Posted by Ross Cossar on September 19, 2003 at 12:42:24 from 204.92.62.168 user rlcossar.
In Reply to: Re: Anchor chain or swinging the lead? posted by Dan Lind on September 19, 2003 at 00:40:06:
Dan, The St LawrenceII Brigantine that my family is involved with has paint on the chain. It is marked in fathoms and done in different colours. I can't remember the exact scheme but say start with white. the first fathom has one link painted. the second two, the third three etc. Fathom six starts a new colour. one blue link, seven has two blue links etc. fathom 11 could start with red links therefore four red links is 14 fathom.
I suggest you use fathoms as I bet the charts you use are in fathoms. Drop and haul your newly marked anchor chain a couple of times and you'll have not trouble remembering which colour represents which group of five fathoms increments. Using just floresent paint leaves too much of a guess waiting for the big mark.