Stainless anchor chain or not?

[Ian MacAulay]

I need to replace my anchor chain as its last 10-15m are past it out of 50m . Ive been looking in to stainless and its a minefield as I can spend between £800 and £3000 for 50m of stainless 8mm calibrated chain. If I went with the lower cost stainless am I waisting my time and money even tho it states its grade 40 and similar specs to the more expensive ones? im so stuck with wether to keep galvanised or go stainless...please help me decide with some good pointers...... also I have a stainless anchor.

 

[LittleSister]

What's the point of stainless chain?

 

[Mr Googler]

Can you have a 1m of stainless and 49m of galvanised?

the bit visible on deck will then look smart and you can polish it often ?

 

[MapisM]

What's the point of stainless chain?

Aesthetic aside, it flows better inside the chain locker.
And depending on its size and shape (and how much chain you let down), that can be convenient to avoid piles of chain falling on itself upon recovery, possibly blocking it upon the next anchor release.
I never found that relevant enough to justify the cost, but I can see why someone might think differently.

PS for the OP: sorry, can't help with your doubt about the specs and costs differences between s/steel grades.

 

[BruceK]

Can you have a 1m of stainless and 49m of galvanised?

the bit visible on deck will then look smart and you can polish it often ?

You've consorting with Roy for too long!

w.r.t. the question apart from bling factor and resistance to corrosion the only thing that would tempt me to stainless was if I was suffering from needing quite a length of chain and a small locker that tends to tangle the chain up. Stainless I believe glides smooth as butter where as my galvanised chain seems to tangle up and need a bit of a poke and a shove more often now that the galvinising has begun to wear off and the rust come through.


EDIT

MAPISM beat me to it

 

[stephen_h]

The main advantage of stainless chain seems to be that it is easy to stow since it is slippery.
Watch this Fair Isle video (at about 17mins) for some good information about choosing the right chain.
Very expensive if you get it wrong!

 

[BruceK]

I might add if you dont have a chain washer and anchor in mud you may find the benefit diminished

 

[Eyore]

I find if one anchors regularly ,galvanised chain "flows" perfectly well and lasts longer than my ownership of my previous boats! Stainless to me would be a complete waste of money.

 

[Portofino]

Thought stainless was susceptible to crevice corrosion, which occurs almost invisibly.
Then it’s stiff, not as elastic as normal steel so in extremis it snaps because of embrittlement .

My new to me boat had 70 M of galvanised fitted 5 y ago and this summer I turned it round .....conscious of the same X m being dragged about on the bottom ,to mitigate the zinc bring abraded off at one end .

Pocket anchor so the bling ( perfectly understandable ) issue for some is a none issue for me .

 

[BruceK]

Is that a Claw Anchor Porto. You know they are rubbish right? You need a shiny Vulcan or Spade ?


(you can tell who recently upgraded right? A 100 spade was a perfect fit replacement for my 15 kilo Bruce who I swore by until it failed in a windward shore F9 and gave me a crisis of faith)

 

[Portofino]

It’s a Bruce Bruce .
No issues tbh .
This guardian Co removes them for the winter, and puts the chain on a pallet .Not sure why they do that ?
Looks like nobody’s using S steel btw .
Theres another row on the other side as well in the hanger .

 

[BruceK]

Just kidding Porto. I can tell you exactly why they do that. I lifted out in October last year and the boat due to lockdown only went in 3 weeks or so ago. My chain is FUBAR. The locker drainage is an inch higher that the bottom. The chain sat wet. If the boat was in the water any gentle rocking would have emptied it.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Not sure why they do that ?

Boat not supported by water as designed so unnecessary weight at the extremity of the bow removed?

 

[RupertW]

I might add if you dont have a chain washer and anchor in mud you may find the benefit diminished

We can anchor 50 nights pot of 60 and never encounter mud but still have chain that needs poking every couple of metres to avoid jamming the windlass. A bad anchor locker design causes its own problems so a slippery chain is very tempting.

 

[Mr Googler]

Boat not supported by water as designed so unnecessary weight at the extremity of the bow removed?

Thin GRP lay up with Itama so makes sense ??

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Thin GRP lay up with Itama so makes sense ??

You never know, they might have identified a case of ‘bendy bow syndrome’.....

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thought stainless was susceptible to crevice corrosion, which occurs almost invisibly.
Then it’s stiff, not as elastic as normal steel so in extremis it snaps because of embrittlement .

Thats always been the accepted wisdom. I really dont see the point of stainless anchor chain other than for looks. I can count the number of times the galvanised chain in my anchor locker has fouled up in 30yrs of boating on the fingers of one hand and then who's to know it wouldnt have happened with stainless chain anyway

I would say to the OP not to skimp on chain quality and buy good quality calibrated galvanised chain from a recognised supplier. Also replace the whole chain not just the bit he thinks is worn. Fit and forget it. Btw make sure the shackle and/or swivel attaching it to the anchor is in good condition too

 

[cherod]

What's the point of stainless chain?

it stows easier and stays cleaner and , if it is correct material , can last longer .

 

[cherod]

Thats always been the accepted wisdom. I really dont see the point of stainless anchor chain other than for looks. I can count the number of times the galvanised chain in my anchor locker has fouled up in 30yrs of boating on the fingers of one hand and then who's to know it wouldnt have happened with stainless chain anyway

I would say to the OP not to skimp on chain quality and buy good quality calibrated galvanised chain from a recognised supplier. Also replace the whole chain not just the bit he thinks is worn. Fit and forget it. Btw make sure the shackle and/or swivel attaching it to the anchor is in good condition too

not to " skimp " on chain then buy stainless of the correct type, which would be Monel or Super Duplex .

 

[Portofino]

What I like about galvanised is it’s obvious when it’s ready for replacement and because ( in the general scheme) its not ridiculous expense wise its done , or added to .

When I went to trial my current boat I opened the locker and was confronted with this .

Broker must have seen the look on my face ....” we will replace it if you buy the boat “

They did , and 6 seasons later here it is .


locker is cavernous....so no pile issues to report .

That would worry me the SSteels sell by date coupled with the pressure , extra pressure of its 1000s not 100 s to Chuck it , opening up a tendency to hang on to it .

But I guess for some the physical bling rises to the top , again it’s a none starter for me as it’s all concealed anyhow .

Covids taught us a lot about human behaviour brought stuff up that a few knew , now we all are aware ....most not complimentary.
Take a look around any car park at the tyre tread depth ....see the reluctance to change , even with wear bars exposed !!
The annual MOT scoops them up.But where’s the MOT on a boats anchor chain ?