Marking Chain

[pblais]

I''ve got 200 ft + of 10mm chain and I''m looking for a scheme of marking off the length. What works well in terms of a painting system as far as how often and how much chain to mark. I realize it won''t last forever but something that might be touched up each season sonds reasonable.

[kmeeks]

The previous owner of my boat came up with a pretty good idea.

He used plastic ties (like the kind you use to bundle wires together - that has the locking slide) to mark his chain.

One tie at 30 feet, two ties at 60, etc.

the nice thing is - it is easy to understand what length is being deployed at night too...paint might not be easy to see in the dark - and would likely rub off faster.

[Sailmc]

What happens to those ties when they go through the windlass?

[pblais]

Any type of tie going through the windlass makes me wonder if they will fall off. I''ve got 10mm chain and it''s thick and heavy. Going through the windlass I too wander if it will break off any type of tie. With nylon rode inserting a lable between the strands seems to work well but I''m not sure about chain.

[Sailmc]

I plan on spray painting marks on my rode this weekend after years of threatening to do so. I think this is the only viable way to go.

[WHOOSH]

FWIW I''ve sprayed chain in the past only to find it comes off quite quickly when used in sandy (abrasive) bottoms. Paint also fails to function at night very well.

We''ve ended up using colored plastic wire ties using the nemonic ''Red, White & Blue'' and marking every 25''. The second round get double wire ties (e.g. 100'' = 2 reds). This is easy to remember and they last a long time. I''ve tied on a thin length of ripstop nylon to the links where the first set or wire ties are located, just in case one totally fails, as I can find the right spot to add a new wire tie.

Jack

[pblais]

So are you talking about ties like a bread wrpper tie aor something more industrial strenght. I''ve seen twist ties in paper covers as well as plastic.

I guess it comes down to ties falling off of paint wearing off. My neighboar has a trawler so he just paints 4 foot long sections of chain in a color scheme so he can see it from the fly bridge. At night of course it won''t really work, but perhaps painting more than just a link or two is really a safer choice if you paint.

[GordMay]

Generic name is "Tie Wraps". WEST Marine calls them "Wire Ties" (Part #191751), but much cheaper at Home Depot & everywhere in electrical department.
They don''t last very long (but longer than paint), and (if cut shorter) can present a very nasty surprise to the bare hand.
Regards,
Gord

[WHOOSH]

Folks here sometimes make things much harder than they need to; it''s amazing what we can end up fretting about.

Wire ties don''t easily break when going thru a windlass, IME - my chain fits properly in the gypsey with no ''slop'' and I find a wire tie lasts maybe 6-12 months when in constant use (first ones lasting less than ones further up the rode). But if you wonder about this, try a few - they surely don''t cost much. Left full length they are more easily seen and felt, and they don''t hurt the bare hand.

Jack

[camaraderie]

My routine is a bit different....I paint my chain every 5 fathoms with "neon" orange enamel from a spray can. I simply mark off 15 feet on the dock and then double back on the chain...so that I have 30 foot segments all at one end of the dock. I put the "ends" all in a cardboard box and spray...no muss no fuss...I find 30 foot "segments" meet most of my needs as I can guesstimate anything in between. Best...GB