T&T: Anchor Chain

[Faure, Marin]

>I was just informed that I need to change out my anchor chain from 1/4"
to 5/16". Will need approx. 100 to 150 ft. galvanized. Any suggestions
as to best place to buy. $$ is always major concern.

While you can sometimes find the best prices for chain at a store out of
your area or on the internet, chain ain't cheap to ship.  So given the
shipping cost, you are usually better off buying chain from a local
supplier even if the per-foot cost is higher because you won't be paying
to ship several hundred pounds of metal around.

While rare, there are occasions when chain of a specified size won't
match the windlass wildcat that's stamped for the same size.  This
happened to a friend of mine.  If you use a local supplier, it's a good
idea to have them whack off a short length--- a foot or so--- of the
chain you intend to buy so you can take it to your boat and make sure
the links will properly fit the wildcat.  Or if the wildcat is easy to
take off, you can take it to the chain supplier and do the fit check.
But you can't do either of these things if you buy from an internet or
out-of-town supplier.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington