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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Chain vs Marine Chain

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/23/2009 : 14:58:35

3/8 Zinc Plated Chain at the hardware store is $3.79/ft

3/8 Grade 30 Zinc Plated Chain at the marine place is $4.99/ft

Anyone know the difference? Is this a spot where the "Marine" means something?

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 15:59:35

I'll just say that "hot-dipped galvanized" will resist corrosion better than "zinc plated". But that's a little less of an issue for you than for me (in salt water).

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 16:19:22

PS test chain a couple of years ago. Cheap, chinese made chain may have inadequate corrosion resistance and, more significantly, widely varying breaking strength. Poor quality control, substandard materials, and cost cutting make some of the chain unsafe for marine or critical use, and you have no way of knowing if you have good or bad chain. PS's recommendation was to bite the bullet and spend the bucks for american made chain.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 16:20:30

no one needs 3/8 anchor chain on a C25. I have 5/16 and it is more than adequate. 1/4 would be better.

I got galvinized 5/16 at Home Depot for pretty cheap. They also have all the fittings.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 17:10:38

I didn't notice the 3/8" reference... 1/4" chain is half the weight per foot, and plenty strong for these boats. That might suggest buying half the length of 3/8" for the same holding power, but the other thing you're getting with chain is abrasion resistance. 25' of 1/4" is a pretty well accepted standard for a 25' boat.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2009 : 06:38:52

I thought that the heavier chain gave a better catenary but hey, if 1/4 will do, I'm all for that!

I was going to get (4' {freeboard} X 7)=28' of chain for our primary anchor so that when we go to anchor I just have to let out th echain, and then go (depth X 7) of rode to have proper scope. Anyone wanna tell me why this is a bad idea before I go shopping. Right now we have about 15 ft of chain on board. I was thinking I would just keep that on the spare anchor.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2009 : 07:50:32

We use 25' of 1/4" chain that we got in the boating department of a sporting goods store.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2009 : 08:33:51

Chris,
We've got 25' of 1/4" chain on our main anchor (22 lb plow), and 6' on our Danforth. Both anchors and chains came with the boat. I will probably remove the 6' section on the Danforth & replace it with 25' of galvanized, if nothing else to extend the rode a bit, it's kind of short at only 100' or so. I've got nearly 300' on the plow, which is probably too much, but I can get out 10:1 scope in 30' of water should I need to. And I know for a fact that my Danforth will hold me against a river current in 45' of water (2:1 scope). I wouldn't want to sleep like that, but it gave me enough time to unwrap my bow line from my prop (now shortened to a length that won't reach the back of the boat, stupid mistake on my part).

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2009 : 11:53:11

A short war story.

My wife and I bought a very nice, made-in-China Suncast hose reel - metal tubing with four numatic tires, last year. It works great except that last week the "brass" hose fitting connecting the short hose from the faucet to the reel broke in half. I picked it up and squeezed one of the broken halves with my thumb and index finger. I am not overly strong but the piece broke like it was cheap plastic let alone brass. To add insult to injury, Suncast no longer makes replacement parts for this otherwise very nice unit.

So, like Dave, I would recommend American made for this application.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2009 : 12:11:36

Agreed on the made in North America bit. I like to think Canada makes quality stuff too. Looking around I noticed that the stuff in Princess Auto (chinese) has a breaking strength of 2,000 lbs for 3/8 Chain.

I had to go into Brafasco (Industrial supply) this morning for some custom bolts for the car from hell, and they had chain there with a breaking strength labelled "we haven't reached it yet" I thought that was funny so I mentioned it to the girl at the counter, and she laughed and said it was rated for something like 5,000 lbs, but they had abused the chain on a bunch of applications and hadn't managed to break it. That sounded like a pretty good endorsement for me. Only problem - its more expensive than the marine chain.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2009 : 12:32:46

I imagine Canada adheres to design and materials standards as well as the U.S. and European countries. The problem with chain from he far east is that it may not come close to its rated breaking strength. I'm sure that there are some reputable manufacturers in China, but it's hard to know who made your chain, and I don't do destructive testing to verify the numbers. By the way, another well argued standard is for the weight of properly sized chain to equal the weight of the anchor. There are lots of rules of thumb and each has many adherents; you should consider where and when you anchor and use the amount of chain that lets you sleep well.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2009 : 13:47:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 no one needs 3/8 anchor chain on a C25. I have 5/16 and it is more than adequate. 1/4 would be better.

I got galvinized 5/16 at Home Depot for pretty cheap. They also have all the fittings.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Agreed, although 5/16 will increase catenary by quite a margin. I'd say that unless you are cruising like we are, HD chain is fine. Just keep an eye on it....

AnchorSten

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