What's your system for marking anchor chain depths?

[CarinaPDX]

The last time I re-galvanized the chain I had to pay for sand-blasting to remove the paint markings. Not a huge amount of money but a significant increase in cost. If the paint works for you then it is probably worth it.

Greg

[Tim Litchfield]

I had a chain counter installed at the helm. It is great to use. Before anchoring I go forward and release the Safety lanyard and drop the anchor just off the bow roller. Then back at the helm I bring the boat into position and drop the anchor, set the anchor and run out sufficient rode whilst reversing and watching the chain counter. On previous boats I’ve done the marking the rode thing but now I’ve had a chain counter and windlass controller at the helm there is no gong back.

[Ambler]

Originally Posted by Jorge M

As I learn in the Navy, 1 white painted link=10m, 2 white painted links=20m, etc.
Easy to read and simple to mantain

Yes, my system too

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by TheThunderbird

I dont find a reason to regularly Mark By the 5-10m, or 25ft a portion. Why?
Consider this:
1) The first 10-15m are a given(touch down)

2) we usually give out 35 to 50M (100-160ft) and that is the range you need precision for. Nowhere else.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

l can have a monkey following my instructions

I agree with this concept. Marking the first 100 feet seems meaningless.

water depth 20 ft
total height 25 ft (bow off the H2O)
4:1 = 100 ft
5:1 = 125 ft
7:1 = 175 ft
10:1 = 250 ft

So markings AFTER 100 feet are what really matter.

One can do this mathematical exercise for 10, 15, 25, etc. depths. Simple.

Can I be your monkey?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

I agree with this concept. Marking the first 100 feet seems meaningless.

water depth 20 ft
total height 25 ft (bow off the H2O)
4:1 = 100 ft
5:1 = 125 ft
7:1 = 175 ft
10:1 = 250 ft

So markings AFTER 100 feet are what really matter.

Can I be your monkey?

I guess you've never anchored in under 10ft. We draw 6.5ft and have anchored many times in 10ft. I'd say our range had been 8ft to 80ft.

[Uplander]

Tried a variety of markers but orange and white painted bands every 10 metres works for us. One at 10m, 2 at 20m ............ with a big band near the end of the chain. Paint comes off but is easy to replace and the white is easier to see in the gloom.

[quandary]

I think in meters. Red Paint one Mark at 10M. Two marks at 20m, 3 marks at 30M etc.
I also paint a single white Mark every 5m. Very easy to understand and to monitor.

[fguptill]

I used paint, until I discovered that the paint was actually accelerating corrosion of my chain! No kidding. There was distinctly more rust adjacent to the painted areas. As the paint wore off, the 'adjacent' areas grew in size, and the rust worsened to the point where I had to replace 200' of chain. Expensive lesson.

The strength of the chain was not impaired, but I dislike rust stains all over my foredeck.

Now I just use nylon wire ties. They occasionally come off, but I use multiple ties and a colour coding scheme so I can still tell how much chain is out even with a few ties missing.

[jacktheflyer]

Originally Posted by conachair

Short bits of string. 1 knot- 5m, 5 knots 25m, 2 bits string 30m etc. can be determined by feel in the dark.
Works for me anyway..

I have this system which works pretty good but is hard to see. String has endured since the boats previous owner. Have tried chain markers but they are also hard to see. Intend to persist with the string but next slipping will paint the chain to identify where the markers are?
Scrubby

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Paul L

I guess you've never anchored in under 10ft. We draw 6.5ft and have anchored many times in 10ft. I'd say our range had been 8ft to 80ft.

Tried not to , but have, can just do a table for that, too. I draw 6'.

[Oceanride007]

I think any body using colours should use the same sequence of colours used in nature or electronics or pool balls, why create something new and not consistant,

I prefer Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue this is the same sequence of colors that disappear when you go diving, easy to remember ROY GB. It happens to be the same colors used in electronics (Resistor color of first 2 bands) Red is 3, Orange=4, Yellow=5 Green=6, Blue=7 think it goes Violate after that , Black, brown used for 1&2 but I don't recommend that thou I started with 10M is Black cable ties, they are still there. Couldn't find Brown or Orange cable ties.

[Simi 60]

I'm always amazed at the over complication that people go to for the simplest of tasks.
Really, you need colour coding and or stripes to keep track of 2 or three shots of chain?

One colour and use your fingers if you can't remember or count past one.

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by Oceanride007

I think any body using colours should use the same sequence of colours used in nature or electronics or pool balls, why create something new and not consistant,

I prefer Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue this is the same sequence of colors that disappear when you go diving, easy to remember ROY GB. It happens to be the same colors used in electronics (Resistor color of first 2 bands) Red is 3, Orange=4, Yellow=5 Green=6, Blue=7 think it goes Violate after that , Black, brown used for 1&2 but I don't recommend that thou I started with 10M is Black cable ties, they are still there. Couldn't find Brown or Orange cable ties.

Clever. If I wanted a complicated system this might be it.

[Sardean]

I paint half a metre of chain orange at 20 m.
I count the seconds to get to 20 m mark and keep counting if I need more chain out. On my boat I know 30 seconds = 20 m so every 15 sec is 10 m. Its surprisingly accurate and simple

[TheThunderbird]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

I'm always amazed at the over complication that people go to for the simplest of tasks.
Really, you need colour coding and or stripes to keep track of 2 or three shots of chain?

One colour and use your fingers if you can't remember or count past one.

on a sailing boat, try with a person at the bow...

When alone, I count the seconds too, and it works reasonably (you always check afterwards)

BTW ,my draught is 9'4" and l usually give anchor in 30' (minimum 25')

that said, l find it curious that there is no accepted standard in the sailing community. Factors in place are:

Different sea depths in different areas for anchoring
Different draughts
Ft vs meters vs fathoms
Many still with no windlass (touch and see)

"Any boat is an island"