Kurt Jon Ulmer wrote:Hi Thierry,

I'm using a 'Hammerlock' connector at the end of our 8mm chain, to connect the chain to a big shackle without having to use a shackle small enough for its pin to fit through the link. 

It could be used in the middle of a chain, as it fits through the links. Smooth enough to hand over a gypsy or so without catching your hand or glove. Stronger than chain! Not galvanised, but resistant to rusting.

It is rated to break at 8 Tonnes. Cost ~NZ$70

Our new Maggi Aqua7 chain is rated to break at 7 T. It's starting to get rusty after a little over a year living on anchor.

Our 5/8" nylon 3-strand rope is rated to break at 5.5 T.

I had a couple of things tested to destruction by Cookes here in New Zealand:

Our twice-regalvanised 5/16" Acco chain broke at 5.5 T.

A 2-piece peened connecting link, stainless, not Crosby, broke at 3.07 T. 

The Crosby equivalent was rated to break at 3.5 T.

Good luck.

Kurt

I had looked at the hammerlock and didn't consider it because it's not galvanized. The price is also more than what I would like to pay.

I realized that my chain spent more than 2 years in the water and that's why it's rusting.

I have decided to replace the whole chain with a Crosby chain. I got a quote at CAN$2.85/ft for a 400' drum. I am hoping to resell the 140' I am not going to use. Apparently it's a good price

Regalvanizing is not an option. There is only one galvanizer in the area and they don't like small customers so the price would be way more than new chain.

Cheers, Thierry

Thanks for the replies. I found out that people do use the Crosby Missing Link and some use a spectra lashing as a backup (that's probably what I am going to do) or even just the lashing (Evan Starzinger in http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f118/joining-chain-53949-2.html). I'll check the price for blasting and regalvanizing the rusted bit of chain. It might be more expensive than new chain at ±CAN$2.5/ft. Cheers. Thierry

Chain joining links always look a bit dicey to me, too.  If you don't want to regalvanise (and you used to be able to get it done in Dartmouth), then I'd use a shackle myself and put up with having to man-handle it through the chain pawl.

I am wondering what kind of chain joining links people use. My 3/8" x 80m has a 25m rusted section in the middle. My plan is to cut out the rusty section and replace it with new chain. I don't have to worry about windlass or calibrated chain. My windlass is home made. Thanks. Thierry