Parachute Sea Anchors

[Old PDQ Message Board]

Parachute Sea Anchors

Posted by Harvey Griggs (3693-Mice Will Play) on November 02, 2002 at 07:27:00:

As it has been a long time since sea anchors have been discussed, I would like
to know if any of you carry the device, and particularly, have used one. At what
wind velocity do you think you would deploy the anchor?
Do many of you carry any kind of drogue to limit speed down-wind in very heavy
seas?
Thanks for any reply.

Follow Ups:

Re: Parachute Sea Anchors jack Coulter 13:48:16 11/11/02 (0)
Re: Parachute Sea Anchors Colin Swithenbank 12:37:46 11/02/02 (2)
Re: Parachute Sea Anchors Marc Gershel 14:00:01 11/02/02 (1)
Re: Parachute Sea Anchors Colin Swithenbank 17:55:26 11/04/02 (0)

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Re: Parachute Sea Anchors

Posted by jack Coulter on November 11, 2002 at 13:48:00:
In Reply to: Parachute Sea Anchors posted by Harvey Griggs (3693-Mice Will Play)
on November 02, 2002 at 07:27:00:

Hi Harvey: I have a 15ft Para Tech on "MOJO",fortunately we have never had to
deploy. I always remove both anchors before going off shore. I actually have the
port anchor chain and rode set up with a bridle in place before departure. We
have a combination of 75' chain and 400' of 7/16" rode splitting in to a 50'
1/2" bridle. We set the bridle up with a swivel in the attach point. We have a
large fender tied in place about 25' from the end of the "chute". Everything is
ready to go by simply shackling the chute on. "Mojo" is leaving for the Abacos
this Friday going the "express" route trying to beat our old record of 4days
6hrs. Will let you know how we come out. Viva PDQ!! Best/Jack

Follow Ups:

Re: Parachute Sea Anchors

Posted by Colin Swithenbank on November 02, 2002 at 12:37:00:
In Reply to: Parachute Sea Anchors posted by Harvey Griggs (3693-Mice Will Play)
on November 02, 2002 at 07:27:00:

Harvey: I have looked into sea-anchors (defn: big, stop the boat in the water,
vs drogues, small, slow you down). The recommended sea-anchor for a PDQ 36 is
about 15-16ft. in diameter and, once deployed, should work very well (see DDDB,
Drag Device Data Base). I have designed and fabricated a "Series Sea Anchor"
with about half a dozen hemispherical shaped parachutes 4 ft. in diameter with a
4" hole in the bottom, and about 30 1" holes round the sides which I string
along a piece of 1/2" nylon line. Once deployed, it holds my runabout with its
90HP engine stationary in the water. I carry this on board - it weighs about 15
lbs

The problem with this and all Sea-anchors is deployment and recovery. Deployment
on a calm day on the Chesapeake was surprisingly difficult and recovery close to
impossible. The commercial units solve the deployment issue by putting the
anchor in a bag which is thrown overboard as a unit. Recovery is achieved by a
trailing line from the unit which loops back to boat and collapses the unit for
retrieval. I still need to experiment with these techniques to be comfortable
with them

If you buy one of the commercial units you may want to practice with it in calm
water before needing it offshore

Incidentally, I didn't think the commercial units are particularly well made -
check the sewing where the lines attach to the parachute. Also, the recommended
rode seems far stronger than necessary - see my article in the Newsletter on
anchor rode tension

Colin

Follow Ups:

Re: Parachute Sea Anchors Marc Gershel 14:00:01 11/02/02 (1)
Re: Parachute Sea Anchors Colin Swithenbank 17:55:26 11/04/02 (0)

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Re: Parachute Sea Anchors

Posted by Marc Gershel on November 02, 2002 at 14:00:00:
In Reply to: Re: Parachute Sea Anchors posted by Colin Swithenbank on November
02, 2002 at 12:37:00:

Hi Harvey & Colin; I'm very happy to see this subject come up. I've asked the
same question on this & several other boards,and first hand information is very
hard to come by. After reading DDDB several dozen times,it seems that a sea
anchor is absolutly essential on a catamaran doing any offshore work

I picked up a 15'unused (but second hand) Para-Tech anchor,with all the
rode,floats & hdwe,but have not had a chance to practice with it yet.Being in
the Upper Ches. the water is just not deep enough.I would think 75'-100' would
be a minimum,in order To keep the anchor & rode off of the bottom in a moderate
wind

Colin, your design sounds interesting. We would like to hear more details on it

Did you get a chance to try it on your Caribbean trip?
This is a very important subject for catamarans with shorthanded crews, like
most of us.I would like to see more discussion on the subject.

Follow Ups:

Re: Parachute Sea Anchors Colin Swithenbank 17:55:26 11/04/02 (0)

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Re: Parachute Sea Anchors

Posted by Colin Swithenbank on November 04, 2002 at 17:55:00:
In Reply to: Re: Parachute Sea Anchors posted by Marc Gershel on November 02,
2002 at 14:00:00:

Marc: Thanks for your interest: I'll try and write something up for the
Newsletter

Colin