When we bought Kindred Spirit the survey left a list of minor things
that needed to be addressed...Months after I had fixed most of the
stuff on the list the last thing to do was to replace the hinges on the fo’ard hatch. To my absolute horror the Danforth with the chain was just a big brown lump, totally rusted together, on inspection the warp was still sound. The lesson for me was when the galvanising starts to go, it really happens very quickly. I was much the same situation with the CQR stored below again the warp was sound.
On our old timber boat the Anchor locker opened into the cabin it was mostly always turned around just in the general tidy up below with the chain and pick hit with WD40.
What I endeavour to do now, is on a regular basis is lay the warp and chain out along the deck to check for wear and corrosion and spray the galv surfaces with WD40.
Jon
How long should galvanised chain last? I bought new chain from Whitworths two years ago when I replaced our CQR. The chain is now rusted in places. Perhaps 20% in total. Not bad enough to warrant replacing but I expected it to last longer.
Regards, Paul
That's a worry Paul! I have got about six years from mine and it was not new when I bought the yacht.
Are there standards and thicknesses of galvanisation that we need to look out for?
I feel a "Roger" coming on... (hopefully...)
Colin
From KenM - On our previous boat the chain was 8 years old and not in very good condition. I took the chain to a company that specialised in galvanising, they told me to be successful they would DOUBLE dip it. The cost was cheaper than replacing the chain, they also informed me that a lot of the chain available in Aust. at the moment comes from China and is lightly galvanised.
KenM
From Paul
What I have noticed the quality of products bought from the larger retail chains does not come up to scratch.
And Ken - if I buy more chain I shall have it re-galvanised to be sure
it's done right.
Paul
I think you are on the money. My contacts with Sydney Harbour moorings
suggest the life of commercial chain has got disgustingly short and
the source seems to be China. How can you make gal chain cheaper? What
ingredient can you leave out?
Regards Geoff Raebel