Salt Water: What type of anchor chain do you use?

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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,546
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
I just traded one old boat for a new-2-me old boat and my new-2-me boat has an all rope anchor rode.

I've always added a length of galvanized chain to the end of my rode but... I do 95% of my sailing in fresh water and only make one or two trips to the coast each year.. and I rinse everything down when I'm done. The galvanized has held up well.

I plan on doing more coastal cruising... and since I'm starting fresh I thought I'd get a consensus.

Do most of you salt water sailors use SS-chain or galvanized chain? The SS chain is do darn expensive... so if galvanized with a bit of maintenance works... I'd rather do that... but if I'm just asking for a headache using galvanized I'd rather learn from the experiences of others.

Your 2 cents is welcome.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
Galvinized here 20'. Stainless is too expensive.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Unless you have money to burn use HT Galvanized from a reputable manufacture.
 
C

Chesapeake Bob

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Jan 18, 2013
30
Cape Dory 30 Solomons, MD
You want high test galvanized... one foot per boat length... 1/4" for the small boat, and perhaps you might consider 5/16" for your larger boat. You will sleep better with the correct size and length of chain!
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,546
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
All right then...

I'm seeing no votes for SS.

Thanks guys,

r
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Well yea!! SS is expensive and that money could be going into the beer cooler!
 
Charlie Jones s/v Tehani

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani

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Mar 1, 2012
2,182
1961 Rhodes Meridian 25 Texas coast
On my 35 foot tri I carried 100 feet of 3/16 G4 Galvanized chain.

On my 25 footer I carried 75 feet of 1/4 G 4 galvanized chain.

On my 21 footer I carry 20 feet of 3/16 G4 galvanized chain

Both backed up with nylon of course.

Has served me well from Texas to the Chesapeake, and all over the Bahamas
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

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Oct 17, 2011
2,808
Ericson 29 Southport..
Why hell yes, by all means go stainless if you can afford it.

But nah, Bill's right. Beer good.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,122
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
There are 600 boats in my marina........have never seen a stainless steel anchor chain.... maybe one of the rich fishermen guys across the way at the Islandia marina might have one... but the regular folks over here all have galvanized.
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
I am constantly on the lookout for ss chain in scrap yards, someday.
 
dscribner

dscribner

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Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
SS is not required in salt water. My galvanized chain is at least 5 years old and not a spot of rust. Keep in mind that I am a trailer sailor but we go out 20 times a year and anchor every time. Well, almost every time. We very occassionally pick up a mooring. Our chain is about 10 feet long. I'd put on 20' if I had my drothers. Maybe this spring. Right now we're buckling down for 20+ inches of snow. Yay!
 
hutch5151

hutch5151

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Jun 8, 2004
83
Kirie-Elite Elite 37 Niceville, FL
The key to galvanized is to get "hot" galvanized chain. It's slightly more than the galvanized found in the home box stores but will last longer.
 
robertsapp

robertsapp

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May 28, 2009
764
Hunter 376 Pensacola, FL
Go with Acco High Test. American made, hot dip galvanized, and will last longer than you will. Available on this site or from all major marine retailers. If you just buy a hunk of chain from Home Depot there's no telling what you'll get or how long it will last.
 
Charlie Jones s/v Tehani

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani

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Mar 1, 2012
2,182
1961 Rhodes Meridian 25 Texas coast
robertsapp said:
Go with Acco High Test. American made, hot dip galvanized, and will last longer than you will.
Click to expand
Well, not really -;). After three or four years of mostly anchoring out, in the deep southern half of the country, ours was shot. Had to replace it because it was turning everything black.

Of course that was after perhaps a thousand nights on the hook:)

Could have had it re-galvanized, but got a great price on new chain.
 
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