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What's the best way to mark anchor chain?


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No, but at least you bloody spell it right :)

 

Hunt in Granddads shed for some of the real old school red lead paint. Warm both the paint and chain and apply. The next generation of 'red lead' was OK but knot quite as good. The latest version is sh*t.

 

There are little plastic dodackies you can push into the links. Come in packs of 8/10 odd for about 10 bucks a go. Don't get Red, it's the 1st colour to disappear underwater and at dusk.

 

Or you can use a ech primer and then paint over that. The primer will help it hold on a lot better.

 

Another option is something like PlastiDip. That's a sort of rubbery type paint stuff that sticks like YY to a rum bottle. Have to be a little careful with the smaller sized chains thought as it is quite thick. But as it is rubber like it tends to stretch on a rock rather than chip off. Knot that hard to apply.

 

Weave little lengths of small coloured braid through the links. Some use webbing. Just watch out how you do it if running thru a winch though. You don't want a end popping out as that can often mean a visit from Miss Clusterfuck and worse Mr B. I. G. Repair-Bill, if the winch grabs it.

 

How's that to start with?

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Wire and cable ties do often just get sliced off when they go through the gypsy. Sometimes they hang in well though. That is a hero or zero option but easy enuff to try.

 

Which 'way' do you spell 'wayh'? :)

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So basically, dabbing paint on the chain is about as good as it gets?

 

Always thought those plastic doohickeys that push into the links were a good idea but not convinced they'd stay in the chain very long.

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Yeah pretty much Mr G.

 

The hassle is paint chips and wears off quite quick sometimes, especially up the Islands when in that bloody sharp coral sand. That stuff can rip all your galv off in a few months.

 

So if you use a paint try to find a softer one rather than a real hard 2 pot for example and priming the chain will help it hold on a lot better.

 

The plastic dodackies seem to stand up OK. They can be hard to see from a distance though.

 

We are awaiting the imminent arrival of a new type of marker. If they prove to be as good as the talk up they will be very good and visible from a long way. Now waiting for some Italians to pull finger. It appears they have no words in their language for 'rush, fast, urgent, ASAP' or anything like that :?

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corsa, veloce, urgente. All Good Italian Words.

 

I tried Intentional Inter protect on the last foot. Most of it has worn off since January

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Now waiting for some Italians to pull finger. It appears they have no words in their language for 'rush, fast, urgent, ASAP' or anything like that

 

Awwww, I dunno about that. Ever seen a bunch of Italians driving? They certainly are aware of the concept of rush, fast, urgent, etc. Try shouting "Avanti, avanti!!! Piu velocemente per favore!" at them and if that don't have the desired result just tell them "Vafanculo!!" ..... though that might mean you wake up one morning to find a horse's head next to you. :D

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What about tying strips of spinnaker cloth?

 

Worth a crack. Knot sure how long they would stand up though. We've heard and tried many ways, some very left field but marking chain is one of those things that has yet to be very well sorted.

 

Anyway we should all be using carbon chain as everyone know steel should never be used in a marine environment.... No cancel that, Alloy shouldn't :)

 

Of course there is always chain counters some bloody good ones now down to 400 notes odd. CALIBRATE YOUR CHAIN COUNTER before ringing me and making an arse of yourself saying we delivered too short a length. Speaking from 6 experiences now ;)

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I have found the chain counter a valuable tool. Knowing just when the anchor is touching bottom or lifting from the bottom has been very helpful on many occassions. Of course, that kind of thing is not possible on all boats. So chain marking is still the best for most. I too have found paint the best. I have tried the cable ties. Usless. Besides, sometimes just one link isn't enough. You may need several links. I have the last entire metre at the bitter end marked so as I don't let the end smack into the deck.

I just used that day glow marker paint. I didn't think it would last and in reality it has indeed worn badly. But being day glow, even poor coverage stands out quite well.

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We marked our chain (thanks for the deal KM) with the plastic inserts and they have done a lot of miles over the fairlead since. Had the chain out a couple of weeks ago for inspection and they were all still in place. No problems with seeing them as we operate the windlass from the bow anyway.

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Never knew it was any drama, I have always done it with the brightly coloured cordage off-cuts that are free from most boat shops (like the 2ish mill dia stuff).

Never had any come off, and it works just as well for rope as it does chain. I use bright red and yellow for 10 and 20m (my most common lengths), as I have found they are the easiest to see. :thumbup:

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I use a very high tech specialist....... Oh feck it, I use a boring old felt pen :)

I say this as a reasonably frequent KM customer and sufferor of the same phenomenon myself: it is funny to observe the situation where he willingly reveals the low-cost solution that he uses on his own boat, but the desire of the customer is to keep wondering if there isn't some more sophisticated and expensive way of doing it. :lol: We are all a bit unhinged when it comes to our boats.

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Could you put a copper ring around the chain link? Or would that cause corrosion under it?

I'd be a little nervous about doing that. Steel, zinc and copper sounds like all you need is some electrolyte (sea water) and you have a battery. Add in a stainless swivel and things may go nasty. Knot totally sure but we do see a fair whack of chain that has suffered electrical issues for many assorted, usually shouldn't happen, reasons.

 

Mr Murky, I am a squeaky arsed yachtie just like most and so we are always on the look out to save some coin. More than happy to pass those tips or suggestions along when possible. In some cases a felt pen is by far a better option than a counter for example but then in some cases a felt pen is as useful and/or a waste as a good set of tits on you. Horses for courses and as my anchoring horse is the Wa she has eyes which can count the obvious markings on the rode during deployment and I'll buy her, being the self-less dude I am, a new headsail with the saved bucks :)

 

There is the sometimes where a very old school $1 option is far far superior to the $900 high tech option. Luckily for the makers of a lot of the $900 wonder toys many people like their bling and or believe the marketing.

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