Our anchor chain was just starting to show some light rust on a few links, so I decided to have it regalvanized. With the boat on the hard, we backed the car up to the boat and transferred the chain to the trunk of our car. 250 feet of 3/8-inch chain is about 300 pounds. It lowered the back end of our car a bit and stove in the cover over the spare tire.
We took it to Emerald Galvanizing, since they were the only local shop here in Seattle that has a centrifuge for the chain. This is important, because if you don’t spin the chain after the galvanizing process some of the links get clumpy and stick together. Also, they didn’t have a minimum order size like other shops I called, and their prices were very reasonable. They charge 80 cents a pound. With tax, it was $250.54 to have this done. Significantly less than a new chain! They quoted me a week to have it done but had it ready for me to pickup the next day. Good price, good service, and it turned out beautifully… I’m going to go ahead and throw down a happy face emoticon right now :)
Here’s the chain before.
Here it is after regalvanizing. Looks brand new!
Before putting it back in the boat, we needed to add our markers that identify how much chain we have out. So we laid it out in 25-foot lengths and marked it with zip ties using Nicole’s clever numbering system.
Loaded up and ready for some anchoring action!
Just got to say... Thanks for the blogging... It is sooo fun to read about your adventures on the water. Makes me want to do the same.
ReplyDeleteDang, zip ties are a great idea! Our rode length markers keep getting ripped off. Please, share Nicole's clever numbering system for those of us who just aren't as clever!
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing out the bit about the centrifuge - that's key!
ReplyDeletebob
Thanks for the re-galvanizing tip.
ReplyDeleteAs to zip tie tricks, we put one black tie at 25', two at 50', three at '75, One White Zip at 100, one White, one black at 125', One white, two black at 150'....you get the idea. Different colors for each 100'. But keep extra ties around. If you are using a windlass....and with all this chain, who isn't...as the ties age some will get a little chewed up going through the gypsy, and break off.
Yes, please share the way you mark your chain.
ReplyDeleteFor those who are curious, we just posted a description of our anchor chain marking system!
ReplyDelete"So what is "Nicole’s clever numbering system?"
ReplyDeleteNicole just put a post up about the marking system...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.svbellastar.com/2010/08/anchor-chain-marking.html
It takes longer but getting out the old needle and palm,then using waxed line to seize colored nylon webbing to mark your chain will last as long as your galvanizing is likely to endure. It is also more visible and won't become brittle like the wire ties. So far these markers have not been a problem with windlasses.
ReplyDelete