Marking anchor chain

[beanctr56]

Hi All,
I have an all chain rode and windless. Whats the best way to mark the chain and not get caught in the windless. I was thinking a piece of string every 25'. Whats everyone else do?
Rick

[jackdale]

Paint works well.

The windlass tends to destroy cords, cable ties, etc..

[treilley]

I use paint. It will wear off the outer surface of the links going through the windlass but the inside of the links stay painted.

[SVAuspicious]

I use plastic wire ties (zip-ties). The current set has been on for four years. Three red at 10 meters, three white at 20 meters, three blue at 30 meters, and repeat the pattern at 40, 50, and 60 meters.

[ftldiver]

the best solution I've seen is using white paint in dashes long and short. every 20 or 50'

ie, short dashes for every 20' and a long dash and 2 short dashes for 120'

white shows up best...

ymmv.

[lshick]

I've had good luck with foot-long pieces of 1"-wide webbing, doubled through a link and sewn right next to the link. Red=50', White=100', Blue=150', White=200', Red=250'. Red-white-blue is easy to remember, and the chain can be reversed and the markings still work. A black marker at each intervening 25' point. The original markers have lasted 10 years (6 years of cruising), and I only replaced the markers because I replaced the chain. No problems with jamming or tearing.

[billyruffn]

I have 1/2" wide heavy nylon webbing "tabs" (about 4" long) that are wrapped around and sewn into a link every 25'. I use a magic marker to note the length on each of these nylon tabs. (Yes, I sometimes have to stop the chain and look at the tabs as it goes out, but it's not a bad idea to let the chain out slowly anyway). The stitching has lasted 12 years and the depth notations last about 2 seasons before they need to be refreshed. The tabs have never caught in the windlass.

[jackdale]

On the underside of the hatch to your anchor use a marker to note the markings on the chain.

[TQA]

Paint is fine if you only anchor for the odd hour or two.

Anchor for any extended period in sand and the paint will be gone. Plastic ties work for me. But do need replacing say every 6 months but hey takes 5 minutes and costs pennies.

[jrd22]

billy- great idea, thanks.