High test Stainless chain

[overbored]

who has the best prices in the US on high test stainless steel anchor chain?

[RichH]

Question - why would you use stainless steel chain as stainless has a poor 'fatigue endurance' (service life in repetitive cyclical loading)?? ... and should be 'sized' for 1/3 of its ultimate strength under such conditions. .... 'Nutherwords plain galvanized steel is MUCH stronger than 300 series stainless for long term load/unload service because of the fatigue vulnerability of 'stainless' (and then quickly followed by the sequential and additive vulnerability of 'crevice corrosion' once the micro-cracks from developing fatigue begin to form).

Simple speak: stainless steel is a VERY poor material choice for anchor chain or anchors.

[Lake Superior Sailor]

Yes, but: Stainless still leaves your deck clean!--Dale

[overbored]

I want stainless because the galvinized gets corroded just sitting in the bucket. stainless does not. the stainless chain is smoother and does not scratch the deck like the others. I might anchor this boat two times a year, we have very few places to anchor here in So. Cal , repetitive cyclical loading will not be very much while sitting in the bucket. it's a raceboat most of the time and I want to store it and when and if I need it , it won't be a big ball of corrosion when I do. the chain I have, I do not trust because of all the corrosion from being stored wet by the PO. I have had SS chain on other boats in the past and it is the only way to go on this type of boat. I have it on my power vessel in the PNW, came that way, and in the past 20 years I have never had a problem with it.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by Lake Superior Sailor

Yes, but: Stainless still leaves your deck clean!--Dale

Not when it fails and you wind up on the beach.... For "occasional use" it can certainly work but I would not chose it if cruising..





Images linked to from CF

[overbored]

where was that chain used? it is corroded in the weld heat effect zone which would indicate that it was submerged most of the time. what alloy is it, bet it is not 316L. long type of link does not look like 316L ss high test anchor chain. it did not get that way while being stored above water. we always worry about the strength of the chain but the shackels are the weak link

[Rockter]

I certainly would not use stainless steel for anchor chain. It will get seawater-wet, and it will pile up in the locker, and it will get de-oxygenated with chlorine around and it will crack like biscuit.

Be eternally suspicious of this stainless stuff.

The chrome in it is very reactive indeed. When there is oxygen around, the oxide passivates it and seals off the reaction, slowing it radically. When there is little oxygen around, and there is chlorine about, it forms chromium chloride and corrodes very quickly.

This is a classic mistake made with seawater tanks. They work for decades if there is a free surface and oxygen around. Put a cork in the tank, let it de-oxygenate, and the tank is wrecked in a matter of weeks.... laced full of cracks. It still looks OK. It just won't hold any water.

Make sure that your stainless water tanks are not filled to the brim, even if there is tap water in there. Let them breathe and let the water splash around in there to oxygenate it.

It looks pretty, but in the wrong conditions it will fail faster than any steel ever would.

Use it only when you have to, and warily.
.

[pdqaltair]

Originally Posted by overbored

I want stainless because the galvinized gets corroded just sitting in the bucket. stainless does not. the stainless chain is smoother and does not scratch the deck like the others. I might anchor this boat two times a year, we have very few places to anchor here in So. Cal , repetitive cyclical loading will not be very much while sitting in the bucket. it's a raceboat most of the time and I want to store it and when and if I need it , it won't be a big ball of corrosion when I do. the chain I have, I do not trust because of all the corrosion from being stored wet by the PO. I have had SS chain on other boats in the past and it is the only way to go on this type of boat. I have it on my power vessel in the PNW, came that way, and in the past 20 years I have never had a problem with it.

A short bit of galv and a rope rode makes more sense. It's a race boat. Much smarter.