Floating Thermometer

I recently bought a floating thermometer and used it for the first time the other day.

I was heating 3 gallons of water in a 6 gallon pot for some mead and placed the thermometer in the pot. The water level wasn't deep enough for the thermometer to stand straight up and the tip of it rested on the bottom of the pot.

Will this affect the readings enough for me to worry about? Right now I am brewing extract with specialty grains.

Don't they come with a clip anymore? They used to have a clip on the side, like on pens, that you could hook on the side of the pot. I guess I've recycled my clip from my first thermo.

I guess you need a piece of string, or a chain of paper clips. Or wire. Just boil/sanitize your 'string'.