Chain counter retrofit.

marcham · Feb 5, 2026

Lofrans also makes a wireless unit. Pulling wires from bow to stern ain't no fun! I'm happy with their unit. Took 20 minutes to install.

I hold on to the counter at the helm, wife takes care of the pedals/switches and I let her know when we're good.

jssailem · Feb 5, 2026

I use Painted Chain and colored zip ties to mark 30, 60, 90 feet. No chain counter.

Foswick · Feb 5, 2026

Long story, but I spent a few years functionally blind. I learned to measure a lot of things by sound and counting. For example, filling a glass of water - you can hear the rate at which water goes in the glass and count it off as the glass fills. A standard drinking glass is a 5 or 6-count fill. No need to stick your finger in the water to see if the glass is full.

So, even though my vision is fine now, the habit stuck. It comes in handy sometimes. So, I learned to count chain by sound - which is pretty accurate (accurate enough) with a little practice. It's a little hard to explain, but not hard to do (provided you can hear the chain pay out).

There is a rumble at a certain frequency that serves as a sort of metronome for counting off "and a 1 and a 2 and a 3 ... " and so on. (Actually, what goes through my head is "digga digga digga 1 digga digga digga 2 ...", but you get the idea.) You just need to find that rhythm on your boat and find out how much chain is in one "beat". Count off 100 feet and do the math. For me, it's just a bit over 6 feet per beat with some slop at the startup and shutdown of the windlass.

I can estimate +/- about 4-5 feet per 50 feet of chain - so close enough.

My problem is that if one hand is on the windlass switch, I can only count to 5 without taking my shoes off.

StuartSailor · Mar 12, 2026

There are plastic incerts that snap into the chain that are pretty good. Since what you really are trying to achieve is scope, I always judge the angle. Once you know what 5 to 1 and 7 to 1 look like the number of feet doesn't matter.

jssailem · Mar 13, 2026

StuartSailor said:
I always judge the angle.

Your eyesight is better than mine.

I find it difficult to tell the difference between 78º and 81º if the anchor rode is pulled tight, let alone in 30ft of water with a cantenary shape in the rode of line and 100ft of chain.

Davidasailor26 · Mar 13, 2026

jssailem said:
Your eyesight is better than mine.

I find it difficult to tell the difference between 78º and 81º if the anchor rode is pulled tight, let alone in 30ft of water with a cantenary shape in the rode of line and 100ft of chain.

The catenary definitely makes it hard to estimate. Especially when anchoring on a calm Chesapeake afternoon with the boat just drifting almost directly above the anchor.

jssailem · Mar 13, 2026

It would not be really a challenge on a "Calm Chesapeake afternoon" with the blue fin crabs around the boat just waiting on your dip net. I can almost smell the Old Bay spices boiling in the pot.

Then that thunderstorm squall shows up, and you're starting the engine, praying that the 7-1 scope is a 10-1.

StuartSailor · Mar 14, 2026

I should have pointed out that when looking at the scope, the engine is running in reverse. I do find chain counters to be fickle and un-dependable peaces of kit. Anchor markers such as : AnchoRight Chain Marking Set with Guide Plate | Defender Marine https://share.google/ECzeoVQftf8FOcFph are helpfull as well as painting every spring. Paint sections should be about 3 ft long. The low tech solution is the one that will work when you need it.

Terry Cox · Mar 14, 2026

KISS, here. I locate 20' to 30' of water mid tide before dropping. Our boat has 50' of chain, 150' of three strand, another 50' of chain and 150' of three strand. 99% of the time I drop 50' of chain and 60' of three strand. If sour weather, another 30' of three strand for a total of 140'. I use a re-purposed pink florescent colored twine woven into the three strand every 30'. This has worked well for us anchoring hundreds of times over the years.

Our windlass retrieves electrically. I always drop by hand and retrieve by hand so that I can inspect the gear for any issues as I pay it. A few times the anchor has become tangled on something and I've had to finesse the system to break it free. So far our original 1991 40 pound Danforth has worked very well,; resets in wind/tide shifts and held well in strong winds. Most important is to make sure of a good set by backing down hard before settling in. Using a 20 pound lead kellet at the chain-to-rope shackle has helped with catenary.

jssailem · Mar 14, 2026

@Terry Cox, some sailors have never experienced the tidal changes we deal with every time we anchor.

When sailing in Belize, we were lulled into complacency after 6 days - 6 inches of tidal change and calm, peaceful nights. Only to be awakened at 2:42 AM, wind blowing, mangrove bushes brushing the side of the boat, a driving rain squall which spun the catamaran on the pretty Delta stainless steel anchor that was now dragging and wrapped around the boat's short keels.

I like your anchoring plan.

Hayden Watson · Mar 16, 2026

Foswick said:
My problem is that if one hand is on the windlass switch, I can only count to 5 without taking my shoes off.

I will have to try "Digga, Digga" but don't think it will work for me because I often need to use more than 150' of rode and my feet get terrible cold having been frostbite several times.

Hayden Watson · Mar 16, 2026

StuartSailor said:
There are plastic incerts that snap into the chain that are pretty good. Since what you really are trying to achieve is scope, I always judge the angle. Once you know what 5 to 1 and 7 to 1 look like the number of feet doesn't matter.

This could work well for shallow anchorages but on the deep anchorages we have in the PNW where we often need to anchor in 30' -40' depth, the cantenary will always make you underestimate the scope. Even at full astern, the angle of the chain off the bow will be far steeper than a straight lint between the bow and anchor.

Captain Larry-DH · Mar 18, 2026

Chartres said:
First of all, how come Lewmar chain counters are so expensive?

36 foot sailboat, 300 ft chain, 300 ft 3 strand.
I thought of putting the small simple one at the chain locker so I of wife could see exactly how much chain we have out. Sometimes the markings are near impossible to see.

Then the browsing took me to a counter at the helm with the added convenience of being able to let out more/bring back in some chain. Or while anchoring solo, or if one of us is in dinghy to stern tie, the other at helm holding boat in current/wind.

I then found other products not from Lewmar, such as Mz Radio Remote Control Up-Down 2 Buttons Chain-Counter

This would give me the counter, the ability to let out/retrieve chain and could be used in either place.

Anyone had any experience with this, or similar devices?

If you’re serious about going the cheap way you can spend less than $20 on Amazon for this: Buy several for spares if they don’t hold up to the marine environment Amazon.com

The least expensive marine-market chain counter I found is this Quick counter on eBay. Coincidentally, I ordered one yesterday. The seller appears to be in Italy but it shipped same day and surprisingly DHL claims it’ll be delivered in CT today. ‍Will find out later. Also ordered a spare sensor kit for under $40 because I’ve read some people experience problems with the sensors due to corrosion issues - not surprising considering the mounting location.

Quick SMART CHC chain counter for windlass with magnetic sensor | eBay

Compatible only on ON/OFF systems. TFT color display (1.44 "). Readable even in bright light. Made in Italy. Android Compatibility: Android 6 or later. iOS Compatibility: iPhone 7 onwards and devices running iOS13 or later.

ebay.us

dLj · Mar 18, 2026

I'm a kind of K.I.S.S. type. I don't want more "machines" on my boat. I've used several methods, painting the chain looks nice when you paint, but I've found it wears off really fast. I've had paint disappear in a short time especially if I'm anchoring in sandy bottoms. I went to tie wraps, and found they tend to come off also, in less time than I'd like. But definitely better than paint. My next "experiment" will be weaving thin dynema line into the chain. That has had some very good reviews from other cruisers but I haven't done it yet.

dj

Captain Larry-DH · Mar 18, 2026

dLj said:
I'm a kind of K.I.S.S. type. I don't want more "machines" on my boat. I've used several methods, painting the chain looks nice when you paint, but I've found it wears off really fast. I've had paint disappear in a short time especially if I'm anchoring in sandy bottoms. I went to tie wraps, and found they tend to come off also, in less time than I'd like. But definitely better than paint. My next "experiment" will be weaving thin dynema line into the chain. That has had some very good reviews from other cruisers but I haven't done it yet.

dj

Like you, I like KISS, and I also like gadgets but like to have a fallback.
I’ve been using those overpriced plastic link inserts, but they’re easy to miss if you blink when a marked link goes past, or it’s rotated 90-degrees. So I mark each link position with a tie wrap so I know where to look. The tie wraps come off too easily, so I stopped using them by themselves.
The chain counter I just ordered will be a nice convenience, but sooner or later that will fail or need recalibration, so the physical markers will stay.

Foswick · Mar 18, 2026

I recently switched to a CCHS. Works great!

Foswick · Mar 20, 2026

I'm really disappointed no one has asked what a CCHS is, yet.

kappykaplan · Mar 20, 2026

Foswick said:
I'm really disappointed no one has asked what a CCHS is, yet.

Okay, I'll bite. What's a CCHS?

Foswick · Mar 20, 2026

Thank you for asking. It is a chain-counting harbor seal.

Chain counter retrofit.

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John

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