The distance the chain has to drop from the deck and the area in which it can spread out are key details in a smoothly working anchoring system. Too little drop or space and the chain will not strip or spill cleanly.
In the photo above you are looking at a dry stack of 350 feet (107m) of the schedule seven 3/8″ (9.6mm) chain on the first FPB 64. Wet chain stacks more evenly.
Even with this rather high stack there is still lots of clearance with the down pipe. Normally the first 100 feet (30m) would be flaked to reduce the height of the pile even further (95% of the time 250 feet (75m) or less of chain is enough).
Posted by Steve Dashew (February 11, 2010)
February 11th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Is there a problem with putting wet galvanised chain onto aluminium?
February 11th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Hi Ed:
Good question. Three part answer:
1-The galvanizing, zinc, is similar to the anodes we put on the hull. If anything has a problem, it is the zinc not the aluminum.
2-Steel and aluminum are close on the periodic chart and do not have the same kind of problem as, for example, copper and aluminum.
3-Some of our early boats have had their chain stored in this fashion for 25+ years and they are still going strong.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Steve,
Does a fresh water rinse before long storage make any difference?
Thanks
scott
February 11th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Hi Scott:
In theory it might, and it would not hurt. But, we just end-for-ended the chain on Wind Horse (after 4.5 years) and the bottom section looks pristine. The section which was working has had the galvanizing worn off from contact with rocks.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Looks like the stored chain can move around easy. big space. Do you end with a knotted mess after offshore trips needing hand loosening before able to deploy?
Carlos
February 12th, 2010 at 1:21 am
Hi Carlos:
There is a trade off between having lots of volume for good flaking and motion uphill creating chain balls as you have indicated. Based on our experience with Wind Horse, and how we expect the FPB 64 to perform uphill, in six months of cruising you might have one foul. The key is to have good access to free the foul if it occurs, which we do with all our designs. On Wind Horse when a foul occurs I can clear it within two or three minutes.
February 13th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Hi Steve,
Long time listener, 1st time caller!
First up, let me say that the 64 looks fantastic, and your attention to detail and you motto of “a boat we’d like to own ourselves” certainly makes ME want to own one….. if only I win the local lottery.
It’s probably patented, but I saw a great idea for stopping the anchor chain moving around.
It was a couple of air bags, or bladders along the walls of the anchor locker. (The one I saw had 3 bladders like an inverted pyramid).
Deflated to let the chain run, but then inflated when anchored, or underway.
Supposedly this stopped any balls forming underway, and also meant it was nice and quiet at anchor too because the chain does not move or fall about.
Having said that, if you are only getting one foul in 6 months cruising I’d wonder about it’s true value.
Cheers,
Anthony
February 14th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Hi Anthony:
Interesting idea if required.
You can reduce the risks of chain balls design wise in two ways. The first is with hull design – minimizing pitching with distribution of volume. The second is with a tall, narrow container. We’ve used the latter on some of our sailboats. With the FPB Series and the self draining chain bin we do not have the vertical height required (but then we are smooth enough through the water uphill to make it unnecessary).