated chain" does not mean calibrated to a universal standard common to all winch makers, rather it means that the links are calibrated such that each link is (within fine tolerances) identical to each other link. He explained that the best way was to offer up the chain to the gypsy on the winch and try it as there are variations between the chain sizes ( for the same link diameter) from one manufacturer to another. This means one has to be more careful than one might expect with this subject.
If I have misunderstood this I hope someone will correct me here.

 

[vyv_cox]

You can ensure that what you buy is correct by either sending a sample of your current chain (someone else suggested this) or by taking the gypsy from your windlass to the chain supplier to ensure that it fits.

I wonder just how important it is to have calibrated chain. I have had three windlasses on two boats. In each case I already owned the chain, which was not calibrated and comprised several different lengths joined together with C-links. I never experienced any problems of chain/windlass compatibility.

The vast majority of chain sold in chandleries is Grade 30, perfectly adequate for anchoring purposes. It might be worthwhile insisting on European-made chain but this is very difficult to ensure. We have recently seen on this forum that C-links sold in USA as being USA made were in fact made in China, and even marked as being so. Having said that, the chains I tested were Chinese and easily made the design UTS.

 

[Salty John]

Current standards are ISO4565 and DIN766A. Calibrated chain is made to the following dimensions:
Length of link=diameter x 5. A tolerance of 2% is allowed over 11 links. The diameter is allowed a tolerance of 5%. Be aware, however, that short link chain to DIN766 is available as 10mm x 48mm length (also seen as 28mm, being inside dimension of a link to which you then have to add 2 x diameter to get link length), by 34mm width, and this doesn't fit a Quick. Also available is 'calibrated' 10 x 50 x 35 and this does fit Quick.
I think the answer to why your chain specification is imperial is that your windlass was intended for the US market. This doesn't mean that the gypsy is any different to that supplied into Europe. American 3/8" chain is actually 13/32", or 0.40 inches. This is 10mm, not 9.5mm. Also this chain has a link length of 50mm. Quick offers a gypsy for 10mm x 50mm length x 35mm width. This may very likely be the gypsy you have.
Talk to the people at Bradley, they can probably help:
http://www.bradneychain.com
Regarding grade, I prefer G40 but if 10mm is already a bit OTT for your boat you can use G30, or if borderline you can go for the more exotic G70.

 

[kengill]

I would suggest a simple way out is to ask the manufacturer if any particular spec is acceptable. If getting chain which people claim"will do the job" just remember that what seems to engage and disengage easily in a shop may not do so under deep doodoo conditions when the windlass is straining at it maximum capacity and you have to get the anchor up under storm conditions. FWIW EC Smith sell calibrated shain for Lofrans windlasses which does the trick for my windlass.

 

[double_ender]

We cruise the west coast of Scotland and usually anchor for over a 100 nights each year. I've little to add on the chain side of things, but we use 10m chain 50m multiplait nylon and I wouldn't go back to to my old days of all chain.

If you have one of the modern type anchors, (we have had a spade for 6-7 years), some give and elasticity is very important as these anchors just stay put and if something must give it would otherwise be your deck hardware.