Experiences of drogues: Shark or Galerider?

[skippeer]

In May/June will we continue our journey from La Rochelle to Algarve and I would like to be prepared for the unwanted...

I am looking for an emergency steering solution in case of steering damage after collosion with something below the water surface or as the result of an attac by Orcas. Also when being towed a drogue could make a big difference.

I know that some blue water sailors claims that you can use 10 m of 9 mm chain after 30 m of rope or some car tires after a rope after the stern but I prefere to buy a drogue which seem easier to handle.
2 YouTube videos convinced me to look for a drogue; one is a solosailor who used a drogue to sail 1 000 Nm (sy Triteia) and another video showing all the efforts by a couple sailing around 150 Nm with an emergency rudder that broke several times before they reached a safe harbour (sy Hilma)

On my short list do I have 2 drogues:
* Fiorentino Shark, medium
* Galerider, 30 x 36 inch

I have not found any web shop with delivery of the Galerider outside US states,
Shark drogue can be delivered to countries in Europe.

I would love to learn from others, anyone able to share experiences?

SHARK


GALERIDER

 

[KevinV]

Sensible idea, but out of interest, is there any data on orca's reactions to (expensive) drogues?

 

[geem]

You will be mainly coastal sailing. I wouldn't bother. Lots of boats been towed into harbour on that passage recently!

 

[thinwater]

For coastal sailing, emergency steering, this is all you need. You don't need the bridle, only the steering lines. For steering you should only need your bower anchor and 1-2 fenders. I've tested it. It's been proven across oceans, though for that a commercial drogue has advantages. You can rig it in 10 minutes (with practice--always practice before you need it).

 

[Wansworth]

What about a Viking style steerboard

 

[srm]

I carry two ex-liferaft drogues for just in case situations along with a Jordan series drogue should things ever get very serious.
Have only used one of the liferaft drogues on one occasion, to slow the boat down in strong following winds as I did not want to get to a tide gate early and have wind against tide.

 

[roaringgirl]

We suffered rudder failure between Tonga and Fiji in 2008 in an in old Beneteau (not mine). We tried all sorts of solutions, including trailing a spinnaker pole as a makeshift rudder. It could be used to steer, but to change the 'rudder' angle required adjusting 2 winches, which made it a slow process. The Beneteau's underwater profile was such that without the rudder, in the ocean swell, it needed constant course correction, which just wasn't possible when winches had to be adjusted to steer. I expect trailing a drogue would be a similar story.

On my boat (Maxi 120, long keel, fin and skeg) there's a lot more directional stability and trailing a drogue to maintain a course might be possible. I haven't tested it because we have a spare rudder in the form of a Hydrovane - which is awesome as an autopilot too.

 

[Roberto]

You might try a homemade version of the Galerider, quite easy but needs a lot of sewing thread


Next summer little job for alternate emergency steering will be on the lines of this system, I intend to try with two sections of windsurf mast profile.

 

[srm]

Success or otherwise of jury rigged steering devices depends on the underwater profile of the hull. As @roaringgirl said if the hull has inherent directional stability without the rudder blade you have a reasonable chance. However a flat bottom and narrow fin keel relies on the rudder blade for its directional stability, just like the feathers on a dart or arrow. If the rudder has a skeg that will help you. Take away a spade rudder and chances of maintaining control other than down wind with a drag astern are minimal. Or, as I discovered by experience after loosing one, give it too small an area and chances of maintaining control are very iffy as waves, sails or angle of heel with a wide transom can quickly overpower the rudder.

A boat came into our marina a few years ago and was lifted out to investigate a steering difficulty after an Atlantic crossing. The semi balanced rudder was sheered off in line with the bottom of the partial skeg. The skipper was unaware that he had lost around half of his rudder area.

 

[thinwater]

Also, remember that steering under sail is NOT requited for coastal sailors (the OP). Just use the engine, in which case a drogue will work on any heading. In fact, in most cases this is the smarter stratagy, since it is easier to control. Drogue steering is pretty stable with any hull plan, because the drag is well aft of the boat, like feathers on a dart.

 

[roaringgirl]

Steering under engine still required very frequent course corrections when we lost our rudder; which meant the drogue-angle being controlled by the sheet winches wasn't adequate

 

[Pete7]

No experience of this, but thought Heya''s use of the pole floating it behind the yacht was interesting and it worked for them.

Jury Steering

 

[thinwater]

Steering under engine still required very frequent course corrections when we lost our rudder; which meant the drogue-angle being controlled by the sheet winches wasn't adequate

Passage, agree, coastal, just a little laborious, like hand steering on a challenging day.

Another advantage of drogue steering for costal emergencies, is that with practice one person can rig it in minutes in significant waves. MUCH easier than rigging an emergency rudder. Considering that the most likely immediate problem will be staying off a lee shore, this is a major factor; drop sail, rig it, deploy, and motor out far enough for safety. Then perfect your rigging and maybe try a balanced sail rig in addition.

 

[roaringgirl]

We had steering (not rudder) failure last year between the Galapagos and Marques. Furling the foresail and keeping the main and mizzen up kept our course steady at about 50° off the wind while we fixed the problem.

Different boats behave differently and require different solutions. Maybe a drogue will work for you. I'll stick with the Hydrovane.

 

[srm]

Different boats behave differently and require different solutions. Maybe a drogue will work for you. I'll stick with the Hydrovane.

Narrow beam pre IOR design with keel hung rudder many years ago. Also lost steering linkage in irregular seas off the south end of Shetland. Not Hydrovane but original Windpilot with auxiliary rudder. Reduced sail a bit and crew hand steered with auxiliary rudder for about an hour while linkage was re attached. A directionally stable hull, great offshore but difficult in tight spaces. On that boat with wind forward of the beam we could have trimmed sails and kept pretty close to the required course without the auxiliary rudder. Off the wind a liferaft drogue would probably have given sufficient control.

 

[thinwater]

We had steering (not rudder) failure last year between the Galapagos and Marques. Furling the foresail and keeping the main and mizzen up kept our course steady at about 50° off the wind while we fixed the problem.

Different boats behave differently and require different solutions. Maybe a drogue will work for you. I'll stick with the Hydrovane.

Very, very few coastal boats have a Hydrovane, nor would they install one. Good idea for voyaging, great solution, but not for the OP. The OP has about one chance in 10,000 of ever needing emergency steering, and then for just a short distance. Autopilot is certainly electronic.

The jury drogue suggestion was for the OP and anyone else who might need a jury solution and does not have (or probably even want) wind gear.

 

[thinwater]

Also, remember that steering under sail is NOT requited for coastal sailors (the OP). Just use the engine, in which case a drogue will work on any heading. In fact, in most cases this is the smarter stratagy, since it is easier to control. Drogue steering is pretty stable with any hull plan, because the drag is well aft of the boat, like feathers on a dart.

You only adjust one of the winches to steer, once the course is generally established.

 

[Roberto]

Narrow beam pre IOR design with keel hung rudder many years ago. Also lost steering linkage in irregular seas off the south end of Shetland. Not Hydrovane but original Windpilot with auxiliary rudder. Reduced sail a bit and crew hand steered with auxiliary rudder for about an hour while linkage was re attached. A directionally stable hull, great offshore but difficult in tight spaces. On that boat with wind forward of the beam we could have trimmed sails and kept pretty close to the required course without the auxiliary rudder. Off the wind a liferaft drogue would probably have given sufficient control.

It may also happen with good IOR designs: I have a nice Peterson hull with a Windpilot (just pendulum, not auxiliary rudder), once I noticed the boat was making slightly wider oscillations port/starboard but still keeping a good average course, it continued like that during a few hours until we got closer to destination, when I pulled the pendulum up I found the underwater blade was missing. The main rudder of course was still there but free to move and with no input from the WP, still the boat kept a very reasonable course.
I reckon sail trimming plays a very important role in directional stability, even more without a rudder, and using a wind steering system usually teaches a lot about sail trim to get a stable course.

 

[Refueler]

I carry two ex-liferaft drogues for just in case situations along with a Jordan series drogue should things ever get very serious.
Have only used one of the liferaft drogues on one occasion, to slow the boat down in strong following winds as I did not want to get to a tide gate early and have wind against tide.

Sea Anchors ... best thing ever for this.

To OP ... all you need do is create unequal drag to one side .... anything from a washboard to a bucket thrown over one side (DON'T try holding the rope !! - make it fast and slack via a loose turn on a cleat !) ... it may not turn you quick - but it works.

The bucket is best with a reasonable size hole in the bottom - making it into a sea anchor ...

 

[roaringgirl]

Very, very few coastal boats have a Hydrovane, nor would they install one. Good idea for voyaging, great solution, but not for the OP. The OP has about one chance in 10,000 of ever needing emergency steering, and then for just a short distance. Autopilot is certainly electronic.

The jury drogue suggestion was for the OP and anyone else who might need a jury solution and does not have (or probably even want) wind gear.

Mobile phone and a seastart membership then