Source for affordable anchor chain?

[jordanbigel]

So, I need 200' of 3/8 G4 chain.

Defender lists this chain for $5/ft or $960 for half-barrel (ie. 200ft). Not bad. But, with the shipping (to Cali) and tax, the cost the total cost $1,575.

I also found G4 chain at Go2Marine (I have bought a bunch of stuff there in the last few years) - their price is $1,150 but again, with shipping and tax the total comes out to $1,572.

Another source is - you guessed it - West Marine. They charge $7.80/ft, and I can pick it up for free at the local store (2 blocks from the marina) - but with tax, the total cost is $1,694.

Are there any other options? Does anyone know if there is any place in Southern California where I can get a better deal?

I've also checked the price at Downwind Marine (a local chandlery in San Diego) and the price is even higher!

I doubt anything good will come of this thread, but even if there is a slim chance, I have to ask. Thanks for your patience.

[Chotu]

I would also be concerned about where to find good chain.

I bought the best money can buy from defender. Acco G4.

It has no resistance to corrosion.

it was a rust heap within a couple months. And that’s not from being in the salt water. That was from rain. oddly, it seems to help with the rust situation when it goes down in the salt water. Maybe that’s because it’s dragging on the bottom and there is some abrasion to get the rust off.

in any case, the best chain you can buy is not very good these days.

[s/v Jedi]

It seems you have found the most affordable options already.

For better deals you will need to move to either south or north to reduce shipping costs.

Acco chain is more expensive and I think differences you find are different brands.

Here is one option further north

https://www.fisheriessupply.com/mart...chain/10315750

[rslifkin]

I've heard some iffy things about Acco's galvanizing lately. My 5/16" G43 has held up fine so far, but it's only 3 years old and hasn't seen salt water.

[MicHughV]

My advice to search out a shop that services the shipping industry. Indusco is one, but there are several others.
Just for funsies, I googled 5/15" G43 chain

https://www.1st-chainsupply.com/chai...free-shipping/

[MicHughV]

comes out to $2.58 when bought in bulk..

[MicHughV]

My bad....that is not galvanized chain....

[MicHughV]

galv. is $ 6.54/ft

[MicHughV]

I have a good excuse though...I'm blind in one eye and can't see out the other...

[jordanbigel]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

My advice to search out a shop that services the shipping industry. Indusco is one, but there are several others.
Just for funsies, I googled 5/15" G43 chain

https://www.1st-chainsupply.com/chai...free-shipping/

As you said, this chain is not galvanized. But, I did find the galvanized chain on the same site, cost is $1,502 with tax and they claim free shipping, so that's appx $50 less than the other options. I actually found these guys yesterday, but did not locate the galvanized chain on their site until you mentioned it again.

But to save $50, and its also Acco, I may as well go with the devil I know - ie. defender. - rather than try a new vendor.

https://www.1st-chainsupply.com/chai...other-options/

[Jammer]

I recently bought 275 feet of G4 5/16" chain and came to the conclusion that Defender had the lowest delivered price in my situation.



I have used Tulsa Chain in the past. They offer free freight but only to a commercial address. At present I do not have sufficient access to a commercial address so they were not a feasible choice. If you have a commercial address where you can have the chain delivered, I think you will find that they are somewhat cheaper than the choices you list. They will sell half or full drums, or 5 gallon pails, but will not sell custom cut lengths for windlass chain.


https://www.tulsachain.com/marine-ch...est-chain-iso/


They also have the HT shackles you probably need.

[MicHughV]

here's another link for a variety of chain...

https://www.amazon.com/Coil-Chains-F...ts_id=16412371

[jordanbigel]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

It seems you have found the most affordable options already.

For better deals you will need to move to either south or north to reduce shipping costs.

Acco chain is more expensive and I think differences you find are different brands.

Here is one option further north

https://www.fisheriessupply.com/mart...chain/10315750

I did check Fisheries but I found a different 3/8" HT (apparently they sell 2 different versions which seem to differ by 0.02" on inside length and inside width by 0.01") - see screenshot below - but the one which is labeled "windlass chain" which you linked to is about HALF the cost. Weird.

I discounted Fisheries as an option because I only found the higher priced chain but the "windlass chain" version looks great at only $1,192 with tax and shipping is only $120 (they say free shipping, but then add "freight surcharge" of $120 - still comes out way less than other options)!

This is definitely the best option so far. Thanks for mentioning this, otherwise I would never have gone back to the Fisheries web site!

[jordanbigel]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I recently bought 275 feet of G4 5/16" chain and came to the conclusion that Defender had the lowest delivered price in my situation.



I have used Tulsa Chain in the past. They offer free freight but only to a commercial address. At present I do not have sufficient access to a commercial address so they were not a feasible choice. If you have a commercial address where you can have the chain delivered, I think you will find that they are somewhat cheaper than the choices you list. They will sell half or full drums, or 5 gallon pails, but will not sell custom cut lengths for windlass chain.


https://www.tulsachain.com/marine-ch...est-chain-iso/


They also have the HT shackles you probably need.

Thanks. I did check out Tulsa Chain last night and their price of $1,310 was excellent, and they claim free shipping (I do have access to a commercial address for shipping) - I sent them an email last night asking them to confirm (I am loathe to go through the entire ordering process only to find out that there is a shipping charge after all, hence the email).

As for shackles, I have several Crosby HT shackles already so I'm good there.

Thanks for your reply.

[Shrew]

I think the issue is that the majority of iron ore mining is coming out of Minnesota, Michigan and Utah. However, the majority of steel production is Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

Being as how you're in California, someone has to pay to get it to you.