System and method for monitoring and controlling anchor rode length

A method of monitoring and controlling anchor rode length, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a winch on a vessel, the winch having a rotatable element about which an anchor rode is at least partially wrapped, the winch being energizable to rotate the rotatable element in a first direction for letting out the anchor rode from the vessel and energizable to rotate to rotatable element in a second direction for pulling the anchor rode into the vessel;
• wrapping a length of anchor rode at least partially around the rotatable element, the anchor rode being connected to an anchor;
• providing an indicator on a periphery of the rotatable element of the winch;
• positioning a sensor assembly adjacent the rotatable element of the winch for detecting the passage thereby of the indicator and for generating signals representative of the amount of rotation of the rotatable element of the winch;
• providing a first command to the winch for causing its rotatable element to rotate in the first direction;
• providing a second command to the winch for causing its rotatable element to rotate in a second direction;
• determining the amount of anchor rode deployed from the winch utilizing the signals from the sensor assembly;
• and
• indicating to a boatman the amount of anchor rode deployed from the winch.