extending anchor chain with c-links

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williwaw

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23 Venture
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Williwaw
For those interested in extending their anchor chains but have hesitated due to dire warnings about c-link strength, here's an interesting study:

http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Clinks.aspx

To paraphrase, the conclusion is that if you buy a quality link (ACCO or Crosby) you can feel secure in it's strength and can get a good nights sleep.

So what say you brats, time to add chain the easy way?
 
Interesting for those who "need" it. Here in the CBay, I rarely anchor in water over 20' deep. 25' of chain is more than enough!! :thup

Thanks for the info though!

Charlie
 
Interesting enough, according to the article, ACCO was bought out by Peerless who now makes ACCO in the Far East. I assume that doesn't mean Maine.

Boris
 
journey on":l2vaaun5 said:
Interesting enough, according to the article, ACCO was bought out by Peerless who now makes ACCO in the Far East. I assume that doesn't mean Maine.

Boris
Click to expand...

Correct, Maine where I have a home, is Down East, not Far East!! :? :mrgreen:
 
Captains Cat":1kqxv98x said:
journey on":1kqxv98x said:
Interesting enough, according to the article, ACCO was bought out by Peerless who now makes ACCO in the Far East. I assume that doesn't mean Maine.

Boris
Click to expand...

Correct, Maine where I have a home, is Down East, not Far East!! :? :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

OK, so Main is Down East…..

So where is Up East???

New Brunswick? Nova Scotia? PEI? Newfoundland? Greenland? Etc., Etc…. :lol:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Sea Wolf":rmabkqia said:
OK, so Main is Down East…..

So where is Up East???

New Brunswick? Nova Scotia? PEI? Newfoundland? Greenland? Etc., Etc…. :lol:

Joe. :teeth :thup
Click to expand...

It's called "down east" because, the way the prevailing winds are, you sail "downwind and east" along the coast. (Great sailing place.)

So there is no up east there (guess you would have to find another region where there is a prevailing "upwind and east").
 
So there is no up east there (guess you would have to find another region where there is a prevailing "upwind and east").
Click to expand...

Prolly a Southern Hemisphere thing :wink:
 
Thanks, Sunbeam! Makes sense to me! Joe. :lol: :thup


Sunbeam":1sjqq26w said:
Sea Wolf":1sjqq26w said:
OK, so Main is Down East…..

So where is Up East???

New Brunswick? Nova Scotia? PEI? Newfoundland? Greenland? Etc., Etc…. :lol:

Joe. :teeth :thup
Click to expand...

It's called "down east" because, the way the prevailing winds are, you sail "downwind and east" along the coast. (Great sailing place.)

So there is no up east there (guess you would have to find another region where there is a prevailing "upwind and east").
Click to expand...
 
Right on Sunbeam! :thup :D

Maine Joe, not Main....Although you may be my Main Man as far as funny stories go... :mrgreen:

Charlie
 
williwaw":y8gixndk said:
For those interested in extending their anchor chains but have hesitated due to dire warnings about c-link strength, here's an interesting study:

http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Clinks.aspx

To paraphrase, the conclusion is that if you buy a quality link (ACCO or Crosby) you can feel secure in it's strength and can get a good nights sleep.

So what say you brats, time to add chain the easy way?
Click to expand...

My West Marine spliced rode has 200 feet of line and 20 feet of galvanized chain. I had been planning on adding an additional 80 feet of chain, using a C-link; but have recently been told that C-links may hang up when passing through the windlass gypsy, and that I should, instead, find someone to weld the two chain lengths together. (The Cox Engineering article cited above is ambiguous about how well C-links work with windlasses.)


So far, I have been unable to find a welder willing to risk the toxins released by welding galvanized chain. Any suggestions?
 
The Crosby 1/4" link passes easily through the Lewmar 700. It looks almost identical to the other links so I've been thinking of painting it red to more easily keep track of it.

For comparison purposes, before installing the Crosby link I bought a SEAFIT link from West Marine. Though rated about the same, visually at least the Crosby casting is far superior to SEAFIT so I went with it.
 
I have used the C Links for many years. One slightly different procedure, is that I put J B weld (not quick set) between the two C links just before I join then and peen the little protuberances over. I also apply a dab of the JB weld on the peen, to cover any galvanizing which may have been destroyed.

I don't have any scientific tests on the SWL, or braking strength. But they have always held, including in some high load conditions. (Let me say that under those conditions, the c link was on a secondary anchor,and my primary anchor was original full chain, with no weld etc.

I would not weld G4 chain. The steel has been heat treaded in the process, and you will loose the temper. Also if welded, the welder should use the same composition welding rod as in the connecting link. I don't know if a certified welder would guarantee his weld under these conditions…After heating you will loose the galvanizing--and thus need to spray with liquid zinc paint, or some other coating.

The original article stated:

" Fortunately, most gypsies
can cope with a single link that is bigger than the chain links. During research for this article I discovered that my own anchor chain was
joined using a larger C-link. It had been in use with two windlasses for many years."

I have used C links in several gypsies in 3/8, 5/16 and 1/4" G4 Chain, and generally it as worked OK, with only the single link slightly mismatched. .
 
My West Marine spliced rode has 200 feet of line and 20 feet of galvanized chain. I had been planning on adding an additional 80 feet of chain, using a C-link; but have recently been told that C-links may hang up when passing through the windlass gypsy, and that I should, instead, find someone to weld the two chain lengths together. (The Cox Engineering article cited above is ambiguous about how well C-links work with windlasses.)


So far, I have been unable to find a welder willing to risk the toxins released by welding galvanized chain. Any suggestions?


One option is to to just splice the new chain to the rode and use the 20' length for a spare anchor or something.
 
For me I sold my old Lewmar knock off anchor with chain and 200' of 3 strand line and purchased a new 25 pound Mansion Supreme and bought 50' of new chain and 250' of new eight plait line. I had Defender do the rope to chain splice. No worries.
D.D.
 
Great ideas, guys. Thanks!
 
I have used a C link to extend chain with no difficulties. Like Thataway Bob I use JB Weld to add strength. The link does seem to rust a bit so I have typically replaced it every couple of years. It has routinely fed through the Lewmar V700 gipsy. With no hitches.
 
An option to adding anchor chain length is to increase your anchor size.

Perhaps not as cost effective as some chain and c-links but it is an option
and may be more effective.

Aye.
 
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