Cable Length to Sajene Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert cable lengths to sajenes with our free online length converter.
Cable Length to Sajene Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Cable Length).
- The converted value in Sajene will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Cable Length to Sajene
Converting Cable Length to Sajene involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Cable Length = 86.80165 sajenesExample Calculation:
Convert 10 cable lengths: 10 × 86.80165 = 868.0165 sajenes
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Cable Length and a Sajene?
A Cable Length (symbol cb), often shortened to cable, is a nautical unit of length, traditionally related to the length of a ship's anchor cable. While its exact length has varied historically and geographically, it is now most commonly defined internationally as one-tenth of a nautical mile (1/10 NM).
This standard definition equates to:
- 185.2 meters (m)
- Approximately 607.61 feet (ft)
- Approximately 202.54 yards (yd)
Other historical definitions based on the fathom also exist.
The Sajene (Russian: сажень or саже́нь, IPA: [ˈsaʐɨnʲ] or [sɐˈʐɛnʲ]) is an historical Russian unit of length. It was a fundamental unit in the traditional Russian system of measures.
The standard or "state" Sajene (kazyonnaya sazhen) was legally defined as:
- 3 Arshins (another Russian unit)
- 7 English Feet (after Peter the Great's reforms aligned some Russian units with English standards)
- 84 English Inches
This equates to:
- Exactly 2.1336 meters (m)
- Exactly 7 feet (ft)
- Exactly 84 inches (in)
The Sajene was subdivided as follows:
- 1 Sajene = 3 Arshins
- 1 Arshin = 16 Vershoks (meaning 1 Sajene = 48 Vershoks)
Note: The Cable Length is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Sajene belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Cable Length and Sajene
The unit originated from the practical length of a ship's anchor cable (or "shot" of chain) used in the age of sail. Anchor cables were typically manufactured in standard lengths that could be shackled together. This length provided a convenient unit for measuring distances related to anchoring and maneuvering close to shore or other vessels.
However, the length was not universally standardized:
- In the British Royal Navy, a cable was traditionally defined as 100 fathoms (equivalent to 600 feet or 182.88 meters).
- In the U.S. Navy, it was often defined as 120 fathoms (equivalent to 720 feet or 219.456 meters).
With the international adoption of the nautical mile (defined as 1852 meters), defining the cable as exactly one-tenth of this value (185.2 m) created a convenient, decimal-based relationship and became the most common modern standard, sometimes referred to as the "international cable length".
The Sajene was used in Russia for centuries, likely originating from an anthropomorphic measurement related to the span of outstretched arms or a person's reach, similar to the fathom in other systems. The name itself may derive from Slavic roots related to reaching or stretching.
While informal variations existed, the unit was standardized over time, notably under Peter the Great (reigned 1682–1725), who aligned the Arshin with 28 English inches, thereby fixing the standard Sajene at exactly 7 English feet (2.1336 m).
The Sajene remained a primary unit for larger measurements in Russia until the metric system was adopted following the Russian Revolution. The metric system became compulsory in the USSR on January 1, 1925, rendering the Sajene and other traditional units obsolete for official use.
Common Uses for cable lengths and sajenes
Explore the typical applications for both Cable Length (imperial/US) and Sajene (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for cable lengths
The cable length, particularly the 1/10 NM definition, remains in use in specific maritime contexts:
- Nautical Navigation & Ship Handling: Measuring short distances at sea, such as the distance between ships in formation, distance off a navigational hazard, distance to a pier, estimating anchor drag, or describing the scope (length) of anchor cable paid out.
- Hydrographic Surveying: Historically used on nautical charts, although meters are now the primary international standard for depth and short distances on modern charts.
- Naval Terminology: Persists in naval traditions and communications for describing close ranges.
- Historical Context: Encountered in older maritime texts, logs, charts, and naval records.
Common Uses for sajenes
The Sajene is now obsolete but was historically essential in various fields in Russia:
- Land Surveying: Measuring land plots, distances, and property boundaries.
- Architecture and Construction: Specifying dimensions of buildings, structures, and materials like timber.
- Shipbuilding: Measuring lengths related to ship design and construction.
- Rope Making: Measuring lengths of rope.
- Cartography: Used in mapmaking and geographical measurements.
- Folk Measurement: Appeared in everyday language and descriptions of distance or height.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Cable Length (cb)
What are the different values for a cable length?
The value depends on the definition being used:
- International Standard: 1 cable = 1/10 nautical mile = 185.2 meters ≈ 607.61 feet. (Most common modern definition)
- British Traditional: 1 cable = 100 fathoms = 182.88 meters = 600 feet.
- US Traditional: 1 cable = 120 fathoms = 219.456 meters = 720 feet.
Always clarify which definition is intended if precision is critical, though the 1/10 NM version is generally assumed today unless otherwise specified.
How many meters are in a standard cable length?
The internationally recognized standard cable length is exactly 185.2 meters.
How many feet are in a standard cable length?
The internationally recognized standard cable length is approximately 607.61 feet. The traditional British cable was 600 ft, and the traditional US cable was 720 ft.
Is the cable length related to the nautical mile?
Yes, the most common modern definition establishes a direct relationship: 1 cable length = 1/10 nautical mile.
Is the cable length an SI unit?
No, the cable length is not an SI unit. It is a traditional nautical unit derived from maritime practice and later linked to the nautical mile. The corresponding SI unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the cable length still used today?
Yes, while meters and nautical miles are standard for most navigation, the cable length (especially the 1/10 NM definition) is still actively used in specific maritime applications like anchoring, close maneuvering, naval operations, and sometimes in recreational boating contexts. It serves as a convenient subdivision of the nautical mile.
About Sajene (sajene)
How long is a Sajene?
The standard Russian Sajene (kazyonnaya sazhen) is exactly:
- 2.1336 meters
- 7 English feet
- 84 English inches
- 3 Arshins
What were the subdivisions of the Sajene?
The Sajene was divided into smaller traditional Russian units:
- 1 Sajene = 3 Arshins
- 1 Arshin = 16 Vershoks
- Therefore, 1 Sajene = 48 Vershoks.
Were there different types of Sajene?
Yes, besides the standard "state" Sajene (7 feet), two other common variations based on body measurements existed historically, though their lengths were less standardized:
- Makhovaya Sajene (Маховая сажень - "swinging" or "sweeping" Sajene): The distance between the fingertips of a person's outstretched arms, roughly equivalent to a fathom (approx. 1.76 meters or 5.77 feet).
- Kosaya Sajene (Косая сажень - "oblique" Sajene): The distance from the toes of one foot to the fingertips of the opposite arm raised diagonally upwards (approx. 2.48 meters or 8.14 feet). This was often used idiomatically to describe someone tall and broad-shouldered.
The kazyonnaya sazhen (7 feet) was the official standard used for legal and technical purposes.
How does the Sajene compare to a Meter or Fathom?
- 1 Sajene = 2.1336 meters
- 1 Meter ≈ 0.4687 Sajenes
- The standard Sajene (2.1336 m / 7 ft) is slightly longer than the standard English fathom (1.8288 m / 6 ft). The Makhovaya Sajene (~1.76 m) was closer in concept and length to the fathom.
Is the Sajene an SI unit?
No, the Sajene is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from the historical Russian system of measurement. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the Sajene still used today?
No, the Sajene is obsolete and not used in modern measurements in Russia or elsewhere. It was officially replaced by the metric system in 1925. Its significance today is purely historical, found in old texts, documents, literature, and descriptions of historical sites or objects.
Conversion Table: Cable Length to Sajene
| Cable Length (cb) | Sajene (sajene) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 86.802 |
| 5 | 434.008 |
| 10 | 868.017 |
| 25 | 2,170.041 |
| 50 | 4,340.083 |
| 100 | 8,680.165 |
| 500 | 43,400.825 |
| 1,000 | 86,801.65 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)