Anchor Chain Preservation Method

[Sailmonkey]

I can smell my chain locker from my bunk......WD-40. Ugg.

[BoomBrake]

@tamicanta yes, that's the next piece of detective work, right after I let out over 80m of chain...

Somehow I can't believe that there is not already an anchor locker drain hole. It may well be clogged with rust filings. They were all over the deck when I let out 40m of chain... : (

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by BoomBrake

I have it on good authority WD40 is fish oil anyway...

Apparently, WD-40 does not contain fish oil, contrary to a popular myth, nor does it contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, graphite, or chlorofluorocarbons.
➥ http://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf...d494716385.pdf

[motion30]

Bash. What did you really mean?

[jcapo]

I 100% agree that galvanizing is not what it used to be. My at least 20 year old CQR has a few small light rust areas. My 3 year old 5/16 HT Acco chain is all rust. Both have been used anchoring 9 months out of each of the last 3 years. Plus the CQR had to have been used a lot by the PO on a several year cruise through the Caribbean and top of South America.

[savoir]

What you want with a chain locker is to pursue two outcomes :

1. More air in
2. More water out

For the first, a false floor to rest the chain on will help a lot. Drill a few large holes in it to allow air below the chain. Raise the locker lid as soon as you can after anchoring to allow the sun to help dry out the chain.

For the second, the culprit that usually holds the water is the rode and rusty chain is usually found sitting atop a pile of permanently sodden rode. Rig a couple of small padeyes to one side of the locker and tie the hanked up rode to them with some light string. That will keep it above the chain and make drying much easier.

[SV Maclas]

I also agree the best thing you can do is frequently and thoroughly rinse with fresh water.

[Roy M]

And, allow air to circulate to dry out the anchor locker. Not many boats that have that capacity, except mine.

[Emerald Sea]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Apparently, WD-40 does not contain fish oil, contrary to a popular myth, nor does it contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, graphite, or chlorofluorocarbons. ➥ http://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf...d494716385.pdf

WD40 contains fish oil? On good authority! I'm off to bed now with a paracetamol. Enough!

[BoomBrake]

... well in my defence it was Facebook that told me so. <sigh> Are you suggesting I won't see any of that $10M from the good Nigerian Prince whom I paid all those bank fees for?

[BoomBrake]

@savoir great solution to the problem, thank you.

I will have to take all the chain out, replace any rusted section properly and will find some sort of upside down square plastic sieve at the bottom. There is no rope rode, the entire anchor rode is all chain (over 80m length), since the vessel was setup for deep water anchoring for around the world cruising. That's why I deduce the drain holes must be bunged up with rust filings.

There is also no locker access from the deck, apart from the electric windlass chain feed hole itself, so will have to pull all the forward bunk bedding out and give the anchor locker a good cleaning.

[BoomBrake]

EDIT: Though now I think about it, 80m of chain is going to be VERY HEAVY. I think something fashioned out of solid wood would be the only real solution...

[gjordan]

If you can locate an industrial flooring company, you may be able to find hard rubber grates that allow air or liquid to flow underneath. You could build a wood grate like a shower or cockpit grate, but it would not last very long under the abuse of chain. Any type of grate that keeps the chain or rope from sitting in puddles, will make a big difference. Good Luck. ____Grant.

[heintje23]

A US anchoring gear manufacturer told me about this method. A lot of commercials apparantly do it

[tamicatana]

Grating:

In the US, bread is loaded onto square low-walled grid racks, much like milk crates, for shipping. You can find these sometimes. Cut off the sides, cut to size, you're good

McMaster-Carr carries stuff which might work - industrial mats etc McMaster-Carr