Your Chain Explained: Understanding Anchor Chain

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Your Chain Explained Understanding Anchor Chain
All chains the same, right? Well, no. Theres
actually a variety of types and grades that
cruising sailors should know about. What follows
is a primer on understanding anchor chain and
how to use it properly.
The most popular varieties of galvanized-steel
windlass chain include high-test or grade 40
(usually marked HT, G4, or HT4) triple B or
grade 30 (marked as BBB or 3B) and proof coil,
also grade 30 (often marked PC, PC3, or G3). Each
has attributes and shortcomings. BBB and proof
coil are made from low- carbon steel
heat-treated high-test is made from a high
carbon-manganese alloy.
HT chain is widely used because of its
strength-to-link factor Its working load limit
is nearly twice that of BBB, and it has the
highest weight-to-working load ratio. In other
words, it allows the use of a thinner link, which
means more chain can be stored in a given chain
locker. Its links are also windlass calibrated,
which means that they should fit any wildcat with
an HT designation. Such links also tend to
resist tangling in the locker. anchor chains
Most PC chain is designated as non-calibrated
for windlass use. This means its not designed
to be used with a windlass wildcat. Period.
Unfortunately, this caveat is unlikely to be
stamped directly on the chain, so you can never
be certain if the chain falls into this category.
(If chain is verifiably approved for your
windlass, it may be used for anchor rodes.) PC
chain has roughly the same working load as BBB
and the same number of links per foot as HT for
3/8-inch chain, the ratio is 9.8 links per foot
of chain. Its worth noting that some windlass
manufacturers, for obvious reasons, dont offer a
PC wildcat. If someone offers you a pile of cheap
PC chain, beware.
For more information about anchor chains visit
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