Need a quick answer!!!

BALANCE · Post by **BALANCE** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:38 am

will just copy and paste a post on another board...

There was a chain discussion on SSCA that I read a while ago that I was reminded of yesterday and can't get back in to see it because the site is down.

I recently loaded 275 feet of ACCO G4 in my chain locker. Have not anchored using it yet. It's been in there for a month at most, brand new.

I started pulling it out on deck yesterday to mark it and it was all...best described as 'flakey". Sort of a powder as it came up through it's hole on deck.

This sparked a slight memory of reading on SSCA that if chain is stored in an anchor locker of bare fiberglass it is harmful to the chain. This is a paraphrase. I think I even posted a question then asking if the glass was painted, is that enough? So, with all my chain on deck as I type, I'm wondering if bilgecoat paint is satisfactory, is paint, in general satisfactory...

Anybody know?

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:53 am

I vaguely remember reading that, and I was unclear what the poster meant at the time. I figured maybe he/she was trying to say that the chain could mar the fiberglass or potentially wear a hole in it underway from chafe. Not that a coat of paint would stop that, but it was all I could guess. I suppose it could be that rough fiberglass would wear on the galvanizing, and usually people sand before painting, hence a painted anchor locker is a smoother one (?)

I've never heard anything about bare fiberglass doing anything to metal, otherwise. I wonder if anyone else has.

Is the "powder" extra? i.e. is it on the surface of the chain (salt perhaps)? Is there standing water in the bottom of the chain locker? Or is the chain galvanizing itself coming off or turning powdery?

Could you post a photo of it?

Rachel

BALANCE · Post by **BALANCE** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:59 am

I did not take a picture. THere is no standing water. It's never been in salt water. Can't tell by looking at the chain what is actually happening.

What I recall reading was that the chain literally degalvanized over time. I believe I actually put up a question about painting it but I never went back to see if anyone responded...

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:05 am

Well I am going to be very interested to see what others have to say on this. I can't figure out how fiberglass could have "de-galvanizing" properties, unless they were physical (i.e. chafe).

Rachel

BALANCE · Post by **BALANCE** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:03 am

Follow up: It was not salt, the bottom had some debris in it. I think it was from the all rope rode that used to be in there.

FWIW, on another board I was told that the SSCA thread I was referring to was discussing carbon fiber hulls....I don't remember that part and I look forward to re-reading that thread.

Quetzalsailor · Post by **Quetzalsailor** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:18 pm

Probably none of us owners of classic plastic need worry, but you can get galvanic corrosion occurring because of contact with carbon fiber composites. I recalled reading an article about Navy smallcraft and their metal work, probably in Professional Boatbuilder, so I Googled and there are lots of hits about aircraft with carbon composites and metals in contact corroding. Amazing; I would have guessed that the fibers would be encapsulated in the resin but perhaps the Scrimp or vacuum bagging that hightech composites get pushes the fiber into contact.

Also not germaine to the chainlocker story, you can get a white fuzz of corrosion products on zinc when it's given moisture and damp, say between galvanized sheets. Probably not a serious problem, or we would not be galvanizing stuff.

BALANCE · Post by **BALANCE** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:58 pm

Another cause for 'degavanization' (did I make that up?) is exposed electical for nav lights and/or electirc windlass.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:26 pm

BALANCE wrote:Another cause for 'degavanization' (did I make that up?) is exposed electical for nav lights and/or electirc windlass.

Although I would imagine there has to be a "special" path of conductivity between them -- such as the chain touching a bare wire (not just an "exposed" insulated wire), or standing water that both chain and bare wire are sitting in.