Oct 6, 2026News & Insights
How to Choose a Windlass Chain for a Boat
An anchor windlass needs a chain its gypsy can grip. How to match a short link stainless windlass chain to the wheel, the water and the depth you anchor in.
If a boat has an anchor windlass, the chain is not just stored on deck: it runs over a wheel and has to be gripped by it each time the anchor goes down or comes up. Choosing a windlass chain is mostly about matching it to the wheel, then corrosion and length.
What a Windlass Chain Is
A windlass chain is a calibrated, short link chain made to run through an anchor windlass. Calibrated means the links are held to consistent dimensions and pitch, so the chain feeds evenly instead of jamming; short link means more links per length than a long link chain. It is a light, marine chain for boats and yachts, not the heavy studlink anchor chain of large classed vessels - see our marine chain guide.
Match the Chain to the Windlass
The wheel decides the chain. A windlass pulls the chain with a gypsy, a grooved wheel with pockets cut for one chain size and pitch; the chain has to sit in those pockets so the wheel can grip and pay it out. If it is the wrong size, the chain rides up, jumps the pockets or jams. So the question is not which chain, but which chain this windlass takes. A short link form packs the links closer so the gypsy engages several at once, and calibration keeps the pull steady. A long link chain with uneven links will not feed well, however strong it is.
Stainless Steel for Salt Water
Anchor chain lives in salt water, so grade matters. This windlass chain is supplied in stainless steel - SUS304, AISI316 or AISI316L - chosen for corrosion resistance in marine, food, chemical and outdoor environments, with a bright polished finish. Which grade to pick is a trade-off in corrosion resistance and cost, covered in our guide to 316L for marine chains. All standard and non-standard chains can be made in stainless.
Length and Ordering
Length follows the anchoring you do: enough chain for the depth you anchor in and the scope you use, with a rope rode beyond it on systems that use a mixed rope and chain rode. Chain is supplied cut to length. Tell us the chain diameter, the windlass type and the length, and fittings can be confirmed.
Safety: Not a Lifting Chain
An anchor or windlass chain is a mooring chain, not a lifting chain. Ordinary commercial and marine chains are not lifting products; overhead lifting needs grade-marked lifting chain such as grade 80 or grade 100 with matched fittings. In salt water, check for corrosion, worn or stretched links and a gypsy that no longer grips, and replace a worn chain rather than repairing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chain does my windlass take?
The chain whose link size and pitch match the windlass gypsy. The gypsy pockets are cut for one chain size, so the windlass type and chain diameter set the choice. Tell us both and the match can be confirmed.
What is the difference between short link and long link chain?
Short link chain has more links per length, giving a windlass gypsy more to grip; long link chain is lighter per length but feeds less well through a windlass. For a windlass, use the short link form.
Which stainless grade should I use for a windlass chain?
SUS304, AISI316 and AISI316L are all used, and the choice balances corrosion resistance against cost. For salt water and a bright finish, 316L is the usual pick.
Boyuan Metal supplies stainless steel short link windlass chain in SUS304, AISI316 and AISI316L, cut to length, alongside stainless chains, wire rope and rigging hardware. Tell us the chain diameter, the windlass type and the length, and we will confirm the chain and fittings.