Dan, they DO discuss series drogues in general (none by brand name), and the tactic of streaming a drogue from bow, stern or on a bridle. Their conclusion was that it is not as effective in breaking seas. A series drogue on a bridle to help hold the boat hove-to would work, just not, in their opinion, as effective as a larger para-anchor at creating/lengthening the slick.
Their data extends into the 90's, and includes the '79 Fastnet, as well as the '94 Queen's Birthday storm, so it is pretty 'modern.'
The punchline (for anyone who has not read the book) is that running before storm force winds and breaking seas (with or without a drag device) depends on luck at best - even with a drag device to slow the boat, breaking seas can knock her down, broach or pitchpole her. According to comparison of data of boats lost or damaged vs those that were NOT damaged in many, many storm encounters, those running have a MUCH higher risk of damage than those hove-to. Note that this is a comment on the attitude of the boat to wind/sea, not the method to get/hold her there. Sometimes, a drag device is needed to help hold her hove-to.
It's hard to argue with real-world data. The Pardey's conclusion from the available data: stream a drag off bow or stern, high risk of boat/crew damage; stream a drag off a bridle to hold the boat ~50 degrees off the wind, MUCH MUCH safer. The drag you use, if one is necessary at all, to hold the boat in this attitude will remain somewhat personal preference.
This is partly consistent with Eric Hiscock's earlier comments in Voyaging Under Sail. To paraphrase Hiscock, when speaking of streaming a sea-anchor off the bow: it's failed so many times [he] wonders why it is still used. This was solidified in my mind when I read a story in Blue Water Cruising a few years ago of a couple who set a sea-anchor off the bow in 50+ kts and got absolutely beat up, with a lot of damage to the boat as well. During the night, their rode parted and the boat adjusted herself to a hove-to attitude and the crew's comments were that she suddenly quieted down, the ride got much more comfortable. I always wondered why, after that experience, they then took measures to point the bow BACK into the wind and continued to suffer damage.
Finally, in the interest of completeness, Dan, I have NO IDEA how this is effected/changed when considering multihulls. The only comment on mult-hull vs monohull the Pardey's made was that smaller para-anchor is generally needed for monohulls than what is typically carried for multihulls.
As always, YMMV, and with the sea, there is no magic, silver bullet.
Have you seen the data from Jordan's website (http://www.jordanseriesdrogue.com/D_2.htm), which has some serious testimonials from all different types of boats in different situations, which contradicts what the Pardeys have said about series drogues. The Jordan Series Drogue, IMHO, is designed to work differently than most other drogues and sea anchors.
Probably well worth taking a look, since it is specifically designed to help smaller craft, where some of the others will not do as good a job.
One of the key things I've noticed in their testimonials is the following phrase in one form or another:
Quotehe reported no further damage to the boat after the drogue was deployed
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on January 23, 2007, 09:31:25 AM
Have you seen the data from Jordan's website (http://www.jordanseriesdrogue.com/D_2.htm)
Yes, about ten years ago, I read that web site. And, since you linked to it this morning, I checked it out again. So, I *am* familiar with it, and quite frankly, cannot say with personal experience one way or another.
Since this is the "book locker" area of the board, I was simply relating what the BOOK had to say about the series drogue. You challenged that they did not mentioned it, but they did. If you disagree with their conclusion, that's your business (and you might be right). Note that they did not say that a series drogue would not be effective, only that in THEIR opinion, it is not AS effective as a para-anchor. They were clear in stating that this is their OPINION.
What they WERE clear about was the data regarding bow or stern streaming vs bridle streaming. With running, even with a drag, it is only a matter of time before an UNEXPECTED breaking sea hits the boat with high potential for damage or even loss of the boat. In many of the cases they described, the knock-down was completely unexpected. This is the event that never happened with a hove-to boat.
Two points to inject in this discussion.
First, JeanneP who posts on CSBB and also moderates a cruising BB out of Austraila has instructions on her own website for making your own Jordan series drogue. It's in down loadable PDF form. Go to this link-
http://www.cruiser.co.za/faq2.asp
scroll down to "drogue" and click on "Download here"
Secondly, way before the Jordan book was ever dreamed of, a couple named John and Joan Casanova wrote and published a book called "Parachute Anchoring Techniques", primarily aimed at multihulls. That book is still available if you search for it a bit. They used the technique successfully several times in sailing their own tri around Cape Horn and up to the Falklands. Of course, in those days the mainstream "yachting" press was having little to do with multihulls, so the book got short shrift from them. Chiodi with Multihulls magazine gave it good coverage.
Quote from: CharlieJ on January 23, 2007, 11:39:39 AM
Secondly, way before the Jordan book was ever dreamed of, a couple named John and Joan Casanova wrote and published a book called "Parachute Anchoring Techniques", primarily aimed at multihulls.
Did you mean 'the Pardey book?'
No sir- I meant the Casanova's book. Well before the Pardeys started writing all that much. They were still cruising in Serafyn at that time.
A copy is available from Tappin Book mine for 10 bucks.
http://www.tappinbookmine.com/catalogs/nautical000001.htm
Scroll about halfway down and look for the name Casanova.
CJ, you said "way before the Jordan book"
That's the part I thought you meant "way before the Pardey book."
Sorry if I'm confused...
During that time, Dan Shewmon was just beginning the DDD- Drag Device Data base- compiling the info. Working with Victor Shane. The Casanovas were the first, as far as I know, to write about using a parachute as a sea anchor. But again- they were aiming at multihulls primarily although they did talk about monohulls in the book.
All of this was partly the basis for the later books, both by the Pardeys ( with their own experiences involved of course) and the Jordan series drogues. Later stuff improved on the techniques of course, as more experience was gathered and more sailors tried it out. But they were pretty much the pioneers.
And pretty much forgotten, sadly
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on January 23, 2007, 09:31:25 AM
The Jordan Series Drogue, IMHO, is designed to work differently than most other drogues and sea anchors.
The Jordan web site does in fact have some interesting testemonials... However, I do have some concerns.
Almost all of our boats are (relatively) small, and to my way of thinking, are very vulnerable to a boarding wave over the transom. Sailboats in general are designed to withstand water going across the deck from bow to stern. Coaminges(sp?), sea hoods, dodgers, etc. are designed to deflect water away from the main hatch and cockpit when the bow is facing the waves. These structures would tend to scoop water into the boat when the water is moving in the opposite direction (Stern facing the waves; boat moving slower than the seas; water over-taking the boat from behind.)
Additionally, most boats have rather lightly built hatch boards (1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick. The idea of several tons of water (and its only 31 cu. ft of water per ton) hitting that that 3/4 inch thick wood hatch scares the heck out of me.
Anybody else wonder about this?
Kevin
Ol' Coot-
From my discussions with Don Jordan... because of how the JSD is designed, boarding waves are not really an issue. If you read the user testimonials, you'll see that being pooped isn't really an issue, since the boat is making some forward progress... albeit relatively slowly.
I think that is one of the major differences between a sea anchor or parachute drogue and the JSD. The shock loading caused by a parachute-type anchor is much higher.
I agree 100% about replacing flimsy little washboards. Rather then lexan or such, we opted for bi-directional grain timber. So we have a marine four ply under layer and then did a diamond pattern fronticepiece of jarah timber planks (tongue and groove) which look great and are strong as heck.
Good drainage of the cockpit is pretty essential, we got plastered in the H28 once while crossing a river bar. The two little scuppers were worthless and the cockpit turned into a spa bath...but not in the charming way. Guess what, all those poeple jumping in and out of the cockpit puts micro cracks into the corners. And those leak if you put enough water in. Not enough so you sink...just enough to utterly annoy you for several weeks of clean up and finding mouldy surprises.
Having said all that, the worst situation we ever had in our own boat (which has a big well in the cockpit and can drain an immense amount of water very fast) was a freak wave that hit the aft quarter side on (we were crossing a tidal stream, but all looked serene until we got had). The boat literally jumped, rolled and span around on its keel so that the bow was now pointing more then 110degrees off the course we had been sailing. The sails backwinded and went nuts and all the rest is an excercise in very tired people hoping to get home needing to race around the deck sorting things out. The wave did board and land a fair bit of water on us, but the sudden disorientation and mess with the sails was for a brief moment a greater danger.
Alex.
This topic was split off of Storm Tactics handbook (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=868.0)
Fitting the washboards (or at least the bottom one) if the weather merits this can be a PIA, but saves filling the cabin if ever pooped, especially on an aft cockpit vessel. Also an idea to have a method of being able to lock the washboards in place (from below and above) so that if you do ever get rolled past 90 degrees they don't drop out and fill the cabin quite so quickly......
Or you could go for self stowing washboards that just drop down into the bulkhead ;D (I had never even heard of these before - but I now love 'em!).
(http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/seadog-30/t83803-cockpit-fwd.jpg)
NOT "Perro"........
Great 'back-forth' group!! FWIW..When 'ole stinky' quite..I was 26knm out and in 6-8ft seas. I hove-to under main only (flickas sail ahead if the jib is backwinded) and proceded to remove the cockpit floor to inspect the filters. The ride was GREAT !! It barely crawled ahead and took NO water with good motion. We ALL should practice this BEFORE 'going out there' ( I did..this time ;))
This thread reminded me of my plan to build or purchase a sea anchor.
I found this one;
(http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/normal_77_12.JPG)
For sale on Ebay ==>Add here<== (http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ50QQsassZseaanchorguy).
(http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/normal_9d_12.JPG)
Quote5' Diameter Military Surplus Parachute Sea Anchor, never used or removed from original packing.
These chutes are perfect for boats up to 26-27' but you have to decide if it is right for you as each boat is different in size and weight. It will help keep your boat headed into the wind when sailing and keeps your boat moving with the current when fishing.
The chute has 12, 9' shroud lines with extra stitching at main stress points.
(http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/normal_10_12.JPG)
Stows in small space (unlike Jordan series drogue), and uses anchor rode already aboard.
(http://sailfar.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10014/99_2.JPG)
Guy says he has sold over 1500 of these around the world with 700 sold on EBAY alone and never had one complaint regarding the quality of these chutes or to their use as a sea-anchor.
One could suggest the sellers of faulty parachutes also don't get many direct complaints.
;D
I just think it is an umbrella painted orange with strings attached. You can see the handle in the pic.
Quote from: Fortis on January 29, 2007, 09:15:30 PM
I just think it is an umbrella painted orange with strings attached. You can see the handle in the pic.
Drat! Foiled again.... :P
;D No, that is an umbrella he put it on to show what it looks like. I have seen this sea anchor in person (used at a marine flea market) and it is pretty heavily made. The one I saw at the flea market was $150, which I thought was kinda high. This one was much more reasonable.
I frankly don't intend to ever use it. I think watching for weather windows is much more effective. I also have a boat that will heave too very well, and would only use the chute if I was off a lee shore and absolutely had no choice. I would then use a bridle as per the Pardleys. Their experience trumps all the reading and internet searches combined for me.
Quote from: s/v Faith on January 29, 2007, 09:31:22 PM
as per the Pardleys. Their experience trumps all the reading and internet searches combined for me.
LOL. Yeah, riding out 80+ kts in a 24 ft boat and actually calling it "comfortable" is a pretty strong selling point.
Which reminds me of a question I meant to ask:
Anyone on here actually currently carry a trysail? If so, how do you rig it (same track as main, parallel track, gated main track, sheet to boom end or quarters, etc)?
Seems like for 30.00 it is something afordable to have in ones bag of tricks, if say you were crossing the big pond with the need to slow down and had few options.
Oh, I just got a notice the Pardleys and thier boat will be here in the Bay Area in April for the sail boat show. Having an open house on thier boat to the public and having some lectures, aimed at couple cruising sound like. It maybe worth to go for that. Other wise it cost so bloodly much to go look at stuff to spend more money on ???
http://www.landlpardey.com/News/News_2007_January.html
Zen,
We need to get you a Press Pass and be the official rep of SailFar. Man, GET AN INTERVIEW (or invite them to drop by the Tuesday chat sometime!!
Sure, I can check into something, if they are aproachable.
From what I've read, the storm parachute anchor for a 25- 30 foot boat should be 10 to 12 feet in diameter.
Have to dig back through to find the place I read that though.
Anyone else have info on this?
CJ - That's - IIRC - the size the Pardeys used to recommend. In their book (the copy I have), they say they revised their figures a little, and actually went down a few feet - to an 8 footer - for boats our size.
Craig - those orange chutes look like they would work, if they are even a bit smaller than 8'. WHich is perfect for what I have wondered - 2 *smaller* chutes would seem to be a compromise between a big chute and a series drogue. ;D They could be run in series, or - using 2 bridles - kind of side-by side, to make a big slick. There would be more gear to handle, and more chafe likely, but the gear would be easier to recover. Might be an idea worth trying.
I've also wondered if you could rig something that looked like a series drogue-type arrangement to lie line-abreast, somewhat - curved a bit. The cones would need to be loose from the line at their back end. Perhaps a device like that would offer low shock loads, while producing a nice wide slick. It's effects may not be strong enough deep enough to trip and tumble large waves though...
Perro - I'd like to see a closer picture of those boards - Sounds like a neat idea!
Zen - you lucky old dog you!!! :D Be careful, or you'll be staggering into the Pardeys tent with an armful of books-to-be-autographed from your fellow sailFar members! lol
Quote from: CapnK on January 30, 2007, 04:11:43 AM
Perro - I'd like to see a closer picture of those boards - Sounds like a neat idea!
I keep meaning to take a Digital Camera down to the Boat to take a few pics of various things, but keep forgetting!...........when I eventually manage this I will snap a few of the washboard set up. It's amazingly simple.
Zen...GO FOR IT !!....the Pardey's ARE EXTREMELY approachable!! Just have a list of questions and they WILL give you whatever time they have,depending on their next appointment. I met them at Miami in 03 and they truely ARE 'just regular boat nuts'...if ya didn't know what they have done....you sure wouldn't meeting them....zero ego!!
Quote from: Captain Smollett on January 29, 2007, 09:39:03 PMAnyone on here actually currently carry a trysail? If so, how do you rig it (same track as main, parallel track, gated main track, sheet to boom end or quarters, etc)?
I have a very deep third reef in my main instead of a trysail. The downside is that I still have the boom to deal with, but since I have a solid vang I would have to manage that anyway. I built a preventer and boom bridle and between those and the mainsheet (boom-end sheeting) I'm not awfully concerned about being able to control the boom in bad weather.
The above pretty much exactly describes my approach as well. I do own a bright orange tri-sail...but the one afternoon we spent doing storm readiness drills in something like 10 knots of wind and a fairly calm sea...the tri sail changeover proved by far the most time consuming, hazardous and honestly most unpleasent part of the job. You get that with a full battened main sail.
I will trust to the deep thrid reef point and to swapping the mainsheet back out to the traveller behind the steering box for boom end steering (the everyday traveller lives on the bridge deck and goes to mid boom.)
I cannot add a second track specifically for the tri sail to the mast as the mast on our boat is quite narrow and shaped, nor is any kind of sleeve an option as we have a baby-stay.
Alex.
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on January 29, 2007, 02:22:27 AM
Ol' Coot-
because of how the JSD is designed, boarding waves are not really an issue. If you read the user testimonials, you'll see that being pooped isn't really an issue, since the boat is making some forward progress...
Waves are strange animals... In the open ocean a 20 ft non-breaking wave moves to leeward at approximately 20 knots, but the water molecules that comprise that wave move hardly at all. The water moves in an eliptical pattern going up and down but the actual water molecules displace very slowly from their original location. A theroeticall cup of water may be only a few miles to leeward of where it started after a 24 hour gale.
Moving the boat under sail or power in thes conditions implies one of two strategies.
Your primary objective is to (1) climb the face of a wave (no mean feat) and make it through the crest before riding down the back while going to windward, or (2) keep from surfing down the face of a wave to leeward and slamming into the back of the next, (hopefully) without broaching.
Sliding slowly to leeward in these conditions with a stearn deployed drogue sounds pretty inviting, and is probably(sp?) safe under a lot of conditions.
The problem arises when conditions change and either an increase in the wind causes the waves to beging to break, or two waves coincide and form the "freak wave (exceptional height but same frequency/length)". When the height-to-frequency of the wave becomes too steep, the breaking water cascading down the face is moving at 20+ knots and your boat is rerstrained by the drogue to about 1.5 knots.
My 33 ft boat has only 3.5 ft of freeboard at the transom, and unless the reserve buoyancy causes the stearn to rise really fast, there's going to be a sh*t load of water coming across the deck at 18+ knots headed for the wash boards. The kinetic energy stored in that wave could easily drive through the wash boards or peel the hatch cover forward and totall off of the boat in the blink of an eye. All the theory and testimonials might disappear in one nausiating (lethal?) moment.
Something in my gut keeps telling me that having the water crash from stem-to-strearn is going to be a lot less destructive. The shape of boat was designed to deflect the the force of that wave rather that to stand against it .
Just my $.02... I'm not a trained engineer or marine architect. Your confidence in advertisements may be different than mine.
Kevin
Ol' Coot-
I'm not basing my choice of using a JSD on advertisements. I am basing on the first hand experience of several sailors I know who have had the bad luck to need to use one. I am also basing it on the conversations I've had with Don Jordan personally. I have also read the research that the USCG and Jordan did regarding the drogue...
Yes, a freak rogue wave has the ability to destroy any boat, regardless of the equipment used or its size. However, that rogue wave doesn't care about anything at all, and it doesn't matter what I do to prepare for it... so I am trying to prepare for the things I can do something about. A JSD seems to be the best solution IMHO for dealing with heavy weather. This is based on the design of my boat, and what I have learned from other sailors, my own research and speaking with Don Jordan.
A JSD is designed to be used once conditions deteriorate past where moving under sail and/or power has become too hazardous.
I think part of the problem is that you are confusing a JSD with a sea anchor. A JSD allows the boat to move quite a bit more than does a big parachute type sea drogue/anchor. It also creates much less of a shock load when it is deployed. It isn't designed to slow a boat to a stand still, as a big parachute sea anchor will, but to keep it aligned to the waves and slow, relative to the waves.
I think at this point in the discussion it merits pointing out that the storm tactic book that sparked this whole discussion was deailing with extreme conditions with BREAKING WAVES. The Storm Tactics Handbook is not dealing with conditions of 20 footers in gales of 30-40 kts. It is deailing with FAR WORSE scenarios.
In breaking waves, holding the boat stern-to is a BAD IDEA. Period. Tried and tested.
In breaking waves, holding the boat bow-to is a BAD IDEA. Period. Tried and tested.
In breaking waves, creating a "slick" is probably the best known technique for protecting the boat. Technically this 'slick" is known as a Von Korman Vortex Street; this is a region in the fluid where high tubulence is set-up. Turbulence in a fluid bleeds kinetic energy, which is precisely what is needed to stop those breaking seas. Other methods of 'calming' the waters, as reported by Hiscock and known to be used back in the old whaler days, is to pump oil overboard.
Don Jordan mentions on his website that he thinks this 'calming' effect is a myth. I suggest that he go back to Fluid Dynamics 101, maybe re-derive those Navier-Stokes equations and re-apply the kappa-epsilon turbulence model and do some CFD. Shoot, I've got an Athlon64 cluster here with TEAM installed and running he can use to model breaking seas in the area of high turbulence we call a 'slick.' Or, he can just write to Astrid Barros of the University Federal de Rio De Janeiro, or Sergio Hamilton Spharer of UC Berkeley, both pre-eminent scientists in the field who STUDY such effects in fluids (and how they effect yatch safety) to ask their opinion.
No doubt the JSD is a GREAT product for a stern-to drag device. Yes, it is even recommended by the US Coast Guard for that application. But the debatable question is how effective is this tactic in BREAKING SEAS?
Best bet of course is to AVOID such conditions as much as possible. But, I'm still trying to get my mind around someone calling riding out an 80+ kt storm in a 24 ft boat "comfortable."
Dan,
Since you've talked to him and have a rapport with Don Jordan, why don't you invite him to sit in on one of our Tuesday night chats? It would be great to ask him some questions and give him the chance to "fill us in" on the series drogue.
He could also join just for some sailor talk.
Just a thought...
What might be smart (for those who plan to travel where conditions frequently require the use of hard-core storm tactics):
Get and carry both - neither takes that much space to store. Test 'em *before* you need 'em. See what the characteristics are, good and the bad, in somewhat less extreme conditions than survival. In particular, note how they affect the surface of the ocean, because it's the water, not the wind, that'll get ya.
There may well (and probably will) be times when one outshines the other.
I can easily imagine a circumstance where slowing the boat a bit might come in handy, and a JSD would no doubt work better for that (especially if you could easily add/remove cones as needed).
Yet having seen the effects of turbulence on how/when waves break, my gut feeling is that, when the time comes when all that's left to do is go below and wait/hope/pray for conditions to improve, that the chute deployed a la Pardey makes a lot more sense.
I would much rather the bow deal with waves than the stern - as Ol' Coot noted, that's how boats are designed.
There may even be room for compromise not only in this discussion, but also *in the design of the tool*. Why not a cross-breed?
Several small chutes, instead of one large, on a rode. They could either be streamed straight (lessening the drag/slick effect for running), or warped 'tween bow and stern, chutes in a more or less line-abreast formation (for heaving-to).
"Drawbacks": In the JDS config, they would create more of a shock load perhaps, and in the 'chute mode, they would not affect the water as deeply as one larger 'chute, which may or may not affect how effective the slick is.
Something worth testing, perhaps. I'd imagine that Jordan has tested cone size to determine which was best, but *only for running*, as that is what his piece of gear is designed for. That being his focus, there may not have been any testing to determining efficacy while hove-to.
Just a thought. :)
Capn Smollett-
I'll see if I can dig up Jordan's phone number, and if I can find it, I'll ask him about dropping in. I haven't spoken with him in a couple of years.
Pretty good link (PDF Document) on Prepairing for a storm.
Quantum Sails Storm prep with 'Capt. Jack'. (http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/stormprep.pdf)
Interesting thread, I keep finding more and more fine reading here.
I carry a trysail on my current boat. It has a dedicated parallell track at the mast, is sheeted to the quarter and thus the boom is supposed to be safely lashed to a boom gallows(correct expression?). The idea is to keep the trysail, tacked to it´s mast track and stowed in it´s bag and lashed at the foot of the mast during passages. I have not yet tried it- and hope I won´t have to, but it definitely fells like the right way to go.
As for Jordan series drogue versus Pardey bridle chute; they both have their pro´s and con´s I guess. -disclaimer : I have absolutely zero practical experience with any of them. My boat heaves to very nicely and that is enough storm tactic for whatever heavy weather (up to 60 knots)one may find in my home waters. Dangerous breaking seas need ocean-type fetch to build up I assume.
Anyway: I have lots of respect to the Pardeys and their skill and experience; but I can´t really visualize myself going up on foredeck in a breaking-waves condition to set up a chute, chafe protection gear over the bow, and then the bridle. Just think of the first part there. Grabbing the bag with the chute and crawl over the deck to the bow with it...
OTOH; the JSD is easily deployed from the safe and comfortable cockpit. The bridle fastened to the stern cleats or some other pre-made fastenings, and the rear end of the line, with the weight, is more or less tossed overboard. - Sounds WAY easier, doesn´t it?
The drawback of the latter method would obviously be to expose the companionway and the cockpit to the possibilities of those tons of water. However from the testimonials at Jordans web-site, this doesn´t seem to be much of an issue.
I find it almost impossible to decide which on e of the two I should eventually choose. ???
BTW -- what does IIRC mean? --- sure beats this pagan from the land of the Vikings ;)
IIRC- if I recall correctly.
By the way- you could also deploy the chute from the cockpit- you'd just need to have the line led outside of everything up to the bow.
Personally I think the very best tactic is to be someplace else during storm season.
;D
While avoidance is the best policy...once you're out there...it isn't always feasible...
Thanks for the explanation Charlie.
And I do agree with you re. being at the wrong place at the right time.
But nevertheless, it seems like most blue water passages just could encounter a blow
About deploying the chute... yeah I guess you´re right. Weird that the Pardeys don´t mention that... IIRC,, it´s been a few years since I read it.
BTW I read on their web-site that they are currently working on a new edition of Storm Tactics Book.
Of course you can encounter bad weather including gales most any time, even during the summers along a coast. Usually they are fast moving and of short duration though
But the really BAD stuff has seasons- Survival storms such as hurricanes happen at specific times in different spots around the world.
I have no problem with riding out a gale or such- but during hurricane seaon, if you are cruising, you should be elsewhere.
F'r example- August and Sept are NOT the prime times to go to the Bahamas and on down the islands.
;D
Quote from: David_Old_Jersey on January 30, 2007, 05:20:37 AM
Quote from: CapnK on January 30, 2007, 04:11:43 AM
Perro - I'd like to see a closer picture of those boards - Sounds like a neat idea!
I keep meaning to take a Digital Camera down to the Boat to take a few pics of various things, but keep forgetting!...........when I eventually manage this I will snap a few of the washboard set up. It's amazingly simple.
It took me a while ;D
But self stowing washboards now posted on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6USBW0EEw-o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6USBW0EEw-o)
How many of you sailors carry a sea anchor, how often did you use it.?? What do you like/dislike about the sea anchor you use??. I am starting to get things ready for spring, should be on the water by mid May. I have a few things that I want to change / add but my list is short this year.
I carry a Jordan Series Drogue. I've written about the JSD on my blog. The major issue with it is retrieval, as I discuss in the blog (http://blog.dankim.com/2009/04/19/don-jordan-and-the-jordan-series-drogue/).
Quote from: Mr. Fixit on February 22, 2010, 10:48:55 PM
How many of you sailors carry a sea anchor, how often did you use it.?? What do you like/dislike about the sea anchor you use??. I am starting to get things ready for spring, should be on the water by mid May. I have a few things that I want to change / add but my list is short this year.
Used to have a 15' ParaTech sea anchor on my 37' trimaran, and now have a smaller version that I've used on several <30' boats. I've set them for practice, to heave to waiting for light or tide to enter a harbor, and once in storm conditions with the tri. In all cases they worked as advertised, with steadier motion and greatly reduced leeway compared to just heaving to. My only suggestion would be to go with a pickup buoy rather than the full trip line back to the boat. It makes retrieval slower but avoids the possibility of the rode and trip line fouling eachother...
I have been researching the advantages of drogues or sea anchors and there is quite a bit of info on the web, especially sailing sites. There appears to be both advantages and disadvantages of both and the subject can be quite contradictable. (similar to walking in a barroom and stating that you want to discuss religion or politics!!!). I have decided on a sea anchor, not that i think they are better than a drogue, but with the sea anchor I can use my spare anchor line to deploy, also they may be easier to retrirve. At my age this is something I have to consider. I am also going to rig a bridle to pull the bow 40 degrees or so off the wind. I intend to practice deploying to see what works best. I am going with a 12' para type anchor, made nylon urethane coated fabric, all seams will be rienforced with nylon strapping. I am also going to try a partial trip line as suggested. What I have planned will be made as strong or stronger than products available on the market. Time to stop researching and start sewing!!!
Quote from: Mr. Fixit on February 25, 2010, 10:08:44 AM
I have been researching the advantages of drogues or sea anchors ... the subject can be quite contradictable.
That's right, from the bow or stern is an oft debated topic.
I like this little video, which I think shows
part of the issue quite nicely. The key points are at the following time stamps:
0:27 - slow moving small boat overtaken sternwise by a breaking sea; result = capsize.
0:45 - small boat bow-on to small breaker, floats right over it.
0.57 - small boat bow-on to breaker, floats right over.
Beautiful demo. ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuXqPpMXsUI