Bad anchor chain?

[Fred Ficarra]

Another concluding thought.

Does anybody here have knowledge of a anchor chain parting? Ever heard on one parting? Sure, as Tony says, rope could be rated stronger than a working anchor rode but rope is subject to all kinds forces that could cause it to part before chain would fail. Back about 30 years ago a huge storm at Cabo San Lucas put the cruising fleet there on the beach. Sail Magazine sent the Pardees to investigate and write a story. Of the dozen boats that went aground, not one anchor chain failed. Sure, that was a long time ago and anchors have gotten better but to expect an anchor to hold enough to break a properly sized working chain is, well, I've not heard of it happening. Anybody?

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Another concluding thought.

Does anybody here have knowledge of a anchor chain parting? Ever heard on one parting? Sure, as Tony says, rope could be rated stronger than a working anchor rode but rope is subject to all kinds forces that could cause it to part before chain would fail. Back about 30 years ago a huge storm at Cabo San Lucas put the cruising fleet there on the beach. Sail Magazine sent the Pardees to investigate and write a story. Of the dozen boats that went aground, not one anchor chain failed. Sure, that was a long time ago and anchors have gotten better but to expect an anchor to hold enough to break a properly sized working chain is, well, I've not heard of it happening. Anybody?

 

[Ross]

I was reading a piece about rope to chain splices

and it seems that 1/2 three strand nylon is strong enough to distort the links in 1/4 inch chain when pulling the rope to failure. Incidently in all of the tests the rope never broke at the chain.

 

[Ross]

I was reading a piece about rope to chain splices

and it seems that 1/2 three strand nylon is strong enough to distort the links in 1/4 inch chain when pulling the rope to failure. Incidently in all of the tests the rope never broke at the chain.

 

[Brian M H23]

Thoughts

Either two chain links passed through one anotherThe closed shackle passed through a chain linkorAn open shackle passed through a chain linkBy any chance, was the shackle pin difficult to remove when you switched chains? If your chain itself was heavily corroded, the shackle (while stainless) may just as well have been corroded. Stainless, unlike mild steel or galvanized, tends to look good up until the moment it fails. Perhaps the threads in the shackle gave way, or the shackle had essentially become "welded itself together" from corrosion (as stainless liks to do) and the act of breaking loose the shackle pin for re-use caused material damage that came through when the shackle failed under a light load.I've heard a lot of people reccomend never putting stainless underwater..without oxygen, it loses a lot of its corrosion resistance anyway. I think a new shackle was probably in order when you replaced the chain?

 

[Brian M H23]

Thoughts

Either two chain links passed through one anotherThe closed shackle passed through a chain linkorAn open shackle passed through a chain linkBy any chance, was the shackle pin difficult to remove when you switched chains? If your chain itself was heavily corroded, the shackle (while stainless) may just as well have been corroded. Stainless, unlike mild steel or galvanized, tends to look good up until the moment it fails. Perhaps the threads in the shackle gave way, or the shackle had essentially become "welded itself together" from corrosion (as stainless liks to do) and the act of breaking loose the shackle pin for re-use caused material damage that came through when the shackle failed under a light load.I've heard a lot of people reccomend never putting stainless underwater..without oxygen, it loses a lot of its corrosion resistance anyway. I think a new shackle was probably in order when you replaced the chain?

 

[Ross]

I like American made galvanized shackles

They look absolutely awful long before they go bad. I also like galvanized turnbuckles for the same reason. I can buy six galvanized fittings for the price of one stainless steel fitting.

 

[Ross]

I like American made galvanized shackles

They look absolutely awful long before they go bad. I also like galvanized turnbuckles for the same reason. I can buy six galvanized fittings for the price of one stainless steel fitting.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Yeah, like Brian said,

lack of oxygen kill stainless. Went to a class a couple of years ago. The instructor had a piece of a prop shaft. You could see right through it.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Yeah, like Brian said,

lack of oxygen kill stainless. Went to a class a couple of years ago. The instructor had a piece of a prop shaft. You could see right through it.

 

[Brian M H23]

Hey ross

a little off topic, but do you use all galvanized rigging?

 

[Brian M H23]

Hey ross

a little off topic, but do you use all galvanized rigging?

 

[Ross]

No. Just turnbuckles. loos 1-19 wire and sta-lok

ends. 316L chain plates. My locust cleats are fastened with galvanized bolts. The hinges on the companion door are bronze. The staple is bronze and the padlock is stainless.

 

[Ross]

No. Just turnbuckles. loos 1-19 wire and sta-lok

ends. 316L chain plates. My locust cleats are fastened with galvanized bolts. The hinges on the companion door are bronze. The staple is bronze and the padlock is stainless.