Jim, you're right about stainless being prettier than non-stainless, but you're dead wrong about rust on chains being a good thing (and wrong about "galvanizing" your mast (unless you have a steel mast, which is QUITE unlikely for what should be obvious reasons). Take a pair of calipers and measure the thickness of a rusty old chain, and you'll see that the steel is getting smaller and smaller as it rusts. The outer, rusty layer constantly flakes/chips/falls off, as evidenced by the rust stains left behind when rusty steel touches anything, constantly wearing away the steel itself. SURE, a little surface rust doesn't mean you need to toss out the whole thing... losing 1% of the steel (strength) in a chain isn't a meaningful amount... but as time goes by, and the rust gets worse and worse, it will eventually rust away entirely. I've literally witnessed chain links that once held 40 foot boats onto moorings, turn into steel links the thickness of toothpicks, and eventually snap. Your disclaimer about not getting it wet isn't terribly useful, since this is a question on a forum about BOATS, and specifically ANCHOR CHAIN. If you're point is "a little surface rust is just a cosmetic issue", I can let that slide. But you'll have a hard time convincing many folks here that "Rusty is a good thing..." and "... keep the water off it" are words to live by in this context.