Empty Chain Locker

[DOILY]

Why do some owners empty their chain locker onto the ground (often on a pallet) in front of their yachts during winter storage?
In the yard I'm in some do, some don't. What is the reasoning?

 

[jaminb]

good question I have often noticed and wondered that

 

[vyv_cox]

I do it to keep my chain dry over winter by hanging the chain on a rope stretched across the cradle legs. Chain left wet is corroding, losing zinc

 

[Neeves]

Your locker is damp, full off salt (crystallised on the locker surfaces) a bit of mud and its, part, sealed - your anchor chain will be most unhappy and will show its disgust by slowly corroding. The inside of you locker may look dry - but the next humid day you have - those salt crystals will absorb the moisture and collect together ready for a salt concentrated liquid attack on any galvanised defects to your chain.

Bring it out into the fresh air, store it neatly on a pallet and you can wash it down with fresh water and sitting on the pallet, usually under the hull and out of, any, rain and it can air and dry out. Your chain will show even more appreciating if, when you have discharged the chain, you wash out your locker - preparatory for next year's season.

It does not need to be pallet, but neat and tidy it will dry quickly and rain will not do so much harm

For some, or course, its too late - but old practice dies hard . You can tell that this is not a YBW forum member - he never had the benefit of how to attach a swivel (in fact do not use a swivel at all) so would not know how to care for his chain




You are lucky - we don't have a sailing season (or we have a 365 season) so our chains need to be coddled differently.

Anchor lockers are, almost, the perfect design to ensure your chain corrodes. Add a bit of cordage - it gets worse. Block the drain holes (which are generally too small and easily blocked) and it seems chain lockers were designed by chain salesmen

Think your chain is new and immune - check google and key in 'white rust'. Water and zinc is not a good combination. This is new chain, look at the white specs just to the left of the red chain markers - that's white rust


And agin - the white specs - that's the zinc you bought slowly corroding away.




Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Looking after you chain in the off season is a good idea - but if you care for your chain, or your wallet, you should look after it 365.

We sail 365, our winters are like your summers , and our summers are warmer - and rates of corrosion increase with temperature.

Our chain locker is a bit unique, having a flat bottom, but we try to accelerate drying of the chain by storing it on top of a rubber door mat through which our chain can drain. we have drain holes 1" diameter - no puddles - in the locker itself.


This is a chain locker (I know I need to get a life and move on from anchors and anchoring) and this locker is not unusual (you want more pictures!!??)
This is a new yacht, just commissioned, in a boat show. I am sure the importer has looked after every detail - will the owner be so careful.

Note the corrosion medium.

Check your drainage holes in your chain locker, don't store the chain over the rope (it holds water). Wash you chain with fresh water whenever possible. Increase the ability of the chain to dry out.

You know it makes sense

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Nobody believes me - complacency is common

Another chain locker



No wonder there are so many threads on advice on re-galvanising chain.

Jonathan

 

[Wansworth]

So instead of lounging about reading a book mid season one could be gainfully employed pulling out the chain on deck washing out the chain locker and washing the chain with freshwater letting dry under the sun and putting back?

 

[awol]

In days of yore when boats were carved from wood the idea grew that having weight in the ends of the boat when on the hard and unsupported by water would cause deformation of the hull . And so the habit became to empty lazarettes and chain lockers to maintain the sheer line. It also stops other people invading your space..

 

[Boathook]

Once back from sailing and anchoring and either at my mooring or marina I rinse my chain, locker, headsail furler, etc with fresh water and leave the locker lid open as long as possible. The locker is self draining and the chain is on a raised 'bed' with lots of holes to allow water to drain through.

 

[Neeves]

Once back from sailing and anchoring and either at my mooring or marina I rinse my chain, locker, headsail furler, etc with fresh water and leave the locker lid open as long as possible. The locker is self draining and the chain is on a raised 'bed' with lots of holes to allow water to drain through.

You read my article, or maybe I simply copied the one you read

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

In days of yore when boats were carved from wood the idea grew that having weight in the ends of the boat when on the hard and unsupported by water would cause deformation of the hull . And so the habit became to empty lazarettes and chain lockers to maintain the sheer line. It also stops other people invading your space..

Grandpa,

I'm far too young to remember, and too poor, to own a sleek timber yacht with a big Fishermans in the bow and (whatever did they store in the transom) - I would not know these things.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

So instead of lounging about reading a book mid season one could be gainfully employed pulling out the chain on deck washing out the chain locker and washing the chain with freshwater letting dry under the sun and putting back?

I actually recognise that many simply don't have access to fresh water and I suggest, specially for those in the UK (and flooded Sydney now) to open the locker in which the chain is stored and subject it to the continual rainfall.

Global warming means I need another option.

Jonathan

 

[Wansworth]

I actually recognise that many simply don't have access to fresh water and I suggest, specially for those in the UK (and flooded Sydney now) to open the locker in which the chain is stored and subject it to the continual rainfall.

Global warming means I need another option.

Jonathan

Well your luck with the rain,bone dry here in Galicia,what with the eucalyptus trees we shall be wearing hats with corks soon?

 

[Stemar]

My rope and chain usually spend winter on deck having the salt washed out of them. Jissel didn't have a lid, just a hawse pipe, but I could see leaving the three self-draining lockers forward on Jazzcat open to get the same treatment

 

[Wansworth]

A cautionary tale.when fitting out a boat I bought 3.5 tons of iron ballast off a wooden boatbuilder.I stored the ballast under the boat.On coming to fill the keel space I was short of half a ton……..somebody had filched it?

 

[Neeves]

If I had known - with a cat we are always looking at ways to reduce weight - I almost had to pay to get rid of our 8mm chain

Jonathan