Hookey galvanised chain and shackles etc

[pappaecho]

Talking to a fellow club member who replaced his swinging mooring ground tackle in October last year only to find that his boat broke free and nearly sank the whole reserve fleet in Pompey harbour! Cause of the problem was a faulty galvanised shackle which "dissolved" and had a honeycomb matrix below the surface of the galvanising. The faulty chain and shackles were sold by local chandler and apparently had forged BS markings. ( Of Chinese origin)
How widespread is this, and how do we spot the difference between a genuine BS product or similar EU and a fake?

 

[Finnsailing]

Suppose you could send the chandler the bill . It may stop them selling them in the first place . Most of it is down to profit . You can buy xy brand that you know is good and everytime you sell one make a couple of £ or sell the import of unknown or dubios origon and make alot more £

 

[andy_wilson]

Fit for purpose.

Definitely a reason for the insurers to raise a claim on the chandlers, who of course will have product liability, whose insurers will raise a claim on the wholesaler or importer.

The wholesaler or importer will claim of course that these were the cheaper 'ornamental' shackles, and they should have bought the others which are 'fit for purpose'.

 

[Mirelle]

Here are two ways:

1. Look at it and compare it with this diagram, courtesy of the excellent firm who supply my mooring bits, admittedly on the East Coast:

BS 3032 shackles

2. Hit it with a hammer.

 

[GMac]

Re: Here are two ways:

Sadly most shackles are made in china now, a fact of life and the global village we are all told we have to live in these days.

About all you can do is look very very closely to get a feel of the manufacture quality and take a punt. Also go BIG i.e the biggest that will fit. 20mm shackle in 12mm chain looks funny but is good from a safety aspect.

Don't use galvanised gear in a permanemtly immersed situation. Tha galv can actually make the item waste away quicker sometimes.

Check your boat and all of those within 50 od metres for electrical leakage. The 'honeycomb matrix' can be a sign of there is a leak close by sometimes. Any new boats arived lately or someone wired up their own solar panel maybe. Check your zincs to see if they have wasted faster than usual and ask your neigbours if theirs are OK as well.

 

[pappaecho]

The worrying aspect is that the old ground gear was 5 years old and came up in good condition and was replaced by material which lasted less than 1 year.
Caveat Emptor