Series Drogue

[holmek]

I've just read a whole research project on Drogues and it seems the most effective is a "Series Drogue" that suggests 90,- (yes, 90! )5inch dia cones on a looong string. Anybody had any experience with that idea? I just imagine a coil of little cones neglected in the lazarette for years, paint and oil spilt and hardened, flattened into unpliable rigidity, then thrown over the side in that unwelcome storm and expected to open up into perfect little collective, well- - - drogues. Opinions?

[Bash]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...hor-42662.html

[Healer52]

Originally Posted by holmek

I've just read a whole research project on Drogues and it seems the most effective is a "Series Drogue" that suggests 90,- (yes, 90! )5inch dia cones on a looong string. Anybody had any experience with that idea? I just imagine a coil of little cones neglected in the lazarette for years, paint and oil spilt and hardened, flattened into unpliable rigidity, then thrown over the side in that unwelcome storm and expected to open up into perfect little collective, well- - - drogues. Opinions?

Store the coil in a bag, and keep it handy: You just might need it.

[maxingout]

Contrary to conventional wisdom, I made my Jordan style series drogue using 9 oz sailcloth for the cones rather than lightweight nylon. Those cones are not going to self-destruct in a storm. I chose the 9 oz dacron because that is what I had on hand to repair sails. Since I never needed to repair sails with that new dacron by the time I reached New Zealand, I decided to use it for my series drogue. It's all neatly stowed in a sailbag ready for use.

[Healer52]

Originally Posted by maxingout

Contrary to conventional wisdom, I made my Jordan style series drogue using 9 oz sailcloth for the cones rather than lightweight nylon. Those cones are not going to self-destruct in a storm. I chose the 9 oz dacron because that is what I had on hand to repair sails. Since I never needed to repair sails with that new dacron by the time I reached New Zealand, I decided to use it for my series drogue. It's all neatly stowed in a sailbag ready for use.

I'm usually of the mind that if something needs to be built, it's worth overbuilding...Especially safety equipment. However, is there any evidence of a normally constructed Jordan drogue self-destructing?

[sabray]

I left a pail of questionable anchor chain in a bucket in the yard. It moved passed questionable and now is waste. Once it was good gear it suffered years of use then neglect and now it is hopless that it will perform it's task.
Leave anything unchecked abused unused used to well it will find it's moment of failure. Wether a para anchor or drogue. Any thing dudapating energy at the moment iof need is good and I thinks a well checked drogue quite fine.

[svcambria]

Yup, you gotta take some care with your equipment. I believe, however, that temporary or infrequent failure of the little cones in the Jordan drogue is acceptable, which is why there are so many. And Sailrite, which makes a kit, advertises that their cones can go through your winch - pretty tough...

[mikereed100]

We are putting together a Sailrite kit and I am surprised at the beefiness of the cones. I was expecting nylon spinnaker cloth but they are fairly substatial Dacron (4oz?). I can't imagine a cone failing. I usually store paint cans and oil on top of my parachute anchor so the drogue should be safe.

Mike

[svcambria]

I usually store paint cans and oil on top of my parachute anchor so the drogue should be safe.

Gotta be careful with those drogues... ;-)