Wintering the anchor chain

[MM5AHO]

Storing anchor and chain on a pallet at the bow on the ground seems to be very common in our marina, but I've not figured out why so many do it?
If it was wet and needed drying out / cleaning?
If access was needed to the chain locker?
There might be several reasons, but I see many doing this as if its a ritual.
Is there a good reason?

 

[emearg]

I have always wondered about this too,

Maybe its is to stop the chain leeching rust stains on the side of the anchor locker.
Or to stop the chain rusting on to itself because it's lying there in a big heap.
Stop the rope rotting because it might be continually wet.

Or is it male posturing to see who has biggest/longest chain......

 

[davidej]

Or taking the weight out of the extremity of the hull while it is supported only near the centre in a cradle.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

To avoid distortion of the unsupported bow of the hull structure.

 

[V1701]

All i do is lay it out, wash off all mud, rinse with fresh water, allow to dry, then stow it. Thats as soon as i get chance each time its used...

 

[Cantata]

As already stated, it takes the weight out of the bow.
Unfortunately these days it also presents an attractive target for some who acquire scrap metal for personal gain, so I leave it in the locker after giving it a good blast with a hose.

 

[Kelpie]

I took ours off the boat before we lifted out, and the waterline went up about 3 inches!

 

[vyv_cox]

The reason is that wet zinc in contact with other wet zinc will corrode, producing 'white rust'. This is zinc hydroxide and is a particular problem with galvanised sheets that become wet in the rain. In chain it is possible to lose considerable thickness of zinc on links in contact with others. Taking the chain out and putting it on a pallette, or hanging it on rope between the cradle legs, as I do, may not prevent it from becoming wet but it does not remain so for long.

 

[NormanS]

This year, as an extra refinement, after flaking it out on a pallet, washed, and allowed to dry, I brushed it over with my old sump oil, and then happed it up. (To the unititiated, that means covered up with a tarpaulin). The oil will prevent any rust from forming on the worn bits, and the oil will slowly be released to back from whence it came.

 

[SAWDOC]

The reason is that wet zinc in contact with other wet zinc will corrode, producing 'white rust'. This is zinc hydroxide and is a particular problem with galvanised sheets that become wet in the rain. In chain it is possible to lose considerable thickness of zinc on links in contact with others. Taking the chain out and putting it on a pallette, or hanging it on rope between the cradle legs, as I do, may not prevent it from becoming wet but it does not remain so for long.

Vyv - I learnt somehing new thanks to your reply.

 

[CharlesSwallow]

The reason is that wet zinc in contact with other wet zinc will corrode, producing 'white rust'. This is zinc hydroxide and is a particular problem with galvanised sheets that become wet in the rain. In chain it is possible to lose considerable thickness of zinc on links in contact with others. Taking the chain out and putting it on a pallette, or hanging it on rope between the cradle legs, as I do, may not prevent it from becoming wet but it does not remain so for long.

Oh Bugger! that's true of EVERY link in MY chain! Stuffed then? It is currently draped, metre for metre over the cross-member of the front laying up "cripple" of course to remove the load on the bow. Fortunately, there isn't yet any organised metal theft in Corfu. It's also surprising how many people leave hundreds of litres of diesel in their tanks to "avoid condensation" which, if a problem, can easily be avoided by other means and also forget to drain their water tanks.

Chas

How did the talk at the CA go on Thursday?

 

[Halo]

Well that was a helpful thread. I will take the anchor and chain home this winter, pressure wash, air dry and stow in garage. Should be optimum arrangement as far as I can see.
Martin

 

[snooks]

So what happened when a boat is in the water and the chain, god forbid, gets wet?

I don't see lots of owners with their anchors and chain on pontoons during the sailing season

 

[pvb]

So what happened when a boat is in the water and the chain, god forbid, gets wet?

I don't see lots of owners with their anchors and chain on pontoons during the sailing season

Exactly! I really think a lot of people have got nothing better to do.

 

[snooks]

Exactly! I really think a lot of people have got nothing better to do.

I get the idea about reducing the weight, but there should be very little weight on a yacht's pads, the weight of the yacht should be on the keel, unless they have high aspect keels or are of some modern design. If she deforms around the keel when she's out of the water, a bit of rusty chain is the least of your problems!

Yes there are certain manufactures who state the yacht should not rest on her keel, and many racy yachts with desperately long thin keels with torpedoes on the bottom but these aren't usually supported by pads, the are supported from waterline to waterline on custom built cradles....and don't tend to have heaps of anchor chain

 

[Tati B]

Surely it's not a case of having nothing better to do, more a case of reducing the amount of corrosion that is going to occur. While the boat is in the water, there is no practical means of storing it on deck/pontoon etc, but while the boat is 'on the hard' there is a practical means of storing the chain in a 'less' corrosive environment. So, it makes total sense to store it outside of the locker. It should extend the serviceable life of the chain.

 

[NormanS]

I get the idea about reducing the weight, but there should be very little weight on a yacht's pads, the weight of the yacht should be on the keel, unless they have high aspect keels or are of some modern design. If she deforms around the keel when she's out of the water, a bit of rusty chain is the least of your problems!

Yes there are certain manufactures who state the yacht should not rest on her keel, and many racy yachts with desperately long thin keels with torpedoes on the bottom but these aren't usually supported by pads, the are supported from waterline to waterline on custom built cradles....and don't tend to have heaps of anchor chain

What makes you say that the weight of a yacht should be on its keel? That's certainly not the case when it's in the water, so I would say, by all means have the cradle pads taking some share of the load.

 

[vyv_cox]

So what happened when a boat is in the water and the chain, god forbid, gets wet?

Your chain is corroding to some extent from the moment that galvanising is completed. The rate increases considerably as soon as it is exposed to water, especially seawater. My newly galvanised chain was clearly affected by its first season of use. Taking it out of the locker for the winter is a worthwhile contribution to extending its life.

Of course you rich southerners in full time employment are not concerned about cost savings but it's different for us pensioners

 

[Flossdog]

Having the chain in a heap at ground level and having the bitter end on the yacht is a "stairway to heaven" for rodents! Rodents are everywhere and if they get on your pride and joy, they will be a bogger to get rid of and will probably have caused huge damage to really inaccessible things like wiring! Why make it easy for them?

 

[CharlesSwallow]

I get the idea about reducing the weight, but there should be very little weight on a yacht's pads, the weight of the yacht should be on the keel, unless they have high aspect keels or are of some modern design. If she deforms around the keel when she's out of the water, a bit of rusty chain is the least of your problems!

Yes there are certain manufactures who state the yacht should not rest on her keel, and many racy yachts with desperately long thin keels with torpedoes on the bottom but these aren't usually supported by pads, the are supported from waterline to waterline on custom built cradles....and don't tend to have heaps of anchor chain

Well Mr S,

60 metres of 10mm chain weighs 111kg which with the anchor and the swivel plus a little for the rope rode equates to almost exactly 21stones! That is like having me and the wife permanently trapped in the forward part of the boat, forward of the first cripple supporting the hull and being blown around like a pendulum on an eggshell arm, all over a Corfu winter! NO THANKS. \besides, it is a fact that most anchor lockers don't drain dry so the best place for the chain on SEVERAL counts is draped over any convenient adjacent frame but at any rate, OFF of the boat.

Now, IN the water, OCHIE PROVLEMO due to the even weight and stress distribution.

Chas