Issue 134: Sept/Oct 2020
Chain Lube Change-up
Steering chains lurk unloved, out of sight, in one of the toughest environments on the boat, a constantly damp bilge. And steering failure ranks near the top of the list of reasons why boats are abandoned at sea. Edson Chain Care+ is a spray lubricant specifically formulated to protect chains in these damp conditions.
When first applied, a diluting solvent thins it for quick and deep penetration so that it migrates inside cable guides. But as soon as it dries, it turns quite viscous and sticky. Like gear lubes and chainsaw bar lube, it is formulated with high levels of cling additives so that it won’t wash off. This characteristic wouldn’t work for applications on deck or for exposed cabin locations, where it would attract dirt, but it’s perfect for a steering chain.
I tested it for wash-off resistance and corrosion protection. For three days, I ran three carbon steel coupons, untreated and treated with this product and other marine anti-corrosion sprays, on a rotating test rig, round and round in seawater. (A corrosion coupon is a standardized metal sample, of a known alloy and shape, used to measure corrosion rates in the lab and in the field.) After cleaning, it was visually obvious that the material treated with this product was better protected against corrosion than any of the other coupons.
As a chemist, I could get more technical about the merits of this product than this space allows, but I’ll refrain. The bottom line is that I think Edson has taken it up a notch in steering chain lube.
For more information: edsonmarine.com.
Recycle, Reuse, Reline
Marlow Blue Ocean, as far as I know, is the first dockline made entirely from recycled bottles. Though counterintuitive, plastic water bottles are made from the same polymer used to make virgin polyester fiber for rope, fleece jackets, and polyester shirts. If we want our recyclable materials recycled, we need to buy recycled products. But do these docklines make the grade?
Nylon is usually preferred for docklines because of its stretch characteristic. Polyester stretches less (these lines are polyester). But if the docklines are long enough, such as in spring lines or in bow and stern lines rigged in a crisscross manner, there should be plenty of stretch in polyester. If tied to floating docks, stretch might not be as big a factor as it is when tying to fixed docks or pilings. The best way to find out if your lines are stretching enough is to stay aboard on a windy day or during tide swings; you’ll feel your boat jerking if more stretch is needed.
Where polyester beats nylon is in strength and chafe resistance, both important considerations for docklines. In terms of strength, Marlow rates this recycled product about 10 percent weaker than its polyester lines made from virgin materials, putting it on par with nylon. To test chafe resistance, I attached an 8-foot piece of this rope to a 75-pound weight and let it swing across a cinderblock for 15 minutes. I did the same for a double-braided nylon rope. The block wore right through the cover of the nylon rope, while this polyester rope was only slightly abraded.
After a year, I’m still using the recycled dockline. It looks and feels good, and the splices show good workmanship. I still prefer nylon where stretch characteristics are required, but the best answer for many boats may be a combination; I use polyester lines on the more exposed side and thin stretchy nylon lines on the other to pull in the slack. When I use all nylon of the suggested size, the boat bounces in gusty conditions.
For more information: marlowropes.com.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
