If you run a maritime business, it’s important you put a lot of thought into buying the right anchor chains. If you don’t you run the risk of buying chains that’ll fail you when you need them most. But, if you’ve never spent money on an anchor chain before, you may not know how to pick the right one.
That’s okay as this is a common problem faced by many.
Keep reading and I’ll share what it takes to tell the good anchor chains from the bad. Use the tips mentioned and you’ll know how to find the perfect anchor chain for your maritime business.
Let’s begin!
Take into Account the Size of Your Boat
As you might’ve guessed the size of your boat is going to have a big impact on the kind of chain you’ll need to invest in. Generally the larger the boat, the thicker the chain will need to be.
For instance, if you have a boat that is less than 5 meters in size, then you should be fine with a chain that’s is around 6 mm in thickness. But if the boat is larger than 18 meters, you’ll probably need to think about investing in something that’s around 24 mm or thicker.
Of course, the ‘displacement’ factor of your boat can also have a large impact on the size of your chain. If your boat is relatively heavy for its size then you’ll need to think about investing in a thicker, stronger chain, even if the boat’s relatively small.
What Kind of Conditions Do You Normally Experience?
The conditions you’ll be using your anchor in can have a big impact on the kind of anchor chain you will need to spend money on. If you’re using the anchor in relatively stable weather conditions, where the weather is fairly pleasant, a thicker chain is often not needed.
But if you’re using your boat in stormy weather conditions, or in a location where there are strong tides or winds, then you’ll need to take this into account. How much you need to take this into account is going to depend on the conditions you’re dealing with.
Spending Money on a Reliable Company
In the scheme of things, an anchor chain is not a significant part of your boat.
But if it fails, the consequences can be quite severe. Because of this, you want to think about buying an anchor chain from a company with an established brand. Taking this step will ensure you’re not going to spend money on a chain that’ll fail you when you in trying conditions.
An example of a reputable company you can invest in is Qingdao Anchor Chain. This company has produced chains for a long time and this is generally a sign the company knows how to create reliable products.
Take into Consideration the Weight of the Chain
You might think that it’s a good idea to simply invest in the thickest, most sturdy chain you can find. Whilst this sounds good in theory, it can often lead to problems. That’s because you’ll find that such a chain is going to be very heavy.
The weight of the chain can thus have a big impact on your ability to use your boat. The weight might throw the boat off balance, making it hard to steer. Especially in windy, stormy conditions.
This can potentially lead to you damaging your boat, which could mean you need to spend money on repairs. It could even lead to you potentially injuring yourself whilst using your boat.
The Different Chain Types
When it comes to chain categories, you’ll tend to find that there are three main options.
The first is a ‘high test’ chain. This kind of chain is made from something known as high-carbon steel. This kind of chain works well if you have a windlass.
The second variation is the ‘BBB’ chain. This chain is made from low carbon steel. This chain also tends to work well with a windlass.
The next chain is something known as a ‘grade 70’ chain. This chain is designed so that it has a very high strength-to-weight ratio. This makes it one of the stronger chains you can buy. It’s also very good at resisting wear and tear. One of the issues with this kind of chain, though, is it that it might not work well with a windlass.
Should Your Chain Be Part Nylon?
Depending on the size of your boat, you might not need to invest in an anchor chain that is made entirely out of steel. Some boats do well with a chain that is a combination of nylon and steel.
One of the good things about a combination chain is that the weight is more manageable. This means that it’s easier to have a chain that is longer. A combination chain also tends to work well if you don’t have a windlass on your boat.
Maintaining Your Chains
No matter how good your chain is, it’s important you keep a close eye on it.
Anchor chains are naturally going to wear out over time. You need to keep an eye on the chain to make sure it does not fall into disrepair. After all, an anchor chain is only going to be as good as its weakest link.
Time to Buy an Anchor Chain?
If you run a maritime business, you’ll eventually get to the point where you need to invest in an anchor chain. Yet if you don’t know much about anchor chains, knowing which one you should invest in can be tricky.
In this post, we’ve reviewed some of the things you should consider when investing in an anchor chain. You should think about the size of your boat. You should also consider whether you need an anchor chain that is composed entirely out of steel. You might find that a combination is better.
Whichever option you go with, make sure you maintain your chains. If you don’t do this, then you might run into trouble when your chain fails you in a situation where you really need it to deliver results.
Interested in hiring an online marketing agency? Check out this post to learn what you can expect when working with an online marketing agency.