How do you mark your chain?

[Tidewaiter2]

+1 for coloured cable ties, 1 green at 5m, 2 blue at 10m, 3 blue at 15m and so on, to 5 yellow at 50m and 6 reds and a big black one at 60m, just before the rope bitter end comes out of the chain pipe.
Don't usually need more in the chain locker, as lifting keel, so creep into the shallows. Keep the rest in reserve lower in the boat.

 

[VicMallows]

+1 for coloured cable ties, 1 green at 5m, 2 at 10m, 3 blue at 15m and so on, to 5 yellow at 50m and 6 reds and a big black one at 60m, just before the rope bitter end comes out of the chain pipe.
Don't usually need more in the chain locker, as lifting keel, so creep into the shallows. Keep the rest in reserve lower in the boat.

What a weird colour code! On Sundash you just need to know the resistor colour code

 

[john_morris_uk]

We use the coloured inserts. We have had them fitted into the chain for the last ten years and they haven't ever fallen out. Marking is about as simple as you can get. One mark for ten metres. Two marks for twenty metres and three marks for thirty metres etc. I guess the five metre intervals and if in doubt let a bit more out...

Simple and ultra easy to remember.

 

[westernman]

The cable ties did not last long at all. Back to the old method of painting. In my case every 9 m (because that is the way it was before I bought the boat). I have no idea what the logic in that is.

The chain is a more chunky size than usual - so the inserts don't fit.

 

[NormanS]

The cable ties did not last long at all. Back to the old method of painting. In my case every 9 m (because that is the way it was before I bought the boat). I have no idea what the logic in that is.

The chain is a more chunky size than usual - so the inserts don't fit.

5 fathoms.

 

[westernman]

5 fathoms.

Ah! Thanks for solving that mystery. :encouragement:
Never occured to me to think of fathoms - all my charts are in meters.

 

[Woodlouse]

I stick with paint. With spray cans its really no chore to repaint the marks and you can spot them for years even if you do have to look carefully. I resprayed my chain last year and I don't intend to do it again for another 10 or so.

 

[ianabc]

Memorable colours perhaps

rainbow

Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain


1 Red 10 m
2 Orange 20 m
3 Yellow 30 m
4 Green 40 m
5 Blue 50 m
6 Indigio 60 m
7 Violet 70 m
8 White 80 m

or to make it more confusing on some boats

reversed!

 

[david_bagshaw]

The cable ties did not last long at all.

The trick is not to tighten them on the chain , but loose and floppy with a tail.

 

[BlueChip]

As the title says how do you mark your chain on a boat with an electric windass? If you paint it, what type of paint do you use? Can you use cable ties with a windass?

Thanks.

Cable ties

1=10m
2=20m
3=30m
4=40m

Couldn't be much easier. I replace them all once a season.

 

[dunedin]

We use the coloured inserts. We have had them fitted into the chain for the last ten years and they haven't ever fallen out. Marking is about as simple as you can get. One mark for ten metres. Two marks for twenty metres and three marks for thirty metres etc. I guess the five metre intervals and if in doubt let a bit more out...

Simple and ultra easy to remember.

+1 for these coloured inserts. We got a red pack and a blue pack. Red for the tens, and a blue added for 5 (not essential but helps assess when nearing breakout point when lifting). So dead simple to remember - 3 red and a blue = 35m

 

[AndrewB]

I'm surprised only one person (so far) uses a chain counter fitted to their windlass. What is wrong with them?

 

[rogerthebodger]

I'm surprised only one person (so far) uses a chain counter fitted to their windlass. What is wrong with them?

See the PS on posting #19

 

[Iain C]

Smallish boat, so only 30m of chain, and then 50m of rope. Most of the time if I anchor it will be somewhere shallow like Lulworth or Studland so 5m increments does help. I use the rubber inserts...use plenty at a time and they are very easy to seems the chain is running. Simple system around the primary colours, or anyone who knows RGB from a monitor/TV...

R 5m
G 10m
B 15m
R 20m
G 25m
B 30m

I don't see the need in overly complex codes that are unique to a particular length of rode...you're counting it out as it goes over the bow anyway! The system then continues with spinnaker cloth tags in the three strand rope...not that I use it often.

 

[AndrewB]

I'm surprised only one person (so far) uses a chain counter fitted to their windlass. What is wrong with them?

See the PS on posting #19

Yes, you're the one. Why no-one else?

 

[YachtAllegro]

Small boat (25'), 20m chain, 40m rope. Unmarked - I almost invariably seem to manage to tuck in somewhere where I can anchor in about 5m at high water, and just put out all the chain (plus a metre or so of rope so it doesn't rattle). Occasionally, if forced to anchor deeper, I measure additional rope by assuming each arm's length pull from the anchor locker is about a metre. I don't think its really such an exact science that you need to worry too much about precise markings! We've been on the west coast of Scotland for the last 10 years, so we anchor just about every time we're out, and its always worked for me.

Cheers
Patrick

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have a steering station inside my enclosed wheelhouse where my chain counter and windless controls are. This allows me to anchor in bad weather in comfort and safety with the correct chain scope.