[PUP] Heavy Weather tactics

[Philip Eslinger]

Ken,

Be careful here.  I had a very similar conversation with Don Jordan  
exactly one year ago and also the people with Ace Sail Makers.   Don  
concluded that because the figures for the 35 ton boat were for a  
sail boat, the series drogue for a similar sized power boat needed to  
be larger.   Flat Earth is a 40 ton boat and my series drogue is  
490'.  I don't remember how many cones it has.   That's 25% larger  
and my boat is less than half the size of yours.   I do think he may  
have gotten  a little carried away in my case, but ask Ace Sail  
Makers if they have the design data for Flat Earth (probably in my  
name).

I hadn't 'broached' this subject before on the list with regard to  
the series drogue, but data indicates that there will never (well  
maybe just seldom) be a wave breaking over the transom into the  
cockpit.   Rather than fighting the waves, the series drogue appears  
to allow the boat to float with them somewhat and waves simply pass  
under the stern.  I probably didn't describe that quite right but  
that is the jist of it.

Deployment for me could not be easier.  The drogue rests in a dock  
box in my cockpit.  I have snaked it into the box so that the two  
ends of the bridle are on the top of the box and also the very end of  
the drogue that carries the weights.  To deploy it all I have to do  
is attach the bridle loops to the cleats on the corners of the boat  
and toss the weighted end over the transom.   The rest of the drogue  
will snake right out of the box.    Retrieval is more complicated and  
time consuming, but I do have a windlass installed in the cockpit to  
help.

Phil Eslinger
Flat Earth N50
Ko Olina, Hi