How about the tiny colored zip-ties through the weave or bigger ones around the line?

 

Paint stripes indicating every 20 feet
1 stripe: 20'
2 stripes: 40'
etc.

You could make it every 25' or whatever you want. A light coating of paint will not weaken the line.

You could also use thread wrapped but that takes a lot of time.

I had the plastic strips tucked in the line on a former boat that easily went through the windlass.

 

I now have 150' of chain and 100' of line, so, I feel the need to mark it - I don't like to have chain in the windlass overnight.

I bought the color coded plastic strips from West Marine. The best way is to tie one onto the chain (red) every 30 feet until you run out of chain, then, slip the remaining ones into the line at the appropriate intervals (red, then yellow, then green).

When anchoring in 20' or less, red=unsafe, yellow=day use only, green=generally enough to overnight, if you set the anchor well when backing down.

 

..... red=unsafe, yellow=day use only, green=generally enough to overnight.......

Very good idea, John.

In the earlier days that would sure help. But, now I'm pretty good estimating the rode.

 

Colored ribbon from a fabric store. I mark one color for each 25' and another color ribbon at 100'. Double ribbon at 125', another double at 150'. Any code that makes sense to you and you can remember. I am all chain and the ribbon does not get torn up when going thru the up and down process.

 

Ray40...just curious. If you're all chain, why not just spray paint it?

I spray my chain and it's good for about 4 years before it needs it again. I spray about a 6' section, 10 above the anchor so I know when I'm getting close to the end and can slow down the windlass.

Above that I have a red/white area (1' each) every 25' and a 3' white area at 100', 150' and 200'.

 

What kind of paint do you use???

 

Could someone please explain the infamous trinary color coding system? What member had suggested that? "Senseless", or "Wingpot", or something like that.

 

I used a thick Sharpie on both the chain and rope. Works well so far (1.5 years).

 

I count... look up the rate your windless lets out line in the manual and just time it...

one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two... and you'll be plus or minus 10% of where you want it... no marking needed.

Or you can paint your anchor like a high school victory rock and try and convince the world your not a psycho stalker nut job....

Hi W@ngless! You f@cking asswipe.

 

My line is dyed red, blue and yellow at various depths. There is a chart at the helm that tells you the amount of line you have out at any given time.

 

Ditto...I have the same setup, but its all chain.

 

Thanks for the ideas. I used the count method this weekend. I would thousand count the 30 ft of chain and use that as the basis for determining the amount of line I had out. I would like to know by markings so when the white bikini on the next boat over distracts me I can recover without starting over.

 

I have 100' of Chain, which I painted at the '75 mark. I usually put out '75 where I anchor. Unfortunately, my choice of paint color (green) in not a bright as it should be. What ever color you use, make sure it is bright...

 

Valid point.

Back to the topic: Also, mark the chain so that as you retract the rode, you can tell that the anchor is about to hit the top. You can slow it down and milk it up to keep it from slamming around too violently. I use yellow there (obviously out of sequence).

 

Valid point.

Back to the topic: Also, mark the chain so that as you retract the rode, you can tell that the anchor is about to hit the top. You can slow it down and milk it up to keep it from slamming around too violently. I use yellow there (obviously out of sequence).

I like this idea... I will measure out my chain so I know when it is just about out the water and mark my chain... I like to bob it up and down to clean it, and it would be good know when it is just about out of the water...

 

After reading the responses I resigned myself to learn how much rode is out by doing a ten count in my head. I did mark a 50 ft spot on the line part of the rode after the chain passed, and learned how long it takes for that length to pass the windlass. This isn’t rocket science close is all that counts.

MM

 

I bought some of the fluorescent yellow paint from Lowe's. Marked the chain right when the anchor is below the water line so I know its about to come up.

I've got 30 ft of chain, and about 170 ft of rode. Every 10 feet of rode is painted with black/yellow spray paint so I can easily see it from the helm.

 

My anchor line is dyed which last longer than paint. Dye about a 5 ft length then it is easier to notice. I'm marked at 20 above the , 60, 100 etc. You don't need a mark every 20 ft.

 

I don't mark my chain. I know that I have 20 feet. I slipped some duct tape between and around a strand of the rope every 10 feet starting from the end of the chain. I count the number of pieces of duct tape as they drop out of the windlass.

 

What about RESCUE TAPE?? 6 COLORS FOR $44 BUCKS

WATER PROOF ETC....

http://www.rescuetape.com/

 

6 rolls for 40 bucks at the boat show.

 

DID YOU SEE THAT TODAY????:huh:

 

I was there yesterday and bought 3 for 20.

 

i opted out today:smt021 and then re- thought about it and it cost me $44 bucks for 6 ....

 

How did you like the show?

 

it was OK, Many Sea Rays, and vendors, NOT SORRY I WENT....

 

I use spray painted stripes to mark every 25' with yellow then red the last 50'.

 

Morning Doug,

Are those the stripes that west marine sells??