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Old 10-06-2021, 09:28   #1
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The Rusted Anchor Chain

I have around 325' of anchor chain, but normally use somewhere between 75-150'. The chain is around 9 years old and 2.5 years ago I flipped it end over end as the chain that normally was in the water was getting kind of rusty, but the rest had only been in the water a few times.

I am currently at a slip so one of the boat projects on our board is to remark the chain, both paint and plastic ties.

So we are playing out the chain onto the dock and at around 200' it just jams all up. Links were rusted together and wouldn't come through the windlass and finally the remainder in the locker was just a ball of stuck together metal that used to be chain. So I cut it off saving about 200' and I will replace the lost length, when I can get it out of the locker, with rope.

The lesson learned, every once in a while it is worth putting out all your chain to be sure that you can.
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Old 10-06-2021, 09:34   #2
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

In addition to periodically spooling it all out to make sure it's moving freely and in usable condition, it might be a good idea to periodically rinse the dried salt gunk out of the locker. And try go elevate the chain off the bottom, ensure good drainage, and add ventilation if needed to try to keep things dryer in the locker to reduce chain rust.
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Old 10-06-2021, 10:58   #3
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

tried to pull the chain ball out of the locker with spinnaker halyard. Stopped when I got worried that something was going to break .
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Old 10-06-2021, 11:24   #4
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

Its also a good idea to periodically pour vegetable oil onto that pile of chain. But that jus my opinion and I'm sure someone will be right along to say its a bad idea.
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Old 10-06-2021, 11:32   #5
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

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Originally Posted by Dogscout View Post
Its also a good idea to periodically pour vegetable oil onto that pile of chain. But that jus my opinion and I'm sure someone will be right along to say its a bad idea.
how do you know it is a good idea? You have any test data for chain rust protection per quart of veg oil?
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Old 10-06-2021, 12:47   #6
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

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how do you know it is a good idea? You have any test data for chain rust protection per quart of veg oil?
Sorry no empirical data, but I started doing it 3 years ago when I was having problems with my chain clumping up as the windlass brought it in and it dropped into the locker. Clumps less, and has a coating now with no rust.

Give it a try.
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Old 10-06-2021, 13:36   #7
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

if anyone has been through this before I would be interested in knowing what they used to get the rusted ball of chain to release from the anchor locker so it can be removed

I have poured acid over it, but it runs out the drain so I may need to plug that up.

I don't care about breaking the chain ball up, just getting it out
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Old 10-06-2021, 13:53   #8
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

A sledgehammer?
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Old 10-06-2021, 13:59   #9
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

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A sledgehammer?
and just how would you use that in an anchor locker?

And even if you could you would be pounding on the inside of the hull
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Old 10-06-2021, 14:32   #10
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

From your comments, I assume you don't have access in the v-berth to the anchor locker? If not, try using a hand sledge to drive a piece of rebar into the chain ball. Will be a slow, tedious process but should break apart the rusted links enough to get them out of the locker. Alternately, think about how to create an opening into the anchor locker using louvered doors in the v-berth.
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Old 10-06-2021, 14:34   #11
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

Make sure you vacuum the bits of rust off the deck. I remove my old chain and wasn't scrupulous enough in my vacuum. Now have my non slip foredeck speckledwithorange. Will try the oil idea.
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Old 10-06-2021, 14:38   #12
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

The Rusted Anchor Chain, what a great name for a seaport bar.
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Old 10-06-2021, 14:40   #13
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

Air hammer would make quick work of it...if you have access to a compressor at the dock.
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Old 10-06-2021, 14:52   #14
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

can not hit the ball, by time I get my head and arm in the locker there is no way to swing anything

plus pounding on the "ball" is basically pounding on the inside of the hull

I am going to use an acid method I feel
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Old 10-06-2021, 15:03   #15
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Re: The Rusted Anchor Chain

I assume you have some access to the chain locker below decks? If not, sounds like you are well & truly ******.
If you do have access, & if it was me, I would use a big (SDS type) electric power drill set on hammer action with a chisel bit to break up the lump bit by bit.
Otherwise you are back to a lump hammer & a long bolster.

“lump hammer,” a British term for what Americans might call an engineer's hammer or a small sledge.

Long bolster - something like this:
https://www.toolstation.com/roughnec...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
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