Marking up your anchor chain

[Leisure 27]

I bought some rubber chain markers but they keep falling out. Thinking of using paint. As anyone tried this. Does it last? Which paint would be best.

 

[Cardinal]

I used spray cans from a motor factor together with coloured cable ties. It will last a season or two but can quite easily be refreshed.

 

[sarabande]

An etching primer for galvanised in a spray can. Has lasted 3 seasons with residual paint areas clearly visible for respray.


I think it might even have been Halfords can rather than a proper industrial spray..

 

[Plum]

I bought some rubber chain markers but they keep falling out. Thinking of using paint. As anyone tried this. Does it last? Which paint would be best.

I don't know which is best but I use Hammerite paint. After 3 years it is still just there so I now need to paint some more on.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Neeves]

People re-galvanise their chain and if gal wears off so will paint (gal is harder than the underlying steel). We both paint and use cable ties. Enough of the paint is not worn off after over 2 seasons. Cable ties wear but they and paint are easy to replace.

I have heard of people who weave lengths of coloured cordage through the links for, say, 200mm. This seems to work and does not impede the use though a gypsy. We have not tried it - if you were worried about loose ends use thin cable ties to secure and also mark - good belt and braces.

Mark the inside of the locker lid with the code you devise - then any/everyone knows how to deploy and retrieve

I have heard these plastic markers fall out, you are not alone.

Jonathan

Coincidentally

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f118/chain-markers-215518.html

 

[NormanS]

I used to use paint, but found it a guddle 'cos it's messy to do, and wears off quickly. Obviously that depends on how much time you spend at anchor, and on the type of ground. As Jonathan says all paint has to be removed before regalvanising, which could be a pain.

I now use different coloured cable ties. It's best always to have at least two cable ties at each mark, then when one falls off, and they do, at least you still know where the mark is. I mark mine every 10 metres.

 

[Rustyknight]

Many, many years ago, I seem to remember one months PBO magazine giving away a freebie packet of various coloured cable ties, just for this purpose. If you do use them, it might be a good idea to have an old pair of gloves handy when pulling the chain up, as they can cause cut hands if not careful....

 

[vyv_cox]

We have used cable ties for many years, having tried the alternatives and found them less satisfactory. They will pass through a windlass OK but it seems to help to leave them loose rather than tightening against the wire link. Our most-used ones, 5, 10 15 metres, seem to last about half a season before wearing through but less-used ones make a full season.

 

[Salty John]

I use one of these to apply cable ties. Correct tension and no sharp tags.


Combination of paint and cable ties always worked for me.

 

[KellysEye]

I used cable ties 1 for 15 feet 2 for 30 etc.

 

[elenya]

We have found strips of spinnaker sail cloth tied on last quite well

 

[Robert Wilson]

Cable ties until last season when I changed to in-link inserts.
Very pretty, neat and likelihood of no scratched/cut hands :encouragement:
I didn't need to anchor last year and now suspect from reading the above I'll be back to cable ties after this season

 

[RichardS]

Cable ties until last season when I changed to in-link inserts.
Very pretty, neat and likelihood of no scratched/cut hands :encouragement:
I didn't need to anchor last year and now suspect from reading the above I'll be back to cable ties after this season

We have used the coloured plastic link inserts for 10 years now. Never lost a single one and we have 100m of chain. :encouragement:

Richard

 

[Robert Wilson]

We have used the coloured plastic link inserts for 10 years now. Never lost a single one and we have 100m of chain. :encouragement:

Richard

:encouragement: indeed!

 

[vyv_cox]

We have used the coloured plastic link inserts for 10 years now. Never lost a single one and we have 100m of chain. :encouragement:

Richard

Maybe the material has changed since we tried them, also maybe dependent upon where they are used. Not only did many of ours fall out but those that remained assumed a universal muddy colour, making it very difficult to identify what length they represented.

 

[GHA]

Bits of sting. One knot is 5m, 2 knots 10 then 2 bits of string from 30m. Works OK & can tell in the dark by touch.

 

[johnalison]

The cut ends of cable ties can be uncomfortable or hazardous to hands if the chain is running through, so we use paint. Our system is red/white/blue for the first three marks, otherwise we have to go and check with the book each time.

 

[Roberto]

Cable ties also have the additional purpose of cleaning the waters of an anchorage from most floating weeds, grass, sometimes plastics, which are conveniently grabbed and wrapped around the chain

 

[Bobc]

I have red paint every 10m. I cover about 10 links with it, so it's obvious, and use red Hammerite.

Works fine, doesn't come off, and is easy to see.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Many, many years ago, I seem to remember one months PBO magazine giving away a freebie packet of various coloured cable ties, just for this purpose. If you do use them, it might be a good idea to have an old pair of gloves handy when pulling the chain up, as they can cause cut hands if not careful....

I've still got them (stowed safely somewhere )!
IMHO it's better to leave the ties uncut to avoid cut hands, although I would generally use work gloves.