Suggestions for Marking Chain

[noelex 77]

I recently got some new chain and used some plastic chain markers. Only a couple of months so far ( full time anchoring) and none lost. I did ask around a few crusing friends and the consensus was that a couple would be lost over a year. They are cheap so I used 4 of each colour. I also used some short lengths of 2-3mm Kevlar so I can feel the markers go out at night.
So far it seem to work much better than paint and cable ties, time will tell.

[Boatguy30]

USE 1/8" spectra line. Every 10 meters with a combination of double overhand knots to 30 meters than add a single overhand in the series to indicate the next variety. It will last as long as the galvanizing on the chain (longer on ACCO chain) can also be used on rope rodes and once you figure out your code you can feel the knots in the dark if needed and will become instantly familiar.

This will be the last way you consider marking your rodes in you boating lifetime.

[zeehag]

a neighbor used zip ties--nnew owner couldnt get th ties thru the windlass--he had to remove them.

i dont mark my chain--i know exactly where 120 ft is and use generally that much until i know how the holding is -- at present i have one chain measures 180 ft to the deck,and i have another 200 ft to the deck and standby of 250 ft kept by the mizzenmast. none is marked.

[mrohr]

Colored zip ties.I use fathoms , helps me to imagine water depth under keel ( think of people standing on each others head).
No windlass,chain pawl, still lose some every year;I have lots on board, all sizes ,use em for bondage.

[JimJohnston]

Why bother with a mark at 25 feet? Or even 50? With a scope of 7 to 1, 25' of chain implies a depth of a little more than 3 feet, assuming four feet from the water to the deck.
I used to have a zip tie at 25 feet and it would fly past not long after the anchor hit the bottom. Now I am happy with a mark at about 80 feet which tells me that the 100' mark is close at hand. Usually that's where I stop the windlass just before attaching the snubber. Really, it's not often that we put out less than 100 feet.

Zip ties seem to be easiest to install and usually slip past the gypsy. Red stands out best in most lights.

[mbianka]

I use a combination of paint and cable ties. One is a backup for the other. My chain is marked every twenty five feet. I also like to have the last six feet to the anchor shackle painted white. So when raising the anchor I know to slow down on the windlass as the anchor is about to break the surface in murky waters.

[sabray]

What is a fathom? Horned head with smiley face icon. As for not marking yep you know the angle but it's so damn easy to mark with a zip tie. Why not.

[jram]

We have a simple system with a 1 or 2ft length of nylon rope threaded through the links at 5 & 10m intervals. Yellow at 20m, blue is 25, red at 30 etc. Simple, cheap and has lasted for 3 years so far.

[bobconnie]

I have always just white painted a 6 in of the chain every 4 fathoms. Touch it up every couple of years. Easy to see at dusk or even at night without a light if theres any moon at all. Cheap cus somebody has a part can of white paint they don't mind getting rid of LOL just count the stripes and ya know just what ya got out !! simple. just my old ways LOL

[David M]

I have seen Monel seizing wire used.

[jeremiason]

Originally Posted by JimJohnston

Why bother with a mark at 25 feet?

I mark the chain in 25 feet lengths to know how close I am getting to the anchor when I am raising it...

This especially helps in small or crowded anchorages.

[Andrew Troup]

Originally Posted by JimJohnston

Why bother with a mark at 25 feet? ... 50 feet?

Handy for those (hopefully) rare occasions when you get blown out of an anchorage at night --- the bow can let the helm know how much is left to bring in, because generally you'll be needing to go places well before it's all on deck ... and meantime the helm needs to know what impediment to control they can expect, also what degree of shoal to avoid on the way to shooting the gap.

I'd personally rather hear a figure than something like "Not very much ... I think"

[noelex 77]

If you can think in metric marking the chain every 10m is easy and the distance is just about perfect.
If you cruse away from us waters most of the charts are now metric and it's an easier quick conversion from fathoms. (divide or multiply by 2).

[sailorboy1]

I have paint and zip ties. The ties seem to work well and I even left them sticking out of the chain 6". They seems to catch when I first lifted the chain into the locked while of the hrd, but they haven't had any problem going though the windlass in real use.

So the ties are OK and are pretty visable. But for the $150 I think I'm going to add a counter when I get around to it (probably still use the ties with it).

[Amapola]

My admiral had the same idea. We used different colors. It works fine but has to be repainted occasionally.