[PUP] Heavy Weather tactics

[Patrick Gerety]

----- Original Message ----
From: Ken Williams <kenw@seanet.com>
To: Passagemaking Under Power List <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com>
Sent: Friday, April 6, 2007 9:16:33 AM
Subject: Re: [PUP] Heavy Weather tactics


>I must confess that I've never personally seen either a drogue or a sea
>anchor, so forgive my rookie questions about them. 

I thought that I was a fan of  parachute style sea anchors.  However a couple of years ago, after doing quite a bit of reading and research, I changed my mind.  In my opinion, the downside of a sea anchor is that they are large and cumbersome, they must be deployed from the bow in precarious conditions, and the boat will drift backwards in hazardous seas putting undue strain on the rudder.  If you are going to use a sea anchor it is wise to practice deployment in advance in manageable conditions, but it will be necessary to go on deck during big seas to deploy it for real.  There is no way to paractice that scenario.  Flaking the sea anchor to the stern cockpit is a clever solution.  But even the people who sell sea anchors caution that it is necessary to go to the bow to adjust the bridle (angle to seas and length of rode) once it is deployed.  Again one is exposed to hazardous seas on a pitching bow.  This is doable with caution but not a place I relish to be.
 
Eventually I became interested in using drogues as a heavy weather tactic.  The Jordan Series Drogue seemed to be the answer.  No device is perfect and the Series drogue is difficult to deploy and retrieve and it is relatively expensive when compared to other devices.  I don't think a drogue is the best solution very every boat. The drogue makes particular sense to me because of the design of my boat.  I have a double ended hull, no swim platform, the stern bulkhead in the saloon has relatively small windows, and I have probably the lowest A/B ratio of any trawler in this size range. 
 
I attended the Seattle Boat Show last January.  While there, I renewed my acquaintance with Zac from Fiorentino Sea Anchors manufactctured here in SoCal.  Is this a conincidence that there is a Zach at ParaAnchor too?  Anyway, Fiorentino was introducing their line of drogues they were adding to their range.  I think that Fiorentino makes the best engineered sea anchor and Zac related the research and engineering that went into the design of their drogue.  They tested a series drogue as a possible design but found that there were a number of problems with the design.  They decided on a more traditional drogue design concept.  Their introductory price was more than fair and I was convinced.  Mine arrived a couple of weeks later.  It fits in a valise that is a little larger than a hat box.  Fiorentino recommends using a floating line as a tether.  I will avoid using my engine when the drogue is deployed.  I plan on making an interior "strongback" that will fit across the stern
 saloon bulkhead to reinforce the double sliding doors and windows.  This will be through bolted in place when conditions merit (which I hope is never).
 
Did I make the right choice?  I don't know, I am not an expert, I'm just trying to make the best decisions.  I often lust after a larger boat but I soon realize that with a relatively small passagemaker the equipment (like a drag device) is smaller and easier to handle, the equipment is much less expensive, and a crew of two can handle just about any situation that might arise - except maybe fatigue.
 
I haven't practiced with the Fiorentino drogue yet, but I will.  I am interested to see how this will work out.  I also intend to try deploying the drogue off the bow, just to see what happens.  Maybe I can talk Ken Williams into helping me with these tests ;-)
 
Patrick
Willard 40PH
ALOHA
La Paz, MX