Hi Mark, I have made a home-made sea achor that works pretty well - if not perfect - I'll do it better next time! I started by using a home made drag chute (which I had made for my little model airplane winch) that I attached to a ring (some toy that you've supposed to throw like frisbee). At the top of the ring I attached a little float of styrofoam, or EPP, and at the bottom of the ring I attached a little weight (a huge washer), so that it would sink propperly when launched. The problem is that the chute is a little bigger than the ring, so it isn't a perfect fit (see photo - taken today so the chute a little wrinkled: http://foldingkayaks.org/gallery/album07/P7042347 The drag chute I had made from ripstop nylon, four triangular pieces with their tops cut of, so that the chute in reality was a pyramid with the top cut off. The top must be open or you'll have an unstable design! Kite shops sometimes sell small drag chutes to be used with parafoils! A four-line bridle I used, but a three-line would work as well - I reused the one that I had made for winch use (no plastic ring then, as in the air it opens very well by itself, not that easy in water!). Photo of it on the rear deck, folded: http://foldingkayaks.org/gallery/album07/close_up_bilge_pump_hose Another possibility would be a defunct umbrella - save the fabric, make a big centre hole, and adjust the size to the ring you find! I'll change the ring in a few days time, to one properly sized - using a similar toy called Aerobie Pro - bought in the kite shop in Seattle! Tord S Eriksson, Sweden *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jul 04 2007 - 03:02:36 PDT
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