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Bradney chain

The anchor chain is just as important as the anchor, there is not much point in having a high holding power anchor well dug into the seabed only to find your chain or one of the shackles fails. We supply chain from the UK stockist Bradney which is suitable for use with Lewmar, Quick, Simpson-Lawrence, Lofrans windlasses to name a few.

Windlass chains need to be calibrated to ensure consistent dimensions. To complicate the matter further chain is rarely interchangeable between different makes of windlasses. Although the chain diameter may be identical its more than likely the windlass gypsy will require links of different dimension to ensure a good fit. Be warned a chain that’s a poor fit for a gypsy is not only dangerous and prone to slipping but will in addition damage the gypsy and possibly the windlass itself.

Calibrated chain is chain that is manufactured to adhere to internationally accepted standard dimensions with close tolerances. Two of the more commonly used specifications today are DIN 766 Calibrated Chain and ISO Calibrated Chain. The difference between the two specifications can be as much as 2mm on the inside pitch of the link for the same diameter chain; over several links if the wrong chain is fitted this will cause the chain to jam or jump out of the windlass gypsy.

To ensure compatibility of chain with your windlass contact our chandlery and discuss your requirements. Please make sure you have the make and model of your windlass to hand. We stock a range of the most commonly used chains at Ardfern however if required custom lengths can be supplied complete with enlarged end links.

The table below from Bradney chain shows basic information for the most commonly used chains.

NOMINAL CHAIN DIAMETER (mm)

6

7

8

9.5

11

12

14

16

GRADE 30 Hot Dipped Galvanised & 316 Stainless Steel Proof test force in kN

7.2

9.7

12.7

17.9

24

28.6

38.8

51

Minimum breaking force in kN

  18.0  

 24.4 

 31.8 

 44.8 

60

71.4

97

 128 

GRADE 40 Hot Dipped Galvanised
Proof test force in kN

-

12.2

15.9

22.4

30

35.7

48.5

64

Minimum breaking force in kN

-

30.8

40.4

56.8

76.2

90.6

126

162

GRADE 50 – 316 Stainless Steel
Proof test force in kN

15

-

25

40

-

 13mm 
62

-

100

Minimum breaking force in kN

30

-

50

 80 

-

125

-

200

Approximate weight per metre
(in kilograms)

0.8

1.0

1.4

2.0

2.7

3.2

4.3

5.5

  


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