New chain in locker

[SanSailer]

After several years of cruising, we're back on the dock with a long "to-do" list. One easy item is new chain. My question is should I go ahead and replace it now as an easy to check off item, knowng that it will be sitting in the locker for months, maybe as long as a year. Or do I wait til the last minute. In other words, will it rust in the locker without salt water exposure, just the ambient humidity and a little rain water down the hawse hole?

[cheoah]

Galvanized ACCO G40 should be fine. My current string of chain has no rust to speak of and it has both sat in the locker and in salt water for periods of time.

I'd keep an eye out for used chain, depending on how much you need. Might save some $$ buying someone else's barely used chain, but no, letting it sit for a year won't compromise it or shorten it's working life.

[Crimea Cruiser]

I could be wrong, but unless in vacuum state of zero percent humidity in environment, metal inherently succumbs to rust and deterioration.

[savoir]

Only used chain rusts. The rust always happens in places where the galvanising gets scrubbed off during use.

Wait for a sale at your local supplier and grab some at the right price.

[Suijin]

It will be fine, if it's galvanized, for years, if it's generally protected from salt. Just hose out the locker after you remove the old chain to get the salt and mud out.

[Dsanduril]

I'm with Crimea, so there you have the internet in a nutshell - Ask a question and you can get all kinds of different answers - choose the one you want to hear.

Corrosion never sleeps, and it generally occurs in your chain locker, not underwater. The wear-and-tear that physically damages the galvanizing happens underwater, but the bulk of the corrosion occurs in your chain locker where there is plenty of oxygen and a damp environment. If you're not going to use it, why not let it sit in the ground/factory until you're ready to use it?

[savoir]

While you are doing the spring clean thing in that part of the boat take the opportunity to tie up the rode. Mount 2 small padeyes as far apart and as high as the space will allow. Tie some string to each and hank up the rode in loops long enough to stretch across the two bits of string.

Your rode will be cleaner, drier, less smelly and last years longer.

[SanSailer]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll just keep an eye out. If I can get it for a good price, I'll check off that item, if not I'll wait until we have a new cast off date. Also, no rode. I have heard both sides but we sleep better with all chain and our boat is so heavy, an extra 500' of chain makes no real difference in waterline or perfomance.