Chain supplied by Boat Gear Direct is tested by the manufacturer and given a ‘Works Certificate’. The manufacturer relies on batch testing, they do not check every link.

The ‘break load’ shown on the ‘Works Certificate’ is when the link starts to deform it is not when the link actually breaks.

At Boat Gear Direct we have our own testing facilities to enable us to check that manufacturer’s certificates are accurate.

Test Certificates issued by Boat Gear Direct relate to the manufacturers certificate which sometimes show the ‘break load’ in kN/ton. An easy approximate conversion to change this to tons is to divide the figure by ten, e.g. 75kn = 7.5Tons.

Chain Grades – what do they mean?

Chain ‘Grades’ relate to the hardness of the material from which the chain is manufactured. The lowest currently available is Grade 20 which is classified as a soft material, the Grades go up to Grade100 which is a very hard material. The Grade also defines the strength of the chain, unfortunately hard metal materials do not perform well when subjected to marine conditions, showing a tendency to fracture and rust to a higher degree than lower Grades.

Experience has shown that Grade 30 and 40 chains are generally best suited for use in a Marine Environment. Grade 40 is slightly harder and stronger than Grade 30, it is also more expensive to manufacture.

Calibrated – what does that mean?

Calibrated chain means that every link within its length is the same size and consequently suitable for use with a windlass that has been manufactured for use with a given chain size. Newer chain making machines automatically calibrate the chain within its production cycle, previously it was necessary to calibrate the chain by stretching it after it left the machine.

Used Chain - what has it been used for?

At BGD we buy top quality used chain from Holland and Germany where it has been used either on inland barges or in the mining industry. Historically we have always sold used chain from these sources, primarily for use as ground chain on moorings.

Stud-link Chain - what's that?

Stud-link chain is primarily used as anchor chain on large ships, it is similar in shape to open link chain but has a metal ‘stud’ inserted across the link to prevent distortion under very high loads. The ‘stud’ also causes the chain the weigh more, this is beneficial when anchored in bad weather conditions.

BGD Chain - where does it come from?

Our ability to do our own testing and over 20 years experience of listening to both good and bad feedback from customers has caused us to select two chain manufacturers - Italian and Chinese (There is no UK manufacturer of the type of chain that we use). The Italian chain is of superb quality and if money is of absolutely no object (this is supplied for ‘super yachts' and to MOD contractors etc.), then this is the chain for you. But as to if it will last longer in a harsh marine environment then we can’t give you an answer. Testing on our test facility has shown that apart from the variation expected between Grade 30 and 40 chains there is little to choose between them. What we can say is that we have been down the road of trying CHEAP chain from bad Chinese manufacturers and found that as with everything ‘you get what you pay for’. For a number of years we have had our more economically priced range of chain manufactured by the leading Chinese factory who also produce much of the anchor chain used by the worlds shipping companies.