Anchor Chain Markers

[Cotemar]

We make our own Stamoid Anchor Chain Markers.

1) White, so you can see them at night.

2) They show an actual readable number that anyone can understand without a code.

3) We mark 1, 2, and 3 … to mean 10, 20, and 30 … feet as we anchor in shallow water.

2) Easy to make your own DIY.

3) Last about 3 years and can be changed as you use the anchor.

4) They go through a windless with no issues.
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[bcboomer]

Clever!

Looking at Sailrite, I see 2 weights, 8.82oz and 12.64oz. Do you know which you used?

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by bcboomer

Clever!

Looking at Sailrite, I see 2 weights, 8.82oz and 12.64oz. Do you know which you used?

Ours is only coated on one side, so I believe its the 8.82oz Stamoid.

The 12.7oz weight which is vinyl-coated on both sides for easier maintenance and greater tear strength.

May want to try the 12.7oz weight to see if they will last longer than 3 years.
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[tkeithlu]

We take the simple route of painting the chain by a color code. The down sides are that chain is more difficult to completely paint (to many corners for the spray can to reach) and it does eventually wear off. We do limit it to every 50 feet, because in even very shallow water we put out that much rode.

[sailorboy1]

I just use the plastic ties. They got through the windlass and are easy and cheap to replace (only replaced a couple the past 6 years).

[Kenomac]

We use the plastic inserts sold at the chandlery. Simple and have lasted for six years now.

[conachair]

Just a short piece of string works for me, 1 knot = 5m, 2 knots = 10m etc, 2 bits over 30m so 35m is 2 pieces each with 1 knot. Free and can be counted in the dark by 'braille' 10 years on they're getting a bit fluffy and sometimes catch on the windlass so maybe time for some new ones next haul out.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We use the plastic inserts sold at the chandlery. Simple and have lasted for six years now.

We have used the little plastic inserts also.

If you look at our anchor chain picture closely, you can see a black (was white) insert still in the chain.
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[Mike OReilly]

Cool idea. I just finished re-painting our chain (white every 10', red every 50'). I have to do the job every three seasons or so. It's a bit of a pita, but it gives me another reason to check out the chain, and end-to-it if needed.

But I like this idea ... maybe next time the paint wears thin.

[Sandero]

I have a code... it's simple... made piece of brightly colored small braid

200' chain

50' green followed by green
75' green followed by yellow
100' yellow followed by yellow
125' yellow followed by red
150' red followed by red

Usually deploy 100' bright yellow easy to see.

easy peasy and cheap

[Matt Johnson]

Colored zip ties work extremely well. The colors are very easy to see, and you can hear when the next set is coming aboard or pulling out from the chain locker.

We use the 10" and put 15 of them at every mark (one on each consecutive link). They usually last years and you can easily replace all in minutes when end-for-ending the chain.

Matt

[Vasco]

I just paint the chain every fifty feet. Same colour, white. Paint about two feet of the chain. Always easy to see. Don't need a marker every ten feet, confusing. I can remember 50, 100, 150.

[sapient sue]

Warning:

To those guys who paint your chain to mark depths beware!

If you need to re-galvanize your chain many galvanizing plants will not take painted chain as the paint ruins the galvanizing baths.

We found this out the hard way and spent 2 weeks working with a dremel to remove the paint from the links before the chain could be re-galvanized.

Now we use white tab markers sewn to the links.

Cheers Sue

[model 10]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We use the plastic inserts sold at the chandlery. Simple and have lasted for six years now.

You must cruise in clear water. Over in the americas those little inserts go camo. You can't telll what colar they are.

[thinwater]

a. Does anyone really re-galv chain anymore? Finding a place to do it for a reasonable price has and and will continue to become more difficult most places.

b. Paint seems to be good enough for the US Navy. Just sayin'.



I'm not suggesting this code, I just had to share it, since it goes with the image above.

Just havin' a bit of fun, guys. I like the picture.