Chain Markings

[bstreep]

Dittos, defjef. I printed it out, and I'm going to do my chain on Saturday. I LOVE the green/yellow/red idea.

[Nauticatarcher]

We just use cable ties, 1 for 10m 2 for 3m, so on up to 50m then we drop back to one again, the trick is to use good quality ties and put them around where the links join picking up two links, this way they dont get cut of by gypsy, paint is a PIA and never lasts if you anchor a lot

[Extemporaneous]

Originally Posted by defjef

My crib sheet for anchoring:

Very good job!

[capt flamingo]

my method for marking chain length utilizes the EIA standard resistor color code whereby the following colors denote a specific number.
Brown, 1
Red, 2
Orange, 3
Yellow, 4
Green, 5
Blue, 6
Violet, 7
Gray, 8
White, 9
Black, 0

Most engineering types already know the EIA resistor color code and it's practical info for the ship's engineer as well. I used to spray paint the colors on my chain, but found the paint was only temporary and expensive. I now use colored 6" plactic tywraps that I purchased on ebay. I apply 6 tywraps every other chain link, so I cover about 1 foot of chain. I have an electric windlass and 5/16" chain. The tywraps move through the wildcat without any notice and I haven't lost 1 tywrap that I am aware of. I have 200 feet of chain and mark it at 5', 50', 60' and 20' intervals thereafter. IE;
1' through 5', flourescent yellow to warn of anchor's approach
50, green
60, blue
80, gray
100, black
120, red
140, yellow
160, blue
180, gray
195 through 200, florescent yellow to warn of nylon rode connection
Although I haven't tried it, I would expect the tywraps would work equally as well on 3 strand nylon rode. Brait and braided nylon should also work if the smaller 3" long tywraps were substituted. In practice prior to anchoring, I determine the total depth, multiply by 5, determine the correct color and inform the deck crew to release rode until they reach the tywrap color ordered. Very uncomplicated for the deck crew. Until the color code becomes memorized, a crib sheet could be kept in the cockpit cutout to make the correct color determination.
One man's opinion.

[donradcliffe]

I find that orange nylon parachute cord makes cheap effective markers that last. Knot one cord with 3" tails at 50 ft, 2 at 100, etc... then a bunch of red vinyl tape to stop you just before the chain runs out.

[Pelagic]

I guess I am a bit simple when it comes to anchor marks as I only mark the danger point when we are nearing the bitter end.

My gypsy has a fine control on the brake pads so when I run it out it will free fall until it hits the bottom, then slow down or stop completely. I tension slightly then back towards the nearest danger paying out as much as I can.

If there is lots of room, I put out lots and sleep better knowing that all my chain is working. If it is a tight anchorage, I generally don’t sleep well anyway.

[bstreep]

Did the chain this weekend with green/yellow/red. Gave us a chance to clean out the chain locker too. Thanks for the tip!

[Cheechako]

The painting is a little tedious for me. I finally went to Flourescent orange yarn. I mark every 5 fathoms (after the first 10 fathoms) by simply tying a few strands to: one link for 60 ft, two links for 90, three for 120 then repeat, etc. Just leave a few inches hanging outside both sides of the knot. The yarn seems to hold up better than ty wraps which the windlass and UV get rid of. also, notice one going away? just take a moment and tie another on!

[trinescape]

what we did was i used yellow paint and at 10 metres i painted 1 link and at 20 metres i painted 2 links and so on for all of my 70 metres of chain you can see at a glance how much chain you have out by counting how many links are painted no different colours to remember totally straight forward !