New Generation Anchor

[ebb]

If you have a 35# MS, the correct chain for that is probably 5/16".
For general anchoring by a 26' 5250# A/C we agree that a 25# MS is good.
Certainly for the weight issue 1/4" chain is probably most likely heavy and strong enough.

Galvanized Transport chain for anchoring has its detractors. Some feel it is too brittle and can snap under load. Also some say that hot zinc does not amalgamate well with high tensile steel. I have seen no proof or photos. Stainless steel link has similar prejudice: its WLL for 1/4" is 2000# - but sometimes as low as 1570# WLL - significantly lower than High Test at 2600# WLL*. See in January SAIL mag a photo of s.s. links that have gone through a storm that have separated at the weld. No provenance on who made the chain or when.
It is said of the lower two grades of chain, G30 and G43, that they will show wear and rust before they will break.

You see 10%, 15%, 20% used to figure WLL loss to high tensile G70 transport chain when it is galvanized. G70 1/4" link has a WLL of 3150# befor galvanizing, the resulting WLL after galv. is 2835, 2677.5, 2520. It is said that each time transport is galvanized the %loss continues. You choose the percentage!

The WLL for 1/4" G43 (also P43) 'High Test' is listed as 2600#

Of the three (Proof Coil P30 - High Test P43 - Transport P70)
High Test looks like the right choice, doesn't it? It can be regalvanized without penalty.
It isn't finicky, don't have to remember that it's different from all your other chain pieces, probably won't break a link, it's just..... the better regular chain.


Whatever the choice, if we go with a larger link for a larger shackle, here's what the specs say:
Inside width of 1/4# link ranges from .48 to .41 - whatever grade.
The largest size link that will fit is 3/8" link at .392".
Its inside width is .551".
A 2500# WLL regular 7/16" shackle or a 5240# WLL 7/16" Alloy shackle has a .5" pin - and supposedly will pass through a 3/8" galv link.
[My preferred 1/2" shackle has a pin that is at least .625". The only way to use that is to add another even larger link to the 3/8" link. Conceivably a 1/2" link which will pass a 5/8" pin - it's the next size up and the only choice. Don't know about that.]

Anyway it does seem that if you order your 1/4" chain with 3/8" end link you can easily match WLLs.
It has been pointed out that having a large link at both ends will allow you to reverse the chain.
imco
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*BUT to go with 316 stainless steel chain there is a bunch of pretty and innovative s.s. chain-to-anchor connectors like hammerlocks, toggles and swivels - which you shouldn't use with a galvanized chain and anchor.
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ACCO chain is the most available and is sold by every marine catalog I'm aware of. Peerless Industrial Group (PEERLESS CHAIN) acquired Acco in 2006.
They had already acquired a chain importer WEISSENFELS USA in 2004. Weissenfels is a well known German marine chain manufacturer.. The specs for chain have some variances. I have used the Peerless Charts. You can find an informative site for W. on the net with lots of info on chain.

This may be interesting:
Here's are a few sentences on Hot Dipped Galvanizing that I hadn't heard. You can find the entire page on the WEISSENFELS USA INC. net site.
"When zinc is coupled to steel, the steel is polarized to such a potential that it becomes the cathode of the steel-zinc couple and is immune to further corrosion for the life of the zinc. In practice this means that STEEL EXPOSED AT A COATING DEFECT OR CUT EDGE WILL NOT RUST until the nearby zinc is consumed.
The finished product consists of 4 layers: the outer is free zinc, and the 3 inner layers are separate intermetallic layers that are METALLURGICALLY bonded to each other and the steel. The zinc is INTEGRAL with the steel and there is no real line of demarcation between iron and zinc, but a gradual transition through the series...."