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Parachute Anchors, Para-Anchor, Sea Anchor

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by brian eiland, Apr 28, 2009.

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  1. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Parachute Anchors, Para-Anchor, Sea Anchor

    I have been for a long time an advocate for the parachute type sea anchor, deployed from the bow of the vessel, for use as the ultimate survivability tool in really extreme sea conditions:
    ....from a posting of mine quite awhile ago…
    “Storm survivability should be considered at the design stage for any vessel making offshore passages. It's generally acknowledged that this is best accomplished by facing into a truly strong storm (a big headsea). As mechanical things go, its not hard to imagine some lost of power at a most inopportune time during an extended storm. This could put the solely powered vessel in a perilous position in short order. The motor/sailer and in particular one with our ketch style rig would have several sail configurations which would hold her into the wind. However, I would strongly recommend installing a dedicated sea anchor system that not only takes care of you in those extreme heavy weather situations, but can be utilized in a variety of other less threatening conditions. With a backup sea anchor system aboard, I would ride out a hurricane in this vessel.”

    This conclusion on my part was reached was as a result of 3 occasions of actual experiences at sea in storms, but never with a sea anchor onboard. It was following these experiences, and upon reading of others’ experiences with heavy weather tactics that I ran across one of the original books dedicated to the subject, “The Parachute Anchoring System” by John & Joan Casanova, Victor Shane, Daniel Shewmon. I also reviewed Victor’s original “Drag Device Data Base”. These books, and others on heavy weather sailing, combined with my previous practical experiences convinced me that in the ultimate situation the ‘anchor-at-sea’ approach was the best approach as long as it could be attained.

    To quote Victor Shane;
    “Every form of warfare involves a defense as well as an offense. There are times when the mariner can fight the elements and, with good seamanship, prevail. But there are also times when he must, in all wisdom, cease all offense and place his vessel in a defensive mode. Going with Mother Nature, and trying to keep up with Mother Nature are two different things!”

    In a similar vein I wrote about a fight with the sea, “Heavy boats carry their momentum into each trough and crest in a battle with the sea, while relatively lt-weight boats with slender hulls slice through with less battering. "You can out-think the ocean, but you can't out-slug the ocean," quoting a sign posted at the U.S. Naval Academy.
  2. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Special Swivel from Colligo Marine

    This little press release was what brought this subject back to mind. you need a GOOD swivel for a parachute anchor system as well as this hurricane application they speak of



    COLLIGO MARINE RECEIVES US PATENT
    FOR HURRICANE ANCHOR SYSTEM
    Helps Keep Boats Anchored Securely – Even In High Winds, Waves

    MESA, ARIZONA (USA) – Colligo Marine has received United States Patent Number 7,516,713 for its unique hurricane anchor system that helps boat owners in the path of storms anchor their vessels securely - even in the highest winds and waves.

    The Colligo system allows for the placement of three anchors on a swivel and three lines back to the boat. The boat can then swivel on the anchors without getting anchor chains and lines twisted around each other. The minimum breaking strength for this heavy-duty system is over 30,000 lbs. It comes complete with galvanized bridle plates, shackles and a swivel. Mono and multi-hull models are available.

    The Colligo Marine hurricane anchor system is distributed by Taylor Made Products as the Storm Surge Anchor System and available at marine retailers across the US. For more information, visit www.colligomarine.com

    Editors Note: a high resolution image of the Colligo hurricane anchor system for publication can be downloaded at www.homeportmarine.com/marcom/colligohas.zip
  3. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Survivability

    This 'sea anchor' subject came up briefly on another subject thread about 4 years ago, and there were some interesting contributions. But this subject is too important to get buried in an old subject thread that is not so titled.

    So have a look HERE for that other material beginning with posting #8

    Survivability

    But in any case, mono or multi, I want a really proper sea anchor (off the bow)installation. By proper I am referring to not only the 'parachute type anchor' itself, but all of the rigging and its non-chaffing attachment as well. I really believe this gear will allow you to get through the worst of a storm and conserve that energy you will need both before and after.
  4. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Brian,

    Well you asked for fresh thinking, how's this for off-the-wall?

    On 3 week long fishing trips, each time we used to use an old fashioned sea anchor at night and to take up some of the 'snatch' out of the rig we used those black rubber 'Donkey Dong' mooring compensators. Not much good.

    How about useing a bit of carbonflex bar as a type of umbrella frame and utilising the meshing weave from a trampoline to create a bit of give and flex in the rig. It should flex and pulse with the power hitting the hull from waves and drag, like a squid in reverse.

    Well I did say it was offthewall.

    I'm sure that won't help but should lead to a few good laughs.
  5. Opcn

    Opcn Senior Member

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    So what you are going for is a diameter that increases with speed thus increasing drag?
  6. Opcn

    Opcn Senior Member

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    I will certainly read those when I have time, for clarities sake I will also add that my last comment was directed towards Fish specifically.
  7. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Thar hurricane that struck Fl recently got me to thinking about this subject again. If I had a big catamaran docked in the Tampa or Naples area what might I have considered doing if I really wanted to try and save it.

    I have in the long ago past thought I might just take it offshore to deeper water and anchor it to the sea,...then ride out the storm there. I had come to these conclusions after reading MANY accounts of vessels that had survived BIG weather while anchored to a sea anchor.

    In this latest storm it could have proven viable to go out in the Gulf and stay in that north-western quadrant of the storm, anchored to the sea, and away from any fixed obstacles.
  8. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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  9. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    with a big cat, crossing the Okeechobee water way to the east coast wasn’t an option but for pretty much every other boat, up to a 7’ draft it was. The US Army Corps of Engineers even extended hours of lock operation to 10PM in the days before the storm. I just can’t comprehend why so many big boats were left at exposed marinas in Ft Myers in the cross hair of a well forecasted near cat 5 hurricanes. All these boat could have easily survived without a scratch just by moving east across the OWW

    another option for bigger boats, including. Large cats with mast too tall for the OWW would have been to move to the panhandle. Weather ahead of Ian was good and Clearwater to Apalachicola is about 140nm. Again, the NHC forecast as early as 4 days ahead clearly shifted east away from the panhandle.

    reminds me of all the large yachts sunk or wrecked in the Simpson Bay lagoon SXM a few years ago when safety was an easy 100nm south
  10. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    Back in the day when we fished overnight 50 to 100 nm offshore in the GOM on a tight budget we would buy condemned parachutes at the Army-Navy store for sea anchors. They worked well when the weather turned rough. For liability reasons they started destroying them and were not available.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    To many kids tried to make para-sails from them. Ker-Plunk!!
  12. bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    Might know someone would try that! :eek:
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Thank goodness it's not available any more.
    To many,, Ker-Plunks..
    Yep, was in the local news in Jax many years ago.
    There is a reason is is not serviceable and not used any more before it was sold as surplus.
  14. boatpoor

    boatpoor Active Member

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    Guilty, and the emergency room visit wasn't cheap. I still have the old parachute but I made sure it isn't useable.
    bayoubud and daydreamer4 like this.
  15. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Poorpoor but covered in old silk..
    It was great to survive our stupid human tricks..
    I could be 2" taller if not for my "hold my beer" antics..
    :D:D
    chesapeake46 and bayoubud like this.