[sailingdog]

You obviously don't have a clue about how the JSD is supposed to work. Buoying the end of it will effectively stop it from working properly because it will introduce slack into the JSD where the JSD curves up to meet the buoy. Most JSDs are 170'+ long, and are designed to hang almost straight down from the transom of the boat under certain storm conditions, and as the boat gets pushed by the waves, it straightens out and progressively loads up the cones... having a big catenary curve in the JSD will prevent this from working properly. Also, you run the risk of having the JSD foul itself or the buoy line....

Originally Posted by closehauled14

A while back in this thread someone had suggested securing a fender or something to the running end of the jsd for easier retrieval, and was imediately shot down due to defeating the purpose of the equiptment. This, however, can be accomplished if done correctly, and can make retieval fairly easy. Before you deploy the jsd secure an anchor bouy to the end of the jsd via a 50-75ft piece of small diameter cord. If this is done correctly the bouy will not impede the opperation of the jsd. When you are ready to retrieve just secure a fender directly to the bridle if depth requires(optional), and let overboard, circle around to the trailer bouy, secure it, and then retrieve the jsd with minimal backache. Just make sure that you see your trailer bouy before you toss the bridle, unless, of course, you want to make a donation to the locker. I haven't tried this method in "the big stink" as some would say, but I have experimented with it in 40-45kt and 15-18ft seas, and it worked like a champ. As to the question of weather to heave to, lay ahull, run before, chute, or drogue; this is a debate that we could have for forever due to all of the involved variables,but to me all of these are the "upside" of heavy weather because you are alredy conceding that you have the depth and the sea room to do these things. The not so fun and all to often case is everyone's favorite lee shore, or worse, a lee shoal. So, go below, hit the head, and fill your thermos with coffee because, it doesn't matter how you feel about chutes vs drouges because you're about to be beating into it weather you want to or not.