Laying down anchor and chain when the boat is on the hard.

I just have white paint every 10 meters and count it out, why do we need more than that? 3 lots of white paint = 30 meters, you can guess half way between them! seemples!
Write on a Bit of paper in boat or on the log.
 
Getting back to the OP's question, I am surprised no one has mention about the possibility of rodents climbing up the chain and onto the boat! And once on the boat they are extremely difficult to get rid of!:mad:
 
I use two colours of ties. Yellow for 5m and orange for 10m so 1 yellow, 1 orange = 15m, 2 yellow = 20m, 2 yellow one orange = 25m and so on.

Accepting they have a limited life if used everyday, totally idiot proof - provided you are not colour blind.

We have a similar system, but we paint the chain starting at 5 meters..
5m Red,
10m Yellow,
15m Green,
20m White,
then back to Red & so on... very idiot proof. No-one onboard can make the mistake of a 20m difference:D
 
Last edited:
I just have white paint every 10 meters and count it out, why do we need more than that? 3 lots of white paint = 30 meters, you can guess half way between them! seemples!
Write on a Bit of paper in boat or on the log.
Me similarly, but I start @ 20m.

Has anyone found anything that lasts well:-

Hammerite half a season.

2 pot polyurethane just scrapes through the season.

I tried coloured rag, but that just jammed the windlass, if sufficient to be seen and got torn out it it was smaller.

Here's a need looking for a solution!!
 
Me similarly, but I start @ 20m.

Has anyone found anything that lasts well:-

Hammerite half a season.

2 pot polyurethane just scrapes through the season.

I tried coloured rag, but that just jammed the windlass, if sufficient to be seen and got torn out it it was smaller.

Here's a need looking for a solution!!

I guess depends on how many times the chain goes through the windlass as that's where the most wear & tear happens...
 
I am surprised that nobody has mentioned using the rubber(?) chain markers which fit into the chain links .they enable the chain to run through the winch smoothly.
They are available in 3 or4 different colours,and are cheap,so just fit them in the appropriate place.

And....before someone says that they fall out....when you have fitted them into the link , drill a fine hole through the marker and wire it on. Mine have lasted 5 years no prob.
 
I am surprised that nobody has mentioned using the rubber(?) chain markers which fit into the chain links .they enable the chain to run through the winch smoothly.
They are available in 3 or4 different colours,and are cheap,so just fit them in the appropriate place.

And....before someone says that they fall out....when you have fitted them into the link , drill a fine hole through the marker and wire it on. Mine have lasted 5 years no prob.

Anchoring most days for half the year ours became so faded and muddy(?) after half a season that could not tell what colour they were.
 
Anchoring most days for half the year ours became so faded and muddy(?) after half a season that could not tell what colour they were.
I suspect that, rather than relying on colour, a numeric tally would be more appropriate.

The sensible alternative would be to have a chain-counter on the windlass.

It depends, of course on anchoring frequency - I anchor about 150 - 200 times a year with both kedge and bower - on the kedge I'm totally unfazed as to how much I've got out. Being on the stern, I can measure by eye how far it is to quay, harbour wall or pontoon - usually between 30 - 70 m though I have been hard pressed with all 75 metres out and as taut as a bowstring.
 
Anchoring most days for half the year ours became so faded and muddy(?) after half a season that could not tell what colour they were.
OK i should have been more specific... I do have to replace them now and again when they become "illegible"

What i was trying to say is that by wiringthem on they don't drop off ,which seems to be the common problem with these markers.
 
Every 5 meters, a cable tie:- White (at 5m+1.5m roller to water level), Red, Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Pink.ish, Black, then start again.
Why those colours in that order?
Seemples, the order in which one pots snooker balls starting with the white cue-ball, the reds etc etc.

Keep a set of spares in the chain locker for when they snap/fall off.
 
Top