Chain Markings

[Terpsichore]

Greetings all!!
I have just stared to Anchor out and it's great !!
But how much chain do I have out. Yikes !!
Is their a standard color or footage for markings
Thanks for any help
Terp.

[Vasco]

In answer to your question, no. I use white paint and paint about a dozen links at the 50, 100, 150 foot marks. I also attach a cable tie at those marks. I have 200 ft of chain and 200 ft of three strand nylon. I have yet to put out more than 150 ft of chain. I try to anchor in less than 15 ft of water.

[Michael Jones]

You might consider using a different color for every 50' as well. I also use the zip ties. Good visual indicator in low light/dark.

Originally Posted by Terpsichore

Greetings all!!
I have just stared to Anchor out and it's great !!
But how much chain do I have out. Yikes !!
Is their a standard color or footage for markings
Thanks for any help
Terp.

[Pblais]

I'm with Vasco on this one.

Just find some hardware store spray paint and be prepared to paint every year or few years as required. Red, yellow, blue, green as you like. I like 10 ft, 25, 50, 150, 200 ... as you require. Most of the time 50 ft plus a little bit works fine. If you are in 25 ft of water you need much more. 25 to 30 knots of wind add still more. It's just a way to get close.

[sv-Mystique]

We just went through the same exercise, painted 10 links at each interval, 20' white, 30' green, 40' blue, 50' red, 60' white, 70' green, 80' blue, 100' red. Seems to be a very common system within our area, someone slides in a cove with you and you ask how much rode and the reply will be "first blue" - "second white"

[Terpsichore]

sv- Mystique, thanks for the info. I have marked my chain at 25' intervals with "RED" paint. Also I marked each level with cable ties, one for 25' two for 50' three for 75'
and a big Yellow mark for 100'. I figure anything past that is sever anyway and in that case all the chain I can let out is what I will be doing.
Most of my boating is in the San Francisco Delta Area, some in the San Juans "Washington"
Thanks for your input.
Dave
on board Terpsichore

[Chief Engineer]

There are US NAVY and Merchant Marine Markings

but if we carried that much chain we'd be anchors.

How about this: Primary Colors then white

Yellow-Red-Blue-White

[senormechanico]

I tried various colors on our previous boat which carried 280 feet of chain, but changed to all white every 25 feet. I painted a 3 foot length at 100 feet, 2 sections of 18 inches close together at 200 feet. It was easy to count off where I was.

Red was almost impossible to see at night.

On our current boat with 30 feet of chain and the rest nylon rode and no windlass, I just use black electrical tape, 2 rounds for 50 feet, 3 for 75 etc.

Steve B.

[AnchorageGuy]

we have 1 inch strips of nylon sewn into the links that stick out like tabs. One strip for 50 feet, 2 for 100 feet, etc. These don't wear off, pass over the windlass and are easy to identify. You can make up any combination you like and maybe do 25 feet intervals.

[farkaz]

Originally Posted by Terpsichore

Greetings all!!
I have just stared to Anchor out and it's great !!
But how much chain do I have out. Yikes !!
Is their a standard color or footage for markings
Thanks for any help
Terp.

I am of the understanding that anchor chains are marked red white and blue depending on the fathom line. red at 15 fathms, white at 30 fathoms and blue at 60 fathoms.
[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Farkaz/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg[/IMG]each of these markings placed on a chain join or detachable link.
[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Farkaz/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/Users/Farkaz/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg[/IMG]

[Pblais]

If there is a standard color scheme it won't matter when you are setting the anchor. If you mark your chain and you can remember the markings then you are in good shape.

[MidLandOne]

As others have said there is no standard that I am aware of. I've heard of people using all sorts of schemes including (for electronics types) ones based on the resistor colour code.

I used paint for many years which I found needed reapplying very often as we anchor alot when away, until was suggested by another to try the plastic link insert markers one can buy but to epoxy them in. They have been successful with none coming out (but I think they are only available for up to 3/8 inch chain or thereabouts). I can never remember the colours in the heat of the moment so have a laminated card mounted where I can see it through the hatch.

For our own anchoring needs we have markings every 10m starting at 20m, with last at 60m. Chain length is 75m and I have the last 2 metres or so painted white (epoxy undercoat lasts forever) so I don't accidently run it all out of the locker being left with the short rope bitter end piece out over the windlass gypsy, especially at night or in heavy weather when it is a hard job manhandling chain back onto the boat to get it back onto the gypsy.

[Sandero]

I have 200' of chain which is marked with small colored line woven through and tied to the chain (passes through the windlass with no chafe) as follows:

25' one green
50' two green separated by a foot or so
75 ' one green and one yellow separated by a foot or so
100' two yellow separated by a foot or so
125' one yellow and one red separated by a foot or so
150' two red separated by a foot or so
175' one red

I keep a small chart which has the shows the chain above and end for end (starting at one red)

Why this works:

I never use LESS than 50 feet and so I wait for two colors. I usually use at least 100' and that's yellow and yellow. Two same colors are 50', 100' and 150'. with two colors they are 75, 125 - single colors are 25 and 175

no painting and no counting links
easy to replace and renew.
easy to see
cheap

[imagine2frolic]

When I open my chain locker the marking code is written on the inside of the lid

[funsailthekeys]

I do as Chuck, a small tether at 50', two at 100' and three at 150' any more and it is the full 200'. You don't need to see what color they are to know how much is out.