Marking Anchor Chain

[GRIT]

SVNeko, the answer to your question is on his blog. June 17, 2010. Very fine sand, of a quality that does not lend itself to secure anchoring.

Cheers.
Paul.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

I wouldn't. Our problem is that we are 58 feet and 55,000 disp. There is no chance ever of us man-handling the 120 # anchor and 1700# of chain. Never mind that my back would never survive hard-core manual retrieval. I never lift of pull anything without some combination of power and belaying equipment.

If the wind, even moderate, was pushing us towards shore, manual hauling would be problematic.

This is why I always tell people to get a windlass even on a 30' boat. I have sailed a 30 footer without windlass for 17 years and it was stupid, never should have done that.

[bobconnie]

Ive been using the same roll of florescent yarn ( bright orange) for 15 years or so! don't even start marking till after the first 50 ft . and every 30 ft after that ! works for us and is simple and cheap! which make us happy happy happy ! LOL and with a 100lb anchor we have a windless of course

[c.spots]

PM sent. Lessons learned and no damage done; except to my confidence.

[sycankiz]

I think, with or without markers on the chain, we should still try to develop our ability of measuring by eye, by looking at the pile of chain remaining in our locker...

We can mark the walls of the chain locker to that effect as well, again regardless of our chain is marked or not...

[COLINFLTENG]

Originally Posted by drewan08

Has anyone had success with marking galvanized anchor chain. I would like to know how much chain I have let out and am not going to pay for a chain counter. Most paints don't stick to galvanized with the combination of salt, sun and a gypsy.

I have istalled new electric windless with wireless remote has chain counter display no need to mark chain

[River Cruiser]

Most windlass have in the specs a feet per minute drop rate. That is how I estimate the amount of chain I put out for the depth I'am in, simple & has worked for me.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by sycankiz

I think, with or without markers on the chain, we should still try to develop our ability of measuring by eye, by looking at the pile of chain remaining in our locker...

We can mark the walls of the chain locker to that effect as well, again regardless of our chain is marked or not...

I suppose, but for people who don't have years and years of experience, marking the chain/rode gives you confidence. there have been times when I needed to tell someone how much chain and rode I had out, and I was glad to be able to tell them with confidence.

[janice142]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

I suppose, but for people who don't have years and years of experience, marking the chain/rode gives you confidence. there have been times when I needed to tell someone how much chain and rode I had out, and I was glad to be able to tell them with confidence.

Exactly -- the markings on my chain confirm what I need to know without a chain counter. Mine, a simple code of red- white- and blue stripes at 25, 50 and 75' tell me all I need. I did mark from 90' to 97' in white and the last three in red. Just in case, don't you know? One thing I failed to do and will remedy the next time I get to a dock is paint the first three feet white as well. I'd like to have a warning when the anchor is at the waterline so I could motor a bit to help wash off the muck when getting underway.

And visual aids help me to anchor better/safer and with enough scope. A few anchorages ago a local fisherman indicated that he didn't think I had enough chain out (it was almost straight down) but I was able to explain that at the blue there was actually 75' deployed. He was absolutely correct -- it didn't look like I was safely anchored.

Anyway, sure it's good to know intuitively how much chain is out, but there's something about a secondary visual clue that confirms all is well......... For me, deliberate and cautious anchoring is simply a part of protecting my home. My painted chain system works for me, but perhaps if I had one of those spiffy chain counters I'd change my mind.

[zeehag]

i have one tie wrap at 50, 2 at 100, and 3 at 150 ft. passes well thru the gypsy, and no problem. and , as my primary chain is only 194 ft in length, i can always count back from inside my chain locker to see how much remains in locker...very easily done.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by janice142

Exactly -- the markings on my chain confirm what I need to know without a chain counter. Mine, a simple code of red- white- and blue stripes at 25, 50 and 75' tell me all I need. I did mark from 90' to 97' in white and the last three in red. Just in case, don't you know? One thing I failed to do and will remedy the next time I get to a dock is paint the first three feet white as well. I'd like to have a warning when the anchor is at the waterline so I could motor a bit to help wash off the muck when getting underway.

And visual aids help me to anchor better/safer and with enough scope. A few anchorages ago a local fisherman indicated that he didn't think I had enough chain out (it was almost straight down) but I was able to explain that at the blue there was actually 75' deployed. He was absolutely correct -- it didn't look like I was safely anchored.

Anyway, sure it's good to know intuitively how much chain is out, but there's something about a secondary visual clue that confirms all is well......... For me, deliberate and cautious anchoring is simply a part of protecting my home. My painted chain system works for me, but perhaps if I had one of those spiffy chain counters I'd change my mind.

Probably the boat just hadn't settled back yet.

[wingless]

The "in"-famous wingless two-digit trinary chain marking color code works for me.

On my 200' chain, there are two inner links that increment red - white - blue every 20', then the outer two links increment red - white - blue.

This is available for others to use, but the technique needs to be attributed as the "wingless trinary color code" and $20 needs to be deposited to my Paypal account.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by wingless

The "in"-famous wingless two-digit trinary chain marking color code works for me.

On my 200' chain, there are two inner links that increment red - white - blue every 20', then the outer two links increment red - white - blue.

This is available for others to use, but the technique needs to be attributed as the "wingless trinary color code" and $20 needs to be deposited to my Paypal account.

I didn't know there was such a system but we seemed to have 'invented' a version ourselves. we have 320 feet of chain and used a very similar paint system with convenient Rustoleum colors. I made a color coded printed code breaker laminated card for installation at the chain locker. my marks are every 25 feet.

[wingless]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

we have 320 feet of chain and used a very similar paint system with convenient Rustoleum colors. my marks are every 25 feet.

A two-digit trinary color code w/ marks every 25' is capable of marking up to 225 feet. What is the system for 250 feet and beyond?

[Cheechako]

If you dont know if you're at 75 ft or 150 ft .. well... you need to pay better attention! all you really have to do is alternate red, white, blue and just keep alternating....