New Anchor Chain - Preparing for the Bahamas

    After 12 years of frequent use (and not enough frequent fresh water washings) it was time to replace our rusty anchor chain. The links were rusting excessively and besides losing some strength, they were making a mess of rust particles on the deck every time we anchored.

   To offload/onload the 250lbs of chain, we have to pull in to the marina launch basin where we can drive our truck up to the water's edge. We can only pull into the launch basin after hours, so we came in at the end of the day and did the chain swap in the dark.

   200ft of 5/16ths inch High Strength chain successfully loaded up. The new, clean chain slides right down the ramp without "castling up" and jamming the windlass. The First Mate will be thrilled with not having to run below and pull the chain down into the locker.

   While we had the old chain out, we washed and flushed out all the rust and mud/sand collected in the chain locker over the last 10 years. Now I need to pump the last bit of that muddy water out of the main bilge. 

  Just about ready to push off for our trip to the Bahamas this winter. We head to New Bern, NC, in next couple weeks.

   Also changed all the oil, fuel filters, coolant, etc, preparing for our 6-month voyage.