How much anchor line/rode has been deployed ?

[baz]

Subject: How much anchor line/rode has been deployed ?

In the past I've placed 50-foot markers on my anchor line/rode to allow me to know how much has been deployed when anchoring. Over time these 50-foot markers are in such a bad shape (worn out, detached and missing and so on) that I could not rely on them.

Then, after getting some good ideas here about how to know when trim tabs are fully retracted by using a seconds counting method I thought I could use the same approach for when deploying my anchor line/rode.

The chain is 50-feet so when deploying the chain I count the seconds for it to be fully deployed and then for the line/rode deployment I use the same number of counts for deploying each 50 feet of line/rode. This to me is a far simpler method and I can abandon the use of physical 50-foot markers in the line/rode that, as I already mentioned, get destroyed and become missing over time. Even being off by a few feet using this method is of no real consequence IMO.

 

[Mr. Ed]

Sounds like the easiest (and therefore best) solution.

But wouldn't it be wonderful if the windlass could provide the measurement with a gauge at the helm station? Heck, these boats come with just about every other electronic gadget, and seems like it would be a natural addition. :mrgreen:

 

[Rocky]

I replaced the windlass on my previous boat. The windlass had the electrical wires to hook to a counter..... The additional electronic hardware to install that feature was (as I recall) way more expensive than was worth to me..... but I did give it some thought....

Rocky

 

[Cutwater28GG]

I like the idea but isnt there a difference in speed based on the weight of the rode hanging off the windless: i.e. the deeper the water the faster it goes out?

if so, the good news is the deeper the water, the more you will error on having more rode out than not. - not a bad thing.

I for one are trying a new plan this year in using polpropelyene twine integrated into the chain and the rope rode. perhaps it will last longer this time.

would be great if the standard windlasses had a counter built in.

 

[Matty]

google search indicates an add on counter could go for anywhere between $500 and $1,200. Seems way out of whack. Must be the "you have a boat therefore you have money to burn" theory.

I will stick with paint marks and spend the money on another toy.

 

[captstu]

I use colored wire zip ties as marks. They last 2 years or so and fail gently. The windless passes them easily.


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796

 

[Brian B]

Same as Stu. Couple on a link lasts quite a while. I have a chart at the helm with the color and the length of rode or chain. I bought a bag of different colored zip ties at Harbor Freight for a few $. Keep it Simple.

 

[Toucan]

On TOUCAN we use black cable ties with the following code:
25 feet 1 small
50 feet 2 small
75 feet 3 small
100 feet 1 large
125 feet 1 small
150 feet 2 small
175 feet 3 small
200 feet 2 large
225 feet 1 small
250 feet 2 small
275 feet 3 small

This code is easy to remember and the markers are reasonably spaced. The cable ties are cheap and easy to replace when they get broken off. We leave about a 4" tail on the cable ties so they are easy to see but do not get tangled up in the wildcat.

Barry Thompson