Anchor Rode Markers

rnbenton

rnbenton

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My current rode consists of 20' of chain and 200' of 3 strand rope. I am planning to change that to 100' of chain with the 3 strand.

Currently I have no markers on my chain. I do have those vinyl markers on the rope that look a bit like a piece of tape inserted between the strands. They are color coded and have held up very well going through the windlass.

My question is about the new chain I want. Since my current chain is so short I have no markers on it. But the new chain needs to be marked.

What can I use on the new chain that will not flake off, wear off, degrade in salt water, etc?

Bob
 
Nothing that I know of, Bob! I retape my 60' of chain in 10' intervals every spring, using several wraps and on both sides of the selected link. Alternating colors for 10, 30, 50 and for 20, 40. I can pretty much guess at 60'.

That has always lasted me for 150 ups and downs in a season.

OS
 
Just got a suggestion from a friend of mine; colored plastic wire ties. He has them on his chain and says they've been there for 5 years still good as new.

He used red, yellow and white and devised his own color code scheme.

Placed the appropriate colored tie on the link, tightened it down with a wire tie tool and rotated the lug to the center of the link.

Goes through the windlass and will not wear off. Water has no effect.

I think I'll give this a try.

Bob
 
I have all chain rode. Have mine painted with alternating red, white, and blue bands every 20 feet. Has lasted for three years without repainting. Just used cheap spray paint and painted each band about 6-8 inched long. Using red for the first band (at twenty feet of rode), white for the second band (at forty feet of rode), then blue at the sixty foot mark makes it wasy for me to keep up with rode released. For some reason red, white, and blue are easy for me to remember! Just repeat as needed.
 
quote:
Originally posted by November Charlie

quote:
Originally posted by rnbenton

quote:
Originally posted by dancerscap

Paint.

Click to expand...


Tried that on an earlier boat and it flaked off very quickly.

Bob

Click to expand...


Better paint.

Click to expand...
+1
I think I used Day Glo Brake caliper paint
 
I have SO-PAC chain markers which you can google. They are soft plastic inserts that fit inside the chain link. They are pricey, 8 for $14, but they have lasted 6 years so far.
 
quote:
Originally posted by deerows

I have SO-PAC chain markers which you can google. They are soft plastic inserts that fit inside the chain link. They are pricey, 8 for $14, but they have lasted 6 years so far.

Click to expand...
When did $14 become pricey for a boat?

What did you spend the last time you bought fuel?

I have the vinyl markers on the rope but not on the chain. I only have 30' of chain.
 
How may ways can you divide 100'. Just paint a big section in the middle and be done with it. some paint will stick and so what if you have to paint it again next year
 
i've never understood why some folks mark their rode every 10'... i find 25' to work just as well!

i do one short white pain mark (4 or 5 links) for each 25', one long (10 to 12 links) for 100. 3 short = 75... 1 long 2 short = 150, etc...

i want something that can be understood without having to count, in case you miss one mark.

i find white paint to work fine, i once try some orange fluo paint but it coudlnt' be seen at night with the spot light from teh helm.

on a small boat if you dont' use a remote switch from the helm then you can use nylon ties, which wouldnt' be visible from teh helm.
 
I have found that polyprolene rope in different colors, woven thru the chain at various lengths. Works well thru the windlass.
 
I agree with Dusty. Just weave line in and out. I mark mine every 50'.

And on a 28' boat, 50 - 60' of chain should be more than enough. No need to add anymore weight on your bow than necessary.

If you do stick with adding 100' of chain, I'd make up a bridle made of line and a chain hook of some kind. So that when you are anchoring in shallow water or using short scope the bridle acts as a shock absorber.
 
I used nylon wire ties, tied the color/marked ft vinyl markers to my all chain rode, 7 years later they are little chewed up from the windlass but still readable.

Eric
 
Colored electrical tape (a pack of five colors at the dollar store for... a dollar) wrapped around the link several times with a folded extention of about 3/4" to an inch is easy to spot and lasts for several years.
 
I mark my all-chain rode with wire ties very 25'. Use a simple color code. Now and then one will break off. So, when in doubt, let out more rode 'til you hit the next marker. I haven't replaced the 75' mark in two years. Now, of course, everything is relevant. I have about 8+ feet of freeboard at the bow and five feet of draft. So even in the shallowest places I am talking 80 feet. If I have swing room, why not let out the extra 20? If not, just bring some back in when the 100 foot mark shows up. But when in doubt, I like lots of scope and am not shy about deploying 7-1 if I have the room, even with the heavy chain and anchor. Maybe that is one reason my Delta holds so well?
 
I use red spray paint. I mark at 50' with one stripe, then 100' with two stripes, then 150' with three strips then 200' with four... then continue as I transition to rope. I like this system because I can always determine how much line or chain is out... given a few day on the hook and I'll tend forget. Then a storm blows in I'm and left wondering.
 
I use the vinyl markers that you use for your rope. I just tie them to the chain. I have 300 feet of all chain and haven't had any problems with them falling off.
 
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