Measure length of chain

[teddythetwig]

Ok, I really feel stupid asking this question, but I've spent some time thinking about it... My new to me Contest 40 came with a length of anchor chain, but I don't know how long it is. Is there a good method to measure the length? I was thinking maybe weighing it would be the best bet.

[Cheechako]

Weighing is good if you know the chain size etc. Otherwise, I just drag it all out on the dock making a u turn every X amount of feet. So maybe you are making 30 foot long loops.
Any way you do it , it has to come out, so just avoid the trouble of figuring out how to weigh it by measuring.

[UNCIVILIZED]

What Cheechako said, & while it's out, inspect it. Since that needs doing anyway, give that you don't know it's condition well.

[teddythetwig]

Thanks guys, I guess I will continue looking like a goon around the boat yard dragging my chain around... A few people already know me as that guy covered in antifouling paint dust so I guess it doesn't really matter

[Cheechako]

... and while it's out there. Identify lengths at convenient intervals with markers or paint colors... so you know how much you have out. Also inspect the "bitter end".... how it's attached to the boat when completely out... so you don't deep six it accidentally! I like to ID every 5 fathoms, red@5>>white@10>>blue@15>> as it's easy for me to remember...

[JPA Cate]

teddytwig's in Amsterdam, I think. Maybe he'd like to to the marking in meters; I don't see so many charts any more that are in fathoms. We don't use paint, though, we weave colored 3 mm line through ours. The lighter colors get mud colored and less visible with use, but when we used paint, the "wet sanding" effect of the chain across the bottom wore it off.

Ann

[Dave22q]

Zip ties worked for me 1 red at 100', 2 at 200', etc and 1 white at the 50' marks. I saw no need for 25' markers but easy to do. Have no experience with prolonged saltwater exposure but the colors sure do stand up to UV.

[zeehag]

if you are at a dock and want to know length of an unknown --- and you know the length of dock or length of your boat, use that constant to measure--- is dock 50 ft?? then use it as a measuring device. is your boat 40 ft? use it as a measuring device. sooo easy even a girl can figger it out.
have fun!

[AJ_n_Audrey]

+ 1 for zip ties. Did mine while on the hard - it was like ten feet from the bow roller to the ground. With wife's help, attached two heavy-duty zip ties every five fathoms as I paid out the chain. Red - 30ft, Yellow 60, Blue 90, Orange 120, Red 150.

[TheThunderbird]

I marked my chain with color plastic markers , in prime number multiples: X13m and X17m.
Marking every 50' sounds good (l disapprove those 5m marks, as getting confusing and cumbersome)

My zero starts at windlass, 4m after the anchor, as the chain touches the waterline.


Make the addition of a rope at the very end ready made and safe

[UNCIVILIZED]

Zipties in 10m intervals: 1, (then) 2, (then) 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Which should be enough for the amount of chain carried by most folks.

[zeehag]

for anchoring and measuring amount down, my primary anchor is on 196 ft chain. itis easy to know how much i have on bottom by measuring remainder sitting on cedk, where i stash it while anchored.
i tried the marking systems but they failed as i frequently anchored and wore em off.. so i count backwards from bitter end. easy peasy. i keep 120 ft on bottom.

[TheThunderbird]

Originally Posted by TheThunderbird

I marked my chain with color plastic markers , in prime number multiples: X13m and X17m.
Marking every 50' sounds good (l disapprove those 5m marks, as getting confusing and cumbersome)

My zero starts at windlass, 4m after the anchor, as the chain touches the waterline.


Make the addition of a rope at the very end ready made and safe

As above, i made full use of two sets of (8+8) marks.

1
1
2
2
3
3
2+2 = 2x(13+17) = 60m

Chain is 70m, i clearly see when the bitter end is out :-)

[adlib2]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

... and while it's out there. Identify lengths at convenient intervals with markers or paint colors... so you know how much you have out. Also inspect the "bitter end".... how it's attached to the boat when completely out... so you don't deep six it accidentally! I like to ID every 5 fathoms, red@5>>white@10>>blue@15>> as it's easy for me to remember...

I have a hand held remote control for my windlass that incorporates a chain counter. Quite economical and one of my better purchases as I was continually replacing non operating foot switches.

[Maka]

I agree, do not weigh it, lay it out. Inspect and mark it as suits you best.
Lots of good ideas here.