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feelsgood · 20-10-2013, 06:14

Hi All, I have been speaking to a chap that has a Jordan Series Drogue and was having problems getting it back on board after it had been deployed. After a chat and a glass of wine we decided to go out for a sail in moderate winds about a F7 and try a method I came up with. I will try to explain the principal. The gear you will need is a 2 gallon ribber bucket, a pieceof roofing lead about 1ft sq and about 10lbsin weight. an 8mm line of the same length as the Drogue including the chain at the end. a Hinge and a very sharp knife.
First cut out a large flap in the bottom of the bucket leaving a good lip of about 2" wide in the bottom. Cut a piece of Ply (12mm) the size of the bucket bottom less 1/2" so it can flap up and down with ease. Attack the lead as a collar about 4" all round the outside of the bucket (pop rivets are the best for this.) Fasten the line to the bucket and the other end to the boat. When paying out the Drogue pass it through the bucket. When you are ready to retrieve the drogue let the bucket down all the way till the chain is in the bucket then pull up the bucket. This turns the little parachutes upside down and makes the recovery really easy. We did this usingone of the winches and recovered 240 parachutes and all the line and the chain in 8 mins without raising a sweat. I If you keep the bucket so the flap is at the top side then the drogue passes out with out a hitch. I hope this is helpful.

**carstenb** · 20-10-2013, 07:12

maybe pics might help

feelsgood · 20-10-2013, 07:18

I am really sorry but we were so interested in what we were doing we didn't take any. If I can work out how to make some drawings and post them I will.

robert sailor · 20-10-2013, 07:20

Interesting concept, nice to see old fashion inventive minds still working well.

feelsgood · 20-10-2013, 07:32

at 66 years old I like to keep the old grey matter straining a bit and really like to help people

**JPA Cate** · 20-10-2013, 07:46

Hi, Feelsgood,

Super idea, and excellent recovery time. I am wondering what size this particular drogue was: what size line, how long the chain, and the rode. Also, was it simple to then load it into it's stowage bag? just sort of flake it down?

Thanks.

Ann

feelsgood · 20-10-2013, 07:57

I am sorry I put some of the info wrong. The line was about 230ft with about 95 cones on it the chain was 8mm S/S chain 2 meters long

feelsgood · 20-10-2013, 08:00

Once you have the drogue back on board you then pull it back through the bucket flaking it back in its box and the chain on top ready to deploy the next time. It took a lot longer to flake the drogue back in the box than to recover it. but as the sea was clamer that wasn't a problem

Stevens 47 · 20-10-2013, 08:11

I would love to see drawings or pictures. Thanks

feelsgood · 20-10-2013, 08:15

As I have said we didn't take pics as we were to interested in the test. I am 66 and the chap who owned the boat was a tad older tho saying that I beleive he is on his way to the USA as we speak. As to a drawing If I can work out how to do a drawing and put it on this site I would be happ to do so