Does anybody have a gouge on how to make a fabric sea anchor, by any chance? I know of one available commercially --- think it's Boulter that makes one --- but was hoping there might be some home made specs out there on the list. Seems like a reasonable winter project, and an interesting toy to add to the deck clutter. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I seem to remember seeing a short, well-illustrated article in sea kayaker relating how to put together a drogue though I can't give you a more specific issue number since I'm hard at work here....;^) mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 08:23 AM 12/10/98 -0500, you wrote: > Does anybody have a gouge on how to make a fabric sea anchor, by any > chance? I know of one available commercially --- think it's Boulter > that makes one --- but was hoping there might be some home made specs > out there on the list. Seems like a reasonable winter project, and an > interesting toy to add to the deck clutter. > > Jack Martin > Jack, I have been away for a few days, but located my reference on these: it's a book by Earl R. Hinz called Understanding Sea Anchors & Drogues, Cornell Maritime Press, 1987, ISBN 0-87033-375-5 I got my copy from the used book section at the local chart and nav book store. This is written by and for bluewater sailors, so the dimensions are mostly larger than we would use for sea kayaks, but the fundamentals are well covered, and there is enough sea lore and description of real experiences to keep it interesting. With some adaptations you can probably come up with some designs to try for sea kayaking. One significant difference may be the water depth and wave characteristics in use. For sea kayaking most (not necessarily all) use would likely be in water shallow enough that the waves are steepening and forces related to the sea floor come into play. Previous sea kayakers who have used and mentioned sea anchors include Steph Dutton in Sea Kayaker magazine, Hans Lindeman (Alone at Sea), and Arthur Hebert in his crossing of the Gulf of Mexico. My impression is that adept use of these things can be a real challenge, but the payoff could be major when they are needed. Not for the dabbler, they appear to require thorough understanding as well as much learning and practice before actually needed. That may be part of the reason why they have mixed reviews even from experienced bluewater sailors. The expensive Driftstopper by Boulter of the Earth has some innovative rigging, deployment and deck storage features that are well worth looking at. I would also caution that stresses transferred to the deck in use could be potentially damaging, depending on conditions. I think this is an intensely interesting subject and would like to know how it works for you. Cheers, John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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