Anchor

[CaptnRanger]

What has been found as best way to mark anchor chain and rode for length.

 

[Submariner]

What has been found as best way to mark anchor chain and rode for length.

I used line whipping. Easy, inexpensive. Cheap to re-do if it wears out. Runs through the windlass without issue.

The chain I have is 50', so I just marked it at the 25' mark.
For the rode, I marked it every 30 ft (5 fathoms). Which was 5 marks for 200' of rode.

 

[gswearin]

I used zipties at the 25' mark on the chain and then these on the rode:
https://www.fisheriessupply.com/owen-mi ... kers/omarm

 

[JeffreyAC77]

I have done the same as above - easy peasy.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

In Florida 99% of the time we anchor our R-23 in less than 10 feet of water, more likely 5-8 feet. I have 50 feet of anchor chain and 50 feet of anchor line. I think the deepest I’ve ever anchored in is 15 feet. I painted the chain with neon orange spray paint. Easy Peasy. At 10 feet I painted 3-4 links of the chain, 20 feet 6 -8 links, 30 feet 12 links and at 40 feet 15-20 links. After dozens and dozens of anchorages I’ve never seen the 40 foot mark but that’s here in Florida.

 

[Submariner]

In Florida 99% of the time we anchor our R-23 in less than 10 feet of water, more likely 5-8 feet. I have 50 feet of anchor chain and 50 feet of anchor line. I think the deepest I’ve ever anchored in is 15 feet. I painted the chain with neon orange spray paint. Easy Peasy. At 10 feet I painted 3-4 links of the chain, 20 feet 6 -8 links, 30 feet 12 links and at 40 feet 15-20 links. After dozens and dozens of anchorages I’ve never seen the 40 foot mark but that’s here in Florida.

The deepest I've anchored was 70 feet, waiting out a storm. I had all 50 ft of chain, and all 200 ft of rode out. I saw the bitter end.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I use colored zip ties.

 

[Chimo]

Spray paint mid point on the chain and heat shrink every 25 ft on the rode, alternating red and black.

 

[SgtAlf]

Spray paint mid point on the chain and heat shrink every 25 ft on the rode, alternating red and black.

How does the heat shrink hold up going through the windlass?

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

I place rubber Dri-Dek squares in a locker under the bed and place the spare anchor and rode inside. The Dri-Dek keeps the anchor from sliding around and insulated from metal to gel coat noises while underway.

Jim

 

[SJI Sailor]

We use colored 1/2 ribbon. I used 2 colors -- white and dark blue for contrast -- that have some meaning I always forget (blue for 100s and white for 25s IIRC) ... but in any case, with 25' spacing it's always easy to figure out.

 

[msu1966]

Karl, can you paint the rode also and will it last for how many seasons?

 

[Chimo]

Spray paint mid point on the chain and heat shrink every 25 ft on the rode, alternating red and black.

How does the heat shrink hold up going through the windlass?

No problems Lasts a lot longer than the spray paint on the chain.

 

[CaptT]

Another vote for colored zip ties with a legend kept at the helm, hidden from the Admiral, so it looks like I know what I'm doing.

 

[it4llc]

I did the same - colored zip ties, and then took a small dowel and put the zip ties on that in the same order with the lengths written out between the zip ties to use as my 'cheat sheet'.

 

[sjreib]

I used colored electrical tape woven between the strands, single then doubled for deeper depths

 

[batate]

I use colored electrical tape too. I do red tape every 25 ft, and yellow every 100. 1 red, then 2, then 3, and reset it when I hit 100 feet. It's been great so far.

 

[cliffm]

On our past boat, a Carver 36MY, we spray painted the chain and the 8-plait rode.

First I painted "blue" stripe 6' from the anchor swivel, to know I'm close, then we painted 1 stripe every 25'

This time, we're going to vary, and add additional stripe after 25', with 8-stripes at 200'

I'm a fan of VHT automotive engine paint, robust and impervious to most solvents.

 

[HawaiianFish]

I did the same - colored zip ties, and then took a small dowel and put the zip ties on that in the same order with the lengths written out between the zip ties to use as my 'cheat sheet'.

This is genius!

 

[JeffRad54]

What has been found as best way to mark anchor chain and rode for length.

I used line whipping. Easy, inexpensive. Cheap to re-do if it wears out. Runs through the windlass without issue.

The chain I have is 50', so I just marked it at the 25' mark.
For the rode, I marked it every 30 ft (5 fathoms). Which was 5 marks for 200' of rode.

Ditto this method, except instead of a standard whipping, I used half-hitches so when it finally wears, it won't unravel all at once. That's the plan anyway.