Marking Rode. Chain or Nylon.

Chain is easily marked with paint. For yacht chain, a cardboard box helps. Marking Chain As for rope, latex paint works just fine. It does not weaken the rode. Even if the paint chips a little, the rope is still conspicuously stained. The box trick still works. --- Don't overmark the rode. If you have a windlass, a long mark 10 feet before the anchor gives notice it is close. Otherwise, the first mark can be at the least rode you would ever use, about 50 feet for most sailors. After that, it's not precision math; every 25 feet is more than enough, perhaps 50 feet. The fewer marks, the less there is to remember.