An anchor is an essential piece of boat equipment. Many of them are made of steel, for good value for money. After a while, rust spots often appear. How can you treat your anchor before the situation deteriorates?
In winter, the anchor takes to the air
When wintering the boat on dry land, it's best to store the anchor and chain, and any rope, outside the anchor locker. In general, it's sufficient to run the chain all the way to the ground and stack it on a pallet with the anchor.
This precaution prevents the assembly from macerating throughout the winter in the damp, salty mooring tank, which encourages corrosion. It also makes it possible to visually check the entire mooring system.
When rust spots appear, it's best to treat them quickly to prolong the life and strength of the fountain solution. This precaution also helps avoid excessive soiling when handling the fountain solution, as rust stains!
Step-by-step rust treatment
The first step in treating rust is to sand down each point of corrosion. Coarse sanding, followed by fine sanding, removes all traces.
The second step is careful cleaning with a degreaser such as acetone, to be handled with the usual precautions.
The final step is to apply a coat of rust stabilizer, such as Rustol. The product can be applied with a brush or sprayed on with a can, which is practical for less accessible corners.
Regular treatment
Of course, this type of treatment is not miraculous. After a few stays on the seabed, the anti-rust protection won't last. For this reason, it's important to check and maintain your anchor regularly.
For much longer-lasting protection of steel, there's hot-dip galvanizing. This technique involves immersing the steel in a bath of molten zinc, after appropriate surface preparation. It is only carried out by specialized companies.
This method can be particularly interesting for treating anchor chains. However, its cost and the problem of transporting the chain to the company make it a technique that is sometimes difficult to implement.
Finally, stainless steel or aluminium anchors are good alternatives to avoid rust.
