[Boasun]

On the ships the anchor chain comes in 15 fathom shots. the first detachable link between the first and second shot is painted red with the 1st neighboring links white. The color coding for those detachable links are Red, White, Blue. the neighboring links are white according to the number of shots that are out.
Now on a smaller vessel you could do something similar at the convenient lengths that you want to mark. Like every 10 or 20 yards or meters. Using paint and nylon ties. Being sure to write down the coding that you are using.
Plus there are numbered plastic flags you can insert into your anchor rode to market the length out also. It is whatever you care to do or use.

 

[Boasun]

Another Gadget for under the Christmas Tree.
Start leaving brochures about it in places where the spouse will find them.