Do you carry a drogue?

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to move from upper helm to lower ('cos it kept bloody raining),

[/ QUOTE ]That's why I got rid of our last flybridge boat and instead bought an aft cabin model with single helm under removeable cover. Now my family boat with me, instead of me wearing oil skins atop in all weather on my own. Flybridges are for the med not the British Isles climate.

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It struck me that if we lost drive mid channel, which is a real possibility if both props picked up some rope

[/ QUOTE ]Fitting rope cutters to both shafts is a great help. I wouldn't cruise withing 4m of our coast without them during the drift net season.
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we would have to wait maybe 2 or 3 hrs for help, and in that time it could get really uncomfortable, potentially even dangerous if we got sea sick and disorientated.

The answer I think is to use a drogue to keep the boat bow into wind, but I've never thought about carrying one, does anyone else?

[/ QUOTE ]Yes great idea, and yes we do carry one a) for safety in senariou you describe, and b) for comfort when drifing (eg lunch mid passage, fishing off boat). You need a bridle for use on the bow, and what's this about rudder strain - no such thing. Pulling up the hook is easy compared to hauling the drogue back in. careful not to foul the props.
 
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Ever thought about getting a boat with a mast, sails and a keel..........???


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Is that one of those things where you hang the bed sheets out to dry
 
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Oh, so you've got around to your fourth post on the most influencial boat forum on the web and already know all the answeres. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]I had to intention of offending anybody, but the number of posts here or anywhere else for that matter, bears no relationship to boating experience, nor lurking capacity for that matter /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif And no I don't have all the answers but can only relate our own direct experiences - not theory
 
Byron probably posted his first post on a boating forum (compuserve) probably not much more than 10-12 years ago

Didn't mean he was an inexperienced boater

no wonder newbies complain about cliques! (even though there aren't any online cliques here)
 
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Oh, so you've got around to your fourth post on the most influencial boat forum on the web and already know all the answeres. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

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A bit harsh on the fella I think
after all you were a newbie once
btw must send chq for a bargee soon
 
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not a great fan of a drogue on the bows cause it can put enormous strain on your rudders. - snip - A parachute is designed to stop the boat and thus eliminate the problem of strain on the rudders - snip -

[/ QUOTE ] /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif OK sorry big rudder a different issue on a sail boat. On a fast motor boat they are tiny and strong as as ox.
 
While I agree that it is less of a problem in a power boat, due to reduced size, this can still be a problem,

still if you already have the drogue in the water, it is not too much of an effort to move it to the stern to use as a temporary rudder /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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btw must send chq for a bargee soon



[/ QUOTE ] Blimey! I was only going to go for a flag thingie but if Haydn is doing bargees as well the posibilities are almost endless. Are you going for an onion bargee, or an inland waterways version? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
You've gone from "it can put enormous strain on your rudders" to "While I agree that it is less of a problem in a power boat, due to reduced size, this can still be a problem"

Can you explain to me in non boaty words how a drogue on the bow can 'strain' your rudder? To my mind a drogue on the bow would bring you bow into the wind/tide and exact similar effects on your rudder as going slow ahead on engines.

A number of people have asked you to explain this.
 
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That's why I got rid of our last flybridge boat and instead bought an aft cabin model with single helm under removeable cover. Now my family boat with me, instead of me wearing oil skins atop in all weather on my own. Flybridges are for the med not the British Isles climate

[/ QUOTE ] Couldn't agree more. As a dyed-in-the-wool flybridge man who would never helm from inside, I eventually bit the bullet and succumbed to an aft-cabin/canopy boat and its transformed my boating enjoyment. If good weather is assured, you can always take the canopy down and although I still miss that 360 degree visibility when berthing I wouldn't change back.
 
I did actually explain it earlier, but will do so again in simpler language.

A drogue is only designed to control the speed of a boat not stop it, The actual speed under a drogue will of course depend on size of drogue, windage of the boat and windspeed, but can still be as much as hull speed.

If the drogue is attached to the bow, then the boat will be going stern first at several knots. whilst hydraulic steering will help to control the rudder and keep it straight ahead (or should it really be straight astern as you are going backwards), there is always a chance that the strain will allow the wheel to spin and rudder to slam over to full lock. this can be with sufficient force to break components, but of course depends on speed of boat and strength of components.

Does that help?
 
As previously said the rudders on a planing pleasure MoBo are too small to be of any great concern (and as another has said they may not even have rudders).

However, in addition, most planing pleasure MoBos are very vulnerable when restrained stern on to heavy seas.

John
 
Ships_Cat I was wondering that, but thought I had better let Talbot's plain English explanation suffice.

A MOBO presents a flat surface to stern sea but a sailey thing often has a nice slope for the sea to go under. I think I would prefer to hove to on a drogue on the bow, than one on the stern even though I am sure that most MOBO's on shaft's are more than strong enough to resist a bit of 'pressure' on their rudders.
 
Some info on use of a sea anchor or drogue (same thing)

web page

There is also a sizing chart in the FAQ section

web page

They are fairly cheap, seem quite strightforward to use, and stow easily, so I'm going to get one just on the off chance I need it. This place seems cheapest to buy one:

web page
 
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