No. Not really, John. I've been using chains for a couple years so I can say with experience...they really do no more harm than a wade fisherman's boot tracks, or a limb rolling down river after being blown in by wind. I do not leave my chains bare like Mojo's photo above. My chains are either inside rubber (bicycle inner tube) or coated with 3-4 layers of duct tape. I also use much larger link, 3/8", about 18 inches long, and only use 4 sections. They will slow my drift or if I let enough anchor rope out, stop me completely.