Do you mark your anchor line

[MicHughV]

I am a sailor, so by my very nature I'm cheap.
In my box of stuff, is some nylon twine I use to whip the ends of halyards, splices, etc, when it occurred to me, I could use the same twine for marking my anchor rode.
Not satisfied with that, I used the same twine to wrap around the steering wheel perimeter with a monkey's fist at each spoke and another monkey's fist around one spoke to let me know when the rudder is perfectly aligned behind the keel.
Not saying I was bored at these times.......

[Nepidae]

What we've had the best luck with is spray paint. We're on about 7yrs with our marking.

Not the regular home type but a road version. A place like McMaster-Carr would be a good place to purchase it.

We have 150' of chain to the anchor and we only mark the chain since we haven't hit the 250' of 8plait that backs up the chain.

We used orange and marked it to my mate's requirement so she can count it out as she's dropping the anchor.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by carstenb

Wow!

Either many of you are overthinking this or else we are underthingking this.
[...]
Some of you will say - marks 75 feet apart? But it really isn't a problem. If we are going to drop the hook, our keel is 7 feet so we will never anchor in anything much shallower than 10. add three feet for the distance fromt he roller to the water and now we have 13 feet - which is 5 1/2 to 1 ration - about right when there is plenty of swing room. If there is less swing room we can wing it - roll out the 25 meters and haul a few meters back in.

The progression is the same thereafter - is it really important that you have exactly 4 to 1? or 5:1 or 6:1? at 2 1/2:1 or 3:1 yes - here we will be a accurate as we can.

I would think it would be helpful to have reasonably accurate knowledge of the amount of chain out when comparing it to the distance to other boats or obstructions.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I would think it would be helpful to have reasonably accurate knowledge of the amount of chain out when comparing it to the distance to other boats or obstructions.

But you do because you have marks every 75’ (or I use 60’) and are smart enough to estimate up to half more. What is the length between windlass and roller or beyond to the waterline. When the marker hits the water you already know that much more is out. It isn’t difficult and accurate enough.

[burgoynebc]

I've tried all these ways and nothing works for more than a few times- especially paint - at night its not viable at all to see from the cockpit.
I am currently trying to get a counter setup with an esp MCU, hall affect sensor and magnet drilled into the gypsy - maybe $30. If anyone has electronics/software background, it would be good to hear from you.
Richard
SV Zolanda
Nanaimo

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by burgoynebc

I've tried all these ways and nothing works for more than a few times- especially paint - at night its not viable at all to see from the cockpit.
I am currently trying to get a counter setup with an esp MCU, hall affect sensor and magnet drilled into the gypsy - maybe $30. If anyone has electronics/software background, it would be good to hear from you.
Richard
SV Zolanda
Nanaimo

You should be on the foredeck when anchoring.

[wsmurdoch]

When you reverse your anchor chain that was marked red white and blue, you just pretend you are French, anchor close to all the other boats, and recite bleu blac et rouge. I'm not sure what you do with the rub-your-balls-with-grease thing.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I would think it would be helpful to have reasonably accurate knowledge of the amount of chain out when comparing it to the distance to other boats or obstructions.

I've yet to run into any issues with (guess)timating the length of chain we have out. I'm usually within a couple of meters and we simply won't anchor up close enough to other boats for that to make a significant difference.

If we are that close - we leave

[dspd204]

We just did white spray 6 link marks every 10’.