Marking Chain

Scout · Post by **Scout** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:02 am

Like I need another thing to paint...

We bought neon yellow and neon orange spray paint (and 250 feet of chain). I want to mark it in reasonable increments - not too often but not too little. If it's me up there, I can so easily see me coming back to the cockpit and saying either I forgot to notice or I missed the last two marks or something equally blonde.

Any ideas? (I know this will bring many out of the closet).

Post by **Tim** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:11 am

Mark it in 30' increments, using an easily-recognizable pattern that you won't forget or confuse.

Why 30 feet? Well, a traditional measurement for anchor chain is a "shot", or 90 feet. 30 feet is a nice clean division of a shot.

Scout · Post by **Scout** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:14 am

So that's 7 marks....

1. yellow
2. orange
3 yellow/orange
4 ?
5 ?
6?
7?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:52 am

You could use something like this based on your yellow and orange colors and Tim's "Shot" information.

Yellow = Fraction of a Shot
Orange = Shot

30 ft - one yellow link
60 ft - two yellow links
90 ft - one orange link
120 ft - one orange link, one yellow link
150 ft - one orange link, two yellow links
180 ft - two orange links
210 ft - two orange links, one yellow link
240 ft - two orange links, two yellow links

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:07 am

I'd be inclined to paint the last 30 feet entirely orange.

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:41 am

can be VERY hard to see painted links in the dark, in the rain. And I've anchored more than once in those conditions.

I use cable ties and mark at each 10 feet. 1 for the first, 2 for second, 3 for third. Then start back down-

so on my 80 feet of chain it would be -

10 feet- 1 tie
20 feet- 2 ties
30 feet- 3 ties
40 feet- 4 ties
50 feet- 3 ties
60 feet- 2 ties
70 feet- 1 tie

and of course at 80 feet the rope chain splice appears. The ties are put on adjacent links not all on the same link.

That way you can end for end the chain without remarking and you can feel the ties in the dark.

This is the method of marking recommended by the Pardeys by the way.

I should add here that we don't use a windlass on Tehani, but I understand the cable ties will run over one with no problems. I usually estimate about how much rode I'll be veering and flake that along the side deck prior to arriving at the anchorage. Then I make the end fast to a cleat so I'm ready and IF something goes awry, my chain is secured and I can let it run without danger to fingers.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:17 pm

Charlie,

So you just leave the wire ties "unclipped," I take it, to avoid cutting your hands on the evil nubs?

I remember reading the method in you're describing in a Pardey book and thinking that's what I would use, when I had a rode to mark. The only difference I remember is that they used tubular webbing "tags" that they sewed on.

Rachel

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:45 pm

oh yes- leave them unclipped. Then you can easily feel them in the dark.

Hey gal- we actually made it out on Tuesday for an overnight!!!!!

Of course the purpose was to anchor in shallow water and scrub the waterline and as much hull as I could reach, while Laura washed down the cabin top and decks.

But we got the toe rails under sailing down the bay and watching the sunset into the bay was grand.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:18 pm

Sounds fabulous, CJ, I'm glad you-all got Tehani out for a bit of a cruise. I bet you had a gorgeous moon, too. I watched it come up here last night and it was amazing.

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:56 pm

Yep- and about 0100 it had a moon bow around it- with some color.

Believe it or not we had to use a light blanket- winds increased to about 19 mph during the night, dropping off at around 0400. Strange for here in late late May. We usually have our first day of 100 sometime on June but I don't think we've even hit 90 so far this year.

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:09 am

Great, I'll expect mid-70s and dry for my August visit/sail ;-)

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:16 am

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

You GOT to be kidding!!! But come on down anyway. We did JUST turn the AC on- last day of May, but really don't need it now. Oh well, it's running, may as well leave it be Grin.