Painting colours on chain - what type of paint to use?

I followed similar to the ships way ... actual link at length is red ... number of metres in links in white. Obviously once I get to a significant number of links - I have a marker to denote the tens

Just a little point ... there are two systems for chain measurement on ships ... anchor incl ... anchor not incl. I know it only makes small difference - but still.
For my boat - I measure anchor not incl.
 
Well I have yet to launch my yacht but when anchoring I won't be using anything plastic because of the problem pollution in our oceans.

How many sea creatures die each year plastic?
" Around the world, an estimated one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die each year when they become trapped in plastic or eat it, perhaps mistaking it for a tasty treat. It is one of biggest threats to all whales and dolphins occurring throughout the world's oceans" .

Sir David Attenborough's plastic message - BBC
 
coopec said:
Well I have yet to launch my yacht but when anchoring I won't be using anything plastic because of the problem pollution in our oceans.

How many sea creatures die each year plastic?
" Around the world, an estimated one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die each year when they become trapped in plastic or eat it, perhaps mistaking it for a tasty treat. It is one of biggest threats to all whales and dolphins occurring throughout the world's oceans" .

Sir David Attenborough's plastic message - BBC
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I wonder where all that lovely white and red paint goes, used copiously on anchor chain.

The leather or cotton markings have a satisfying simplicity.

Jonathan
 
Kukri said:
Any old paint that you want to use up. None of it sticks on well. I now use those Italian plastic things.
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I have also found soft plastic chain markers to be excellent, but some people love them and others find they regularly fall out. I would suggest buying a single packet to try first. I suspect the gypsy on some windlasses tends to force them out, or perhaps they are a poor fit on some chain sizes, or maybe some brands are not as well made. Whatever the actual reason, test them on your rode before using them to mark the whole chain.

Reducing plastic in the ocean is a very worthwhile aim, but I am not sure that reducing the use of plastic chain markers is a sensible target. Simply picking up a few plastic bags from the water (or beach) will make up for for a lifetimes loss of plastic chain markers.

Collecting a little trash from the beach every time you go ashore is only a small, but I think that is a more practical step. Just my 2c.

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Molex point of gypsy and fit of chain ... brings in the matter of calibrated chain.

Its debatable whether calibrated chain is actually manufactured on a different production line - especially with todays far eastern offerings.

I have still the original british made calibrated chain on my boat and a Royal Windlass ..... which actually I rarely use ... but when I do - the links graunch and grind away in it and I suspect chain markers wouldn't last long in it !

Paints easier !!

As Cadet - spent a few hours with AB's / OS's with paint redoing paint on anchor chain as its heaved back in after anchoring !
 
Neeves said:
I wonder where all that lovely white and red paint goes, used copiously on anchor chain.

The leather or cotton markings have a satisfying simplicity.

Jonathan
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Most of the " lovely white and red paint" goes into the ocean but volatile particles could end up in the atmosphere as well. So long as the paint is non toxic the damage to the environment would be limited. (I'll be using colored rags)

Time to ban toxic boat paint pollution
 
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It's commendable people not wanting to use cable ties to avoid plastic in the sea but what about the use biocide antifouling, or copper based as that's also apparently polluting, and not run diesel exhaust fumes into the sea and air ?
Very hard for a boat to be 100% environmentally clean.
 
A dead cable tie will eventually degrade into an ingestible form, but I've had my boat for 15 years and I've lost half a dozen ties in that time. I really don't think it's significant - way less harmful than a couple of bags abandoned after a picnic. on Wittering beach.
 
Stemar said:
A dead cable tie will eventually degrade into an ingestible form, but I've had my boat for 15 years and I've lost half a dozen ties in that time. I really don't think it's significant - way less harmful than a couple of bags abandoned after a picnic. on Wittering beach.
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Totally agree ... but it also is true that every little drop of water makes mighty oceans.

Imagine if everyone in the world at same time each picked up a sweet wrapper or small bag ... imagine how much plastic that is ...

I agree that sometimes environmentalists can take it to silly extremes - but we should all do our bit.
 
I'm sure most of us make an effort to reduce our impact on the environment but it's frustrating seeing other countries still throwing all their waste into the seas and rivers.
 
Rappey said:
I'm sure most of us make an effort to reduce our impact on the environment but it's frustrating seeing other countries still throwing all their waste into the seas and rivers.
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And its not only '3rd world' countries doing it ........ I saw a vid recently of a truck tipping its trash content into a USA river ..... (I am not singling out USA ..... just an example).
 
The worst offenders around here are the teens, throwing anything that's not nailed down into the sea and all their litter and beer cans on the ground, often within 6ft of a bin
 
Rappey said:
It's commendable people not wanting to use cable ties to avoid plastic in the sea but what about the use biocide antifouling, or copper based as that's also apparently polluting, and not run diesel exhaust fumes into the sea and air ?
Very hard for a boat to be 100% environmentally clean.
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Yes you are right about a few cable ties but the developed world is finally waking up that we can't go on the way we have been.
" The issue. It is thought that certain species are sensitive to the copper biocides commonly used in antifouling paints. Even low levels of copper compounds are toxic to them and the use of copper based antifouling has been banned in some European countries"

5 reasons why you need to ditch the antifoul or bottom paint
 
Stemar said:
A dead cable tie will eventually degrade into an ingestible form, but I've had my boat for 15 years and I've lost half a dozen ties in that time. I really don't think it's significant - way less harmful than a couple of bags abandoned after a picnic. on Wittering beach.
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I don't claim to be an expert on pollution of the oceans but apparently when plastics breakdown they are still harmful to marine life.
What are microplastics?
 
Would it not be very costly to regalvanise your chain. Would it be much cheper than buying new. I was going to paint mine as they dont make plastic 7mm markers and even in 6mm chain they fallout. After reading this I wil try coloured ties before painting. Where to you buy these please.
 
coopec said:
I don't claim to be an expert on pollution of the oceans but apparently when plastics breakdown they are still harmful to marine life.
What are microplastics?
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I use 30cm lengths of cotton ribbon, doubled and cow-hitched through a link of the chain and have a system where the number of pieces of ribbon equate to chain length although you could use different colours. Much better than using plastic.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Plum said:
I use 30cm lengths of cotton ribbon, doubled and cow-hitched through a link of the chain and have a system where the number of pieces of ribbon equate to chain length although you could use different colours. Much better than using plastic.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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How do you get a Cow Hitch to stay on ? It falls apart at slightest nudge ...
 
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