If it became necessary to change strategy from a parachute to a drogue or vice versa, I was prepared so that deploying them wouldn´t be an ordeal. When I headed offshore, I had the chutes, drogues, and all associated gear pulled out and ready to hook up and deploy before I set sail. If I needed it, I would pull the gear out of my salon, assemble it in the cockpit and rapidly deploy it.
Deploying a parachute was easy because I already had a bridle attached to my bow before I headed offshore. Deploying a drogue was easy because I was in a catamaran with port and starboard winches in the back of the boat and setting the drogue was quick and easy.
The ease of deployment depends a great deal on preparation and how you have set up your system. For us, all the components were available and ready to go. All I needed to do was assemble the components with shackles and seizing wire.
Schematic drawing of my parachute sea anchor deck chain plates
Some people have requested a schematic drawing of my parachute sea anchor deck chainplates that I had fabricated in Whangarei, New Zealand. The chainplates were made of stainless steel flat bar, and the bail was made of stainless steel rod. The rod was bent into a round shape and then welded down the sides of the chainplate. The dimensions of the stainless steel flat bar are as follows.
The flat bar on the deck as approximately 24 inches x 4 inches x 6 mm thick.
The flat bar backing plate under the deck was approximately 20 inches x 4 inches x 6mm thick.
The parachute sea anchor chainplates are definitely overkill, but they are a fool proof, chafe free way to attach a parachute sea anchor bridle on our catamaran. They will never pull out of the deck with the four large bolts going to the large backing plates.
Reprinted with permission of - David Abbott, http://Maxingout.com
Storm Management for Cruisers Part 1
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