I don't currently have a series drogue. I've spent the last year reading up on them and following users' stories and it's on the list for next season but since I don't have any first-hand experience using one, take whatever I say with an appropriate grain of salt...
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobmcgov
Thanks, SD. I'm still turning over design ides for a trip line to ease retrieval, one that would not compromise safety or performance. Best I've come up with so far is to string the cones on continuous perimeter webbing, while the braided central line runs thru all the cones, through the apex hole, unattached. Something like this:
[Image removed because I can't link it as a new member. See page one for poster's diagram.]
When deployed, the force is carried entirely by the webbing, which is attached to a bridle. After the storm, you could winch in the center line; a trip ball on the end would collapse & invert the cones as it is winched toward the boat; you should be able to get the entire series mostly to your transom and lift it aboard as an untangled mass.
To be sorted out: Making sure it doesn't twist (perhaps occasional swivels?). Providing adequate shock absorption. Keeping the center line slack, but not too slack, during use.
|
The best retrieval technique for a series drogue I've heard so far is running a line to a turning block at the bow and back to a genoa winch. This allows you to haul in a boat-length at a time. Deck obstructions may require that you place your block elsewhere (like at the mast in Dog's case.) That said, I respect anyone with the drive to make a good thing better.
I see a few issues with your design. First, by not attaching the trip line to the center of each cone, only the last cone would be inverted when you haul in on it. The line would simply slip through the holes in the center of your cones and they would stay fully inflated. I also agree that you would have issue with the system twisting, collapsing cones, and reduced effectiveness.
-----
On another note, I was a bit surprised to see how heated this discussion got at times.
I guess that makes sense. This debate tends to get heated, not because we're having an engineering discussion about the best way to add drag and slow a boat in nasty weather. It's heated because we're talking about how to protect what is (in many cases) our largest asset, but more importantly, how to protect our families who may be frozen in terror below deck looking to us to carry them safely through this storm of biblical proportions. It's natural that this is an emotionally charged discussion.
It sometimes seems (on this forum and others) as if there's the drogue srowd and the chute crowd and never shall they meet. It's almost as bad sometimes as the mono- versus multi- debates. I'm reading stuff many people are arguing as if carrying both a drogue and a chute aboard is unthinkable.
It is not unheard of for blue water cruisers to carry up to four anchors (main, spare, kedge, storm). If we habitually carry more than one type of anchor to cope with variations in sea floor or anchoring tasks, why not carry more than one drag device to deal with variations in sea state?
As Val so poignantly reminded us, situations differ, boats differ, storms differ, and the priorities of the sailor differ. I sail with my wife and children aboard. I would never dream of taking my children deep into blue water with only one technique and one tool to deal with a storm. I'm also a believer in redundancy when it comes to life-and-death gear.
A chute and a drogue are two seperate things that accomplish a similar task, but comparing the two is a bit like comparing a screwdriver and a hammer. Both a hammer and a screwdriver are tools used to attach two objects together, but they both accomplish their tasks in a very different way. More importantly, a hammer is much better in some situations whereas a screwdriver is more appropriate in others.
A chute is great at stopping drift to as low as 1 knot for an evening of rest or an afternoon of fishing. It has been used very successfully to enhance a hove-to defense to a gale. Drogues are great at increasing drag when running off to reduce surfing. The series drogue induces enough progressive drag that you can't really run off in a traditional sense, rather you can go bare pole while maintaining a stern-to attitude. The key to this is the progressive nature of the drag. You will not get slack in the line that provides an opportunity to broach. The constant drag on the stern keeps you perpendicular to the waves. The progressive loading and unloading on a series drogue also means that the peak loads are significantly lower than on a chute system for the same storm.
I am thoroughly convinced that either a series drogue or a chute are acceptable for weathering most gales. Both would be safe and offer reasonable comfort.
I am equally convinced that, for a truly epic storm, I'd bet my life on the series drogue. In a storm of that magnitude the shock loads on a chute and associated gear would be tremendous. Best case, it would be incredibly uncomfortable, meaning the crew isn't resting and therefore less capable. Worst case, the line snaps, whipping back on deck and seriously injuring someone, deck hardware breaks off, or structural damage occurs depending on where the weak link in the system is. It is also important to get the placement of the chute correct in the relation to the wavelength for proper function. (As if we don't have enough to worry about at that moment.) Given that a chute is difficult (if not impossible) to recover in a full and worsening gale, a solid argument can be made that switching to a JSD is not an option, therefore it is likely best to start with one in the first place when used as a storm survival tool.
I will admit that the vast majority of storms experienced by recreational sailors aren't of that magnitude and consequently. Frankly, most sailors will never experience a storm like that. Either tool would work the vast majority of the time. It's up to each sailor to do their own risk assessment and consider things like the likelihood of that event and the cost in life and property, then pick what makes sense to him/her.
I get it that more gear means more weight and less space for other things. I fight with the storage issue constantly as well. When my wife insisted that we back-up the 4-man hard canister life raft with hydrostatic release that was stored in its cradle on deck with a valise-packed unit in a locker in case the deck was swept clean, I grumbled, rolled my eyes, and tried to reassure her that we'd be fine just like most of you all probably are while you're reading this. However, if my wife isn't satisfied that we're prepared for the worst mother nature can throw at us and the children will be safe, then we're not going sailing. Long story short... after much staring into lockers and scratching my chin, I found a way.
My point is not to preach safety to a level that is ridiculous to the vast majority of sailors. My point is that each of us has a different set of concerns and priorities. If I was racing I'd make very different decisions. Once my kids are off on their own, we'll definitely lighten up on the safety gear. My point is that the assumption that it isn't an attractive or valid option for anyone to carry both a drogue and a chute because carrying both adds one more bag of bulky gear is just plain not true for everyone. In fact, for some people, having a variety of tools and tactics at their disposal to deal with tough situations has a lot of value.
So for me and my family, I guess I'm back to some more chin scratching and staring into lockers to find a place for a series drogue. I'm sold.
Wow... this started off as just a few notes on a someone's modified series drogue design and suddenly I'm writing a novel. I appreciate anyone that actually read all of this! Cheers!
Connect with Facebook
The best drouge by far!
