Public Discussion Forum

My anchor chains are shot, too rusty. I need 300 feet of 7/16 G4 chain times 2. I've already switched them end for end and port to stbd. I've gotten all I'm going to get out of these chains.

Can anyone suggest a source for chain? I'll need to have it shipped to Front Street Shipyard in Belfast, Maine.

Thanks,

Richard

Untethered, 57-22

I have purchased chain from 1st Chain Supply at reasonable prices, good people to talk with to verify you're getting exactly what you want. Delivery can be a wrinkle as usually a forklift is needed for receiving.

https://www.1st-chainsupply.com/chain-by-type/windlass-anchor-chain/

Have you considered re-galvanizing? Sometimes that can make sense.

- rob

Roadrunner

2007 Selene 49 deep hull 48-029

Anyone considered stainless steel chain? My Swiss friend Michael who singlehands a Moody DS-54 all over the world swears by it. I am going to have to buy some chain soon so shopping.

I did purchase two all Stainless Steel Lewmar Epsilon anchors, 50 and 63 KG, for the new boat for less than $7,000 for both. One primary Ultra would have cost more than two of what I have. They are Next Gen anchors, Impressively shaped, and beautiful!

Jack

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388

Well, 100’ of my galvanized chain sitting in the bottom of the chain locker, mired in the slop resulting from the crappy bow pulpit drains on Shangri-La, turned to dust pretty much from December ‘24 - May ‘25. I posted photos earlier of the deterioration - scary! Doesn’t get much weaker than that! I have new drains on 6047 coming next year to avoid the problem. What is recommended for a clean chain locker?

Jack

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388

Jack, I went back and read your rationale for 75' of chain, the rest rope. I do have a 3rd anchor that has 50 feet of chain and 250' of rope. So I could use that for kedging or Plan B if my windlass stopped working.

Rob, unfortunately the rust is too bad on both chains. I think I will just replace one chain right now (since I have NEVER used my second anchor, a Bruce). Mostly on the East Coast from MA to Bahamas I only use the first 150' or so. But in Maine the anchorages are significantly deeper and I've been using the middle part of the 300' chain which has the most rust because it has been used the least.

I thought I would circle back and let you know that I found a source for chain and installed it yesterday. I'm at the Front Street Shipyard in Belfast Maine (a very nice yard BTW) on the hard getting some other work done and had the chain delivered here.

One trick that I learned that I thought I would pass on is the way I mark the depths of the chain. I mark them every 25 feet RED - WHITE - BLUE - YELLOW (100') and repeat. That's easy to remember and 25 feet is a good interval, not too small, not too big.

I've tried paint (requires stretching it out on a dock, time for the paint to dry and didn't last long) and wire ties (hard to see and wore off). Then I heard about using 1/4" rope woven through the chain links. That works really well. I take 3 feet of 1/4" braided nylon rope and install it every 25 feet (see photos). One photo shows the old rope I removed from my old chain. It loses it's brilliant color in mud and with time, but still easy to see after 250 days at anchor.

After I received the 300' of chain, another Selene owner (and friend) contacted me privately with 400' of new chain that he never installed. I still need too replace my port side chain, so I may make the trip to his house to pick that up some time in the future. I'm going to keep the identities of my sources confidential to respect their privacy, but I appreciate both of them greatly for their help.

My question to Pacific Northwest cruisers...how much chain is appropriate for cruising in the PNW? I'm thinking 400' may be better than 300'.

Richard

Untethered, 57-22

John,

You don't have to do anything with the ends of the rope. Eventually you will get a 3" - 6" tag hanging out, but it goes through the windlass just fine. You can tuck it back in the chain if you'd like. They will naturally fray some and that helps to keep it in the chain. But really, it's not a problem.

Richard