Para-Anchor Questions

Bridling

Multihulls

All Multihulls must use a bridle to both hulls (abase). Each leg should be a minimum of two and a half times the beam of the boat. The overall scope of rode, including the bridle length, should be about 11 to 12 times the LOA or longer. the bridle legs must be attached to both hulls.

Warning – Some catamarans have a centrally located anchor roller situated midbeam on the weakest part of the boat – the aluminum crossbar that supports the trampoline. On these boats, leading one of the bridle legs there must never happen. It is not braced like a mast and attaching to it can lead to failure of the crossbar, capsize, and loss of life. We learned this because someone did just such an attachment (against the instruction manual) which lead to failure of the crossbar, capsize, and unfortunately, loss of life. See page 10 of the Spherachutes Anchor Instructions.

Attaching Bridle Legs

Note – Make sure cleats or pad eyes have substantial backing plates. If you are cleating off the bridle legs, you must use substantial chafe protection, be prepared to check for chafe often and let some rode out if experiencing chafe.

You can shackle the bridles to the hulls using thimbled rode ends and shackles. This eliminates the need for chafe gear provided the bridle legs are not rubbing on any part of the boat.

You can use snatch blocks on one or both bows as fairleads routing the bridle legs (make sure they are long enough to reach) back to solid connection points (cleats, etc.). One bridle leg could be fixed, or both adjustable, which will allow you to change the angle on the bow for a more comfortable ride. Be aware of chafe between the snatch blocks and the connection points and check for it often.

Bridle Junction

There are two ways of assembling the bridle/main rode junction:

  1. Thimbles in the ends of each bridle leg and the end of the main rode. Make sure you use one shackle on each bridle leg. Do not attach all three thimbled ends to one shackle as the thimbled ends will bind against each other. This setup allows flexibility in that you have three ropes to work with if you need them for other uses.
  2. Thimble in the end of the main rode and a "Y" bridle which is attached to the main rode with one shackle. This type of bridle is best made with single braid rope, as it can be threaded through itself and cannot separate.

Direct Spliced Bridle

This is a main rode/bridle as one unit. The main rode goes from the Sea Anchor to the boat and one bridle leg is spliced into the rode at the bridle leg length from the boat. Imagine a huge dock loop which has been cut in two. Again, this type of bridle setup is best made with single braid rope.

Monohulls

In their book "Storm Tactics," Lin and Larry Pardey advocate the use of a bridle to hold the boat in a hove-to attitude for greater stability and ride comfort. We believe that securing the boat at some angle to the weather can make a difference in how the boat rides and the degree of comfort.

Use of Chain

With Sea Anchors

We recommend the use of some chain between the Sea Anchor and the boat, the best place being at the boat for chaff protection.

Chain At the Sea Anchor

If you are planning on cleating the main rode to your boat (with substantial chafe protection), using a short length of chain at the Sea Anchor can aid deployment. Chain at the Sea Anchor helps keep the Sea Anchor down. During slack cycles, the chain allows the Sea Anchor to swing down and reduce the slack in the rode.

Mid-Scope Chain

Although our instruction manual illustrates chain mid-scope, input from the field (to the Drag Device Database by Victor Shane) suggests it does not have the effect we had believed. One report we received tells of a 40' sloop in a hurricane with 200' of rode, 40' of chain with a 45-pound CQR mid-chain, and then another 200' of rode. The report is that the rode and chain were straight and the anchor was thrashing about the chain. Placing chain mid-scope is the busiest place, requiring thimbles in the rode ends and shackles to join the chain to the rode. For these reasons, we tend to lean away from mid-scope chain.

Chain at the Boat

This is where chain can provide the most benefit. It prevents the rode from chafing through (which is our biggest concern). You can let out a few feet in moderate conditions to well over 100' in severe conditions.

There are a few things you need to be aware of:

  • Remove the anchor from the end of the chain – if you are unable to remove the anchor you must use a short length of chain as a "standoff" to keep the anchor flukes away from the rode because an anchor which is thrashing about could chafe through the rode with its flukes.
  • The chain MUST be snubbed to the deck cleats to off load the windlass.
  • Once you are set on the Sea Anchor, it is virtually impossible to adjust the amount of chain which is out so you must determine the sea conditions and let out the appropriate amount when the Sea Anchor is initially set.

The downside to using chain at the boat is that the chain can do damage to the chocks, bow roller, etc. But, we believe the tradeoff of not having to be concerned with the rode's chafing through is worth the possible damage.

Chain/Rode Connections

We are not in favor of spliced chain/rode connections. We prefer thimbles in the ends of the rode and shackling the ends to the chain. This is a little problematic as the "weak link" is often the size of the shackle screw pin. A shackle with a screw pin, which will fit through the chain link, may often be weaker than the chain and the rode. The proper size shackle may have a screw pin which is too large to fit through the chain link.

It is important that the strength of all components be as close as possible to matching. One way to get past this is to use the proper-sized bow shackle attached to the rode and attaching that shackle to the chain via a Titanium "D" Shackle. This is a little busier but the bow shackle can be attached to the rode and moused, leaving just the titanium shackle to be attached to the chain.

Chain & Drogues

It is well-established that the use of a length (10 to 15 feet) of chain between a drogue and the rode will help keep the drogue down and improve its performance.

Rode

We have always advocated nylon rode for use with Spherachues Anchors due to its ability to stretch and absorb energy. Recommended sizes are in the Spherachutes Anchor Instructions and are based on feedback to the Drag Device Database by Victor Shane. You can use a larger size than recommended but you should not go smaller. Always buy the best rope you can possibly afford. Remember, your life may depend on it!

Main Types of Rope

3-Strand Twisted: This is by far the most common type of rope construction and the least expensive as virtually everyone makes it. The downside is that some manufacturers use the cheapest yarn to keep the price competitive. The worst part of 3-strand is that it has a tendency to twist or unlay when under load. This twisting and untwisting has been known to generate heat, which weakens the rope. Also, this twisting and untwisting makes the rope an unruly mess when you try to stow it after it has been loaded as it wants to twist, knot and hackle. Note: a good swivel can absorb some of these torsional loads during slack cycles.

Double Braid: This is also a very common construction and generally a little stronger than 3-strand twisted. It does not twist when under load, but has less stretch due to its construction. Having inner and outer components the two parts can generate friction between them which can weaken the rode. It is generally more expensive than 3-strand twisted. If the core (inner section) herniates, or bulges outside the outer part, the rope must be discarded or the damaged part cut out and the ends re-spliced.

Single Braid: This is the least common construction, but we believe it is the best construction for use with Sea Anchors. It does not twist under load or generate heat during load and unload cycles and has good stretch characteristics. It is usually the most expensive rope you can buy.

Nylon Yarn: Over the years, we have learned that there is a significant difference in the various types of nylon yarn used to make rope. Ropes made from Type 6-6 yarn are far superior to ropes made from Type 6 yarn both in their elasticity and their resistance to ultraviolet degradation. Ask your rope supplier what yarn their rope is made from – do not tell them what you are seeking – make them tell you what it is made from. Otherwise, they will just say it's made from the yarn you want. Spherachutes only supplies single braid rope made from Type 6-6 yarn.

Rode Length

For severe storms, we recommend 10 to 15 times the LOA. For overnight layovers in moderate conditions, very short rodes have been used; however, it is extremely important that if you use a short tether, you pay particular attention to the "Hazards of Wave Particle Rotation" section in the Sea Anchor instruction book.

3 Lengths – Short, Intermediate, & Storm

Short: A short rode is one which is within 1/3 of a wave phase. If the distance between crests is 100', then a short rode would be about 33' or less. There is little chance of enough energy buildup to break the rode or damage the Sea Anchor. The rode should be no longer than this 1/3 wave phase. This length is commonly used for drift fishing in light to moderate conditions and fairly flat seas. This distance is more critical in seas where there is a definite running swell, as you can easily get into the intermediate length requirement.

Intermediate: Rode length of 35' to 300'. Within this range of rode length, it is critical that the boat and Sea Anchor be "in phase" – both are on the crest and in the trough at the same time. If not in phase, the boat and Sea Anchor will converge (move towards one another), creating slack in the rode and then diverge (move away from one another). When they diverge, they are accelerating away from one another and when the slack is taken out of the rode something has to give. If the rode is long enough (storm length), it should have sufficient stretch to absorb the energy of this acceleration.

If the rode is not long enough any one of the following can occur – the Sea Anchor blows a panel (preferred occurrence as the Sea Anchor will still work), the rode will break or a cleat will fail (you lose your hold on the sea). This length is generally used on overnight layovers and when fishing. It is the most critical rode length to use. Again, pay particular attention to the "Hazards of Wave Particle Rotation" section of the instruction manual.

Storm: In severe storms, there are three main reasons for the 10 to 15 times LOA length:

  1. There is so much tension on the rode that constantly adjusting the length to be in phase with the waves is practically impossible.
  2. In a severe storm, the seas will be confused with irregular swells and the long rode length will tend to mitigate the effects of being out of phase.
  3. The long length of nylon rode provides for some give or shock absorption in the system, which leads to less stress on the Sea Anchor, rode, and attachment hardware.

Trip Lines

Trip Lines

There are many opinions with respect to the use of trip lines to recover Sea Anchors. Some prefer to use a full trip line, which comes all the way back to the boat. These users are usually fishermen who use their Sea Anchors as a tool for overnight layovers and persons who actively use their Sea Anchor.

Some prefer to not use any trip line at all, usually with smaller Sea Anchors. Still others prefer a "partial" trip line, which floats free and must be motored up to recover the Sea Anchor.

A trip line is a line attached to a Spherachutes Anchor as an extension of the float line (which is an integral part of the Sea Anchor and goes from the apex [top center] of the Sea Anchor to the surface). A float (usually a large fender, referred to as the primary float) is attached to the float line and this float controls the maximum depth the Sea Anchor is allowed to go.

Note that when under load, the Sea Anchor will ride virtually at the surface. During recovery, when the Sea Anchor is unloaded, it hangs like a jellyfish by the float and Float Line. Without the float on the end of the float line, the Sea Anchor could hang upside down in an open position. This is very dangerous, as the Sea Anchor can literally pull the bow under if allowed to open in this attitude.

Partial Trip Lines

We recommend the use of at least 20' (preferably 50 to 100') of 1/4" to 3/8" polypropylene line for a partial trip line. You should attach something that floats to the end of the trip line. This allows you to fetch up on the trip line and still be away from the Sea Anchor. The 20' minimum is there so that when you get to the trip line, you are lifting a limp line onto the deck from the waterline. This has to do with leverage.

Without a trip line you will be lifting the float and float line, with everything hanging below it, from the waterline to the deck. A trip line allows you to get the line on deck before any lifting is done. Partial trip lines are easier to deploy, but recovery requires motoring up to the trip line in order to recover the Sea Anchor, which can be challenging in somewhat turbulent conditions.

Full Trip Lines

A full trip line goes from the primary float all the way back to the boat. Use of a full trip line makes recovery very easy. You take all the slack out of the trip line, cleat it off, then let out the main rode which will automatically "trip" the Sea Anchor. It's then a simple matter of pulling in the Sea Anchor by the trip line. It does take a little more care in deploying a Sea Anchor with a full trip line.

Some of the early pioneers of Sea Anchor use, John and Joan Casanova, used a full trip line for 18 years while cruising on two different multihulls and deploying their parachute Sea Anchor in storms of every description with no difficulty.

If not using a trip line, the common practice is to literally pull the boat to the Sea Anchor. With 6' and 9' Sea Anchors it is usually not that difficult, but with larger Sea Anchors (and thus larger boats), it becomes increasingly more difficult and you risk equipment (rode, cleat, etc.) failure when the Sea Anchor and boat get out of phase with respect to wave particle rotation (see Hazards Of Wave Particle Rotation in the Spherachutes Anchor instructions).

Being Taken Under Tow

If you are laying on a Sea Anchor because your boat is disabled and you are about to be towed, a trip line will make being taken under tow far safer. You can direct the tow boat to the trip line. They will be upwind of you and several hundred feet away, virtually eliminating any chance of collision. They would pull the trip line on board, followed by the Sea Anchor and the rode, cleat the rode and take you under tow. If you are using a full trip line, attach a float to the end and toss it over for them to fetch up on.

Spherachutes Trip Lines

Our partial trip lines are 100' polypropylene lines in their own stow/deployment bags with integral float. The bags are red for visibility and can be used as a heaving line if needed. They are also available in longer lengths but 100' is adequate. Our Full trip lines are 1/4" Nylon (to stretch as the rode stretches during wave cycles). They come in their own stow bag. Length is determined by Sea Anchor size and rode length.

Surplus Parachutes as Sea Anchors

When we started in the Sea Anchor business, the only "Sea Anchors" we sold were government surplus 24' and 28' personnel parachutes which we set up for use as Sea Anchors. These parachutes performed adequately, but over time we found their durability to be poor. Our first customers were the local sport fishermen who used them mainly for overnight layovers and wore them out regularly, sometimes as often as twice a season. Durability, cost, and availability lead us to make our own parachutes specifically for use as Sea Anchors.

Occasionally we are asked about surplus parachutes for use as a Sea Anchor. There are many different parachutes out there and we are familiar with very few. This is not to say that none of them are usable as a Sea Anchor. If we are not familiar with a particular one we are asked about, we won't offer an opinion as to its suitability. If it is sent to us, we can evaluate it and offer our opinion. Many parachutes can be altered for use as a Sea Anchor but the main question is durability. We have no objection to setting up a surplus parachute as a Sea Anchor but we will not be responsible for the structural integrity of any particular parachute. The parachute may hold enough water to hold your boat but not be durable enough to endure the duration of a storm.

Warning

Please be mindful of counterfeit Para-Tech Sea Anchors. If you need help with validation, please reach out.

"Spinning" Sea Anchors

  1. "Spinning" Sea Anchors: We have heard stories of the float line and trip line becoming twisted together and tangling, supposedly because the Sea Anchor was "spinning" in the water. While surplus parachutes are built in a way that can lead to rotation, Spherachutes Anchors are manufactured in a way that any rotation is built out and underwater video of a Spherachutes Anchor being towed has shown there is no rotation.
  2. Float Line and Trip Line Twisted Together: There have been reports of the float line and trip line becoming twisted together. While this has been credited to the Sea Anchor "spinning," our observation is that the primary float is the culprit. All three items (float line, trip line, and primary float) join at the same point and there is no tension on the trip line. Surface action on the primary float causes it to spin around and, with no tension on the trip line, the trip line gets wound around the float line. Our solution is to attach a small swivel to the end of the float line. The trip line is attached to the same side of the swivel as the float line. The primary float is attached to the free side of the swivel, separating its motion from the float line/trip line.
  3. Deployment Bag caught in Lines: On Spherachutes Anchors there is a ring attached to the float line about two feet from the apex of the Sea Anchor. This ring holds the bag well below the surface and out of the wave crest.

Strengths Versus Loads & Holding Power

We often hear comments referring to the strain on the rode when tethered to a Sea Anchor in severe weather. These comments all have the same thing in common – the strain on the rode is huge. But just how high is the strain? We believe the strains appear to be higher than they really are. Why?

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Put a 1,000 pound load on a 10,000 pound tensile strength rope and the rope will appear to be very close to breaking. In reality, it is loaded to only 10% of its strength.

Commercial fishermen have used surplus 24-foot and 28-foot parachutes for years. We know from our own tug testing that the 24-foot parachutes will fail at a load of 4,000 pounds. Call it 5,000 pounds for a 28-foot. Those fishing boats are in the 50 to 60 foot range displacing from 45,000 to 85,000 pounds. Database File S/P-2 is from a 65-foot, 85,000 pounds F/V on a 28-foot parachute in 18-foot seas and 45-55 Kt. winds. The loads could not have been 5,000 pounds or the parachute would have failed (see #3 below). Another boat – 50' LOA and 70,000 pounds regularly used 1/2" rode (7,000 pounds of tensile strength) with a 28-foot (5,000 pounds) parachute.

From wind load charts in various publications a 60-foot power boat in 42 Kt. Winds generates 4,000 pounds of pull and 8,000 pounds of pull in 60 Kt. Winds Assuming these numbers are accurate and adding anything at all for wave forces then the 28-foot parachute in S/P-2 should have failed in 55-knot winds but it didn't

Equivalent Spherachutes Anchors are two to four times the overall strength of surplus parachutes. Spherachutes system recommendations are based on the premise that the Sea Anchor is the "weak link," and when extreme stresses are experienced (like a wave breaking over the wheel house of a fishing boat) the Sea Anchor will blow a panel to relieve the stress, but still hold the boat when a surplus parachute would fail totally.