Ahoy there Captains!
I want to add some length (and who doesn't ??) to my anchor chain.
A quick search on here doesn't show up much.
I've spoken to a few people who have conflicting opinions on whether it's safe or not. They guy in Whitworths reckons the joining links they sell are not rated and doesn't recommend joining chain either way.
I'd be interested in your opinions on the matter, cheers!

I am no chain expert so this is just online opinion but if you want extra length out its not going to be in mild conditions.

I wouldn't risk my boat (and more) to save money on ground tackle.

Large ships often do not have one continuous chain.
I know that the size, material and design are different from our needs, but just want to point out that joined chain does exist and is acceptable in some cases when done properly.
I would use joined chain, if it were done professionally.
As for giving it a go myself, no thank you.

The option to NOT joining a chain is to purchase the total length that you are looking at and chain does not come cheap.

I think broken chains are pretty rare and when they do occur it is usually because of deterioration.

gary

Don't know your size but 100m lengths of second hand 8mm short link come up occasionally on marketplace. If your in the right place at the right time and the chain is still serviceable it might be an option to buy and see out the next few years.

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cammd said..
I am no chain expert so this is just online opinion but if you want extra length out its not going to be in mild conditions.

I wouldn't risk my boat (and more) to save money on ground tackle.

Cheers Cammd.
So are you saying that you wouldn't join it, you would replace it all with one continuous length?

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NowandZen said..

cammd said..
I am no chain expert so this is just online opinion but if you want extra length out its not going to be in mild conditions.

I wouldn't risk my boat (and more) to save money on ground tackle.

Cheers Cammd.
So are you saying that you wouldn't join it, you would replace it all with one continuous length?

I wouldn't join it, that join is all I would think about if I was anchored in adverse conditions that required me to put out greater scope.
It would feel like riding on cheap motorbike tyres, I would have no confidence in it and end up replacing it anyway.

I've got a joiner in my chain (bought from either Whitworths or RTM I can't remember).
From memory it's about 60m in so admittedly it's not out often. But it wasn't unusual to have that much chain out in the Kimberly's. As Cammd has eluded to, it always was in the back (more like front) of my mind.
Did it work? Sure. Would it continue to work, quite likely. Will I change it out for a single length? Absolutely. If for nothing else but piece of mind.