To regalvanise – or not

Most boats are equipped with a carbon-steel anchor and chain, hot-dip galvanised (coated in zinc) to prevent rusting. Although stainless anchors and chains are available, they can be two to three times more expensive. Also, stainless steel is more brittle than conventional steel and has about a 20% lower breaking strain for the same gauge.

For this reason stainless ground tackle is usually only found on luxury boats and superyachts, where appearance might be more important than price. At the other end of the spectrum racing yachts and skiffs may feature a lightweight aluminium anchor, intended for emergencies rather than as a regular option.

A good quality galvanised coating will last many years. Over an extended time, however, the galvanising on both the anchor and chain wears through, and eventually the dreaded rust makes an appearance. This isn’t a problem if