Sea Anchors Online

A sea anchor (also known as a drift anchor, drift sock, para anchor, or boat brake) is a device that allows a sailor to stop his vessel from drifting (when not underway). It functions similarly to a traditional anchor, except that instead of securing the vessel to the seabed, it deploys like an underwater parachute, functioning as a brake and slowing or even stopping drift. Many a small vessel has been credited with being saved by sea anchors in harsh situations. Many lighter displacement yachts do not respond well to being hove-to in strong weather and large seas, and even when they do, the crew on a small boat that is being tossed around violently may quickly become weary.

Running with the storm is an option, but a shorthanded crew may grow exhausted soon. This option also presupposes that the ship has enough storm sails and sea room to accomplish this. It's pointless to run onto a beach - or, even worse, a rocky headland! The sea anchor is often made of parachute-shaped heavy-duty nylon material. A 40-foot yacht's average sea anchor is expected to be little more than 15 feet broad. The rode and lines will be strong enough to withstand the breaking stresses probable in a severe wind or storm, and the edges will be strengthened with heavy grade webbing.

Sea anchors should be deployed from their own bag (unless instructions specify differently), as this reduces the risk of the anchor filling with air and becoming a spinnaker! In gale-force winds, this is not something you want to be dealing with. When correctly deployed and secured to sufficiently durable strong points, a sturdy sea anchor should keep the vessel pointed into the prevailing wind and sea, making it stable and properly aligned to take the worst that life has to offer. Make sure to inspect for any chafing sites and protect them appropriately. It's always preferable to conduct a test deployment in favourable weather to iron out any kinks before using this kit for the first time in a F7 with 55 kts of wind approaching!

Once the worst has gone and you've taken advantage of the break in sailing to get some much-needed rest, you may retrieve the sea anchor (with the help of the attached tripping line) and store it safely for another day. As you stow it, make sure it doesn't become wrapped around the keel or propellor, and inspect it for damage. Finally, a sea anchor differs from a drogue in that a drogue is a conical or funnel-shaped item connected to the stern of a boat to reduce speed and increase stability when sailing. A sea anchor, on the other hand, is used when the ship is not in motion to prevent drift and keep the ship's head facing the wind.

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Order Your Sea Anchors Online Today

Stay in complete control of your boat by choosing from the best sea anchors on the market. For a wide range of sea anchors, shop online to find the finishing touches for your recreational boat today.