Weigh Anchor on Corrosion! Tips for Corrosion Control on Anchor Chains
July 23, 2025
Sailing the seas, breathing fresh air, and seeing new places can be exhilarating—but it involves plenty of hard work for sailors. It also presents the perfect environment for corrosion. Anchor chains— often protected with heavy-duty paint or galvanized coatings that eventually wear away—are among the victims. Thus, it never hurts to have some extra tips on hand for keeping corrosion in check!
How to Clean and Protect Rusty Chains
Rusty chains must be cleaned before recoating, re-galvanizing, or storing. This could be a daunting task if not for the dip bath option. Go biobased by soaking your chain in a dilution of VpCI®- 422 (contains 92% USDA certified biobased content) or go heavy-duty with a dilution of EcoClean® Scale and Rust Remover HP (a safer alternative to muriatic acid). Dwell time varies, so be sure to periodically check rust removal progress. After rust removal, rinse the chains with fresh water and/or a VpCI®-41x Series alkaline cleaner that neutralizes the acid and prevents flash rust. For long-term storage (e.g., during mothballing or drydocking), one option is to spray the chain with CorShield® VpCI®-369, a wet film corrosion inhibitor.
Corrosion Protection in the Chain Locker
When boats or ships sail frequently, the anchor chain spends much of its time in the chain locker. Best practices dictate spraying the anchor chain down with fresh water (especially to remove salts when sailing in seawater) and drying it every time the vessel weighs anchor. What most sailors do not realize, however, is the possibility of turning the chain locker into its own corrosion inhibiting chamber. One way to do this is by hanging VpCI®-308 Pouches inside and shutting the door. Each of these breathable pouches contain enough Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors to protect 35 ft³ (1 m³) of space. As time passes, the corrosion inhibiting vapors diffuse throughout the enclosed space and form a protective molecular layer on all exposed metal surfaces, including stainless and galvanized steel, discouraging the corrosion reaction on chains and locker walls even in the presence of residual moisture.
Weigh Anchor on Corrosion!
Anchor chain corrosion is a shipboard threat that is always lurking in the background. Weigh anchor on corrosion by trying one of the strategies above—or contact Cortec® for additional strategies!
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