Re: [Paddlewise] Drogues and Separation from Kayak

In extremely harsh conditions I put a sea anchor securely contained in a
stuff sack on my deck.  I connect my paddle with a bungee to my kayak ahead
of the cockpit.  I use a carabiner to clip my bowline and the main line for
the sea anchor to the release loop on my spray deck.
This has the huge benefit of keeping everything together and an acceptably
small risk of line wrap.  In several intentional trials in rough conditions
(wind 30 - 40 Knots, variable with seas 3 - 4 feet breaking lightly 50%) I
experienced no line entanglements.  The biggest hassle was the paddle
bungee which sometimes ends up over rather than under the kayak.  Not a
major problem, just roll the kayak the other way.
Deploying the sea anchor stabilizes the kayak into the wind (and thus
usually the waves) and makes re-entry much easier.
I've made my sea anchor out of an old military flare parachute.  It's about
three feet in diameter.  The commercial units I sampled were not large
enough to be useful, nor were they easily packed away.  This one packs into
a small stuff sack complete with all lines and a canopy float.

Jim


.........................................................

"Any activity which is not grounded in "to learn", or "to love" is a waste
of time"
		...Anne Rice


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