HesapHanem

Shot of Chain to Fathom Converter

Enter the number of shots of anchor chain to convert.

Result

60.00 fathoms
360.00 ft
109.73 m

How it is calculated

The tool multiplies the number of shots by fixed factors: fathoms = shots × 15, feet = shots × 90 and metres = shots × 27.432. The input is a count of shots of anchor chain, and 1 shot is taken as 15 fathoms, which is 90 feet (a fathom is 6 feet) or 27.432 m. Each result is rounded to two decimals. Fractions of a shot are fine, and the tool does not reject zero or negative numbers. It converts one way only, from shots to the other units. Divide by 15 to turn fathoms back into shots. The 15-fathom shot is the tool's fixed assumption, so a chain marked at a different interval needs its own conversion.

Worked example

You have let out 4 shots of chain and want to know the length in the units on your chart. Fathoms: 4 × 15 = 60.00 fathoms. Feet: 4 × 90 = 360.00 ft. Metres: 4 × 27.432 = 109.73 m. If the water is 15 m deep, 109.73 m of chain is a ratio of about 7.3 to 1 between chain and depth, before allowing for the height of the bow above the water.

Try this example →

Common mistakes

  • Treating a shot as a fixed 25 or 30 metres. The tool uses 15 fathoms, or 27.432 m, so check how your own chain is marked before relying on the result.
  • Confusing the chain length with the water depth. Fathoms of chain out are not fathoms of water, since the chain lies at an angle and on the bottom.
  • Entering fathoms in the shots field. A value of 60 means 60 shots, which is 900 fathoms, not 60.
  • Mixing up the fathom and the foot. A fathom is 6 feet, so a chart depth of 10 fathoms is 60 ft, not 10 ft.

About this calculator

The shot of chain to fathom converter converts anchor chain length between shots, fathoms, feet, and meters using the fixed relationship 1 shot = 15 fathoms = 90 feet = 27.432 m. A “shot” (or “shackle” in British usage) is the standard length a length of anchor chain is manufactured and joined in, marked at each end so sailors can count how much chain has run out just by counting shackle marks on deck.

Fathoms and shots remain standard maritime units for chain length even though most other measurements have gone metric, because anchoring calculations — how much scope (chain length relative to water depth) to pay out for safe holding — are still traditionally expressed this way on ship's bridges worldwide. Ship's officers, riggers, and maritime engineering students use this converter to translate between the chain markings on deck and the metric or imperial depth figures on a chart.

Was this helpful?

You can pick up to 3 reactions.

Comments (1)

  • Editorial team

    A quick mental check on any result: one shot is a little under 27.5 metres, so 3 shots should come out just over 82 m and 5 shots around 137 m. The tool only converts away from shots, so for a planned length you divide yourself: 40 m of chain is about 1.46 shots. Which unit do you most often need your chain length in, and would you want the reverse direction on this page?

Popular calculators

Loan Calculator

Monthly payment, total interest and full amortization schedule.

Percentage Calculator

Percent change, percent of, and ratio calculations.

Discount Calculator

Calculate final price, savings, and discount amount.

BMI Calculator

Body mass index from height and weight (metric or imperial).

Age Calculator

Compute your exact age in years, months and days from a birth date.

Compound Interest Calculator

Calculate the final amount and interest earned with compounding.

All Calculators