How do you position your boat for the drift?

[Boboe]

The world's largest AFB (by land mass) is right across the bay. We know people

[RiskTaker]

Relentless:

Hopefully the replies answered your questions. But the main reason I said 2 sea anchors is because the one needed for a safety solution is practically too big to be used for fishing.

Try getting your forward lines set out when you have a 15 ft. sea anchor deployed: it is nearly half the length of a boat.

I have not attempted to spin a boat full circle to get the bow pointed to the waves, for fishing purposes. Partly because it seems like most boats are better equipped to set rods in the back then a few foreward. But for big open fish style boats it may not be such a bad idea. (I would like to experiment with this some time.) I was out fishing on the Blue boat with Capt. Ken and Davie one night and we had a roque wave slap the stern pretty good. The boat fill up with a good amount of water, but the scuppers were clear and the water drained out in a few minutes. The seas were nice that night too. Imagine what happens when things get a little nasty: some short period waves with a North wind. If you have no propulsion and no sea achor, your fate will be sealed pretty quick. That boat is filling up and there is nothing you can do about it.

I believe that the long line deployment is to allow a certain amount of shock absorbancy in the line. In big sea weather, boats can move a substantial amount on the waves (You have heard the term, boats riding the waves before. ) The longer line distance also allows the sea anchor to be spaced more than one wave period away from the boat as well. I am not 100% sure on that explanation, so may have to check up on the secondary requirement. But we are talking big seas here, like 15-30 or more, not the little 8-10 footers that usually ruin your swordfishing trips.

Man, I can't wait to see what kind of sailor you will become by the time you are 30. You're going to have everything covered.

[Relentless33]

RT: That is exactly why I ask these questions early on. So that I can know an extremely vast amount of information on not just fish and swords but everything I can on every topic I can(But it has to do with fishing of course because I probably don't care about much else )

[hannaman]

I use the 18 foot Paratech sea anchor when I have to. Most of the time its when the wind is blowing straight out of the east more than 15 knots or from the south more than 10 knots. My boat is 32 foot and fairly heavy around 8000 pounds so this size sea anchor works best for this boat. When deploying the anchor when fishing strategic conditions, first get your spread out then deploy the anchor or else you will have a hard time getting your floats to pass the anchor. I tie mine up about midship a little foward of, off the starbard side which I favor when fishing. This takes getting used to since the waves will bang into the side but you will be able to manage your spread easily and fish your entire spread as on a normal night. If you tie her up on the bow the floats will move left to right because your stern will swing downwind left to right and you really can't manage more than 2 plus 1 tip rod.

The advantage for the anchor is to only slow your wind drift. As an example if your parked on the 50 line and east winds are 20+ knots your drift might blow you inside to the 51 line within 30 minutes and your spread will be useless and basically any size lead will not keep your baits down. If you have the correct size sea anchor deployed, within the same 30 minutes you would barely be on the 50.1 and your lines will all be straight up and down. This also depends on which direction the current is moving which you should monitor before any lines go out. I have been out when its blowing 15 knots from the east and the drift was out. My best nights have been in the rough stuff when I park my boat a bit up or down current of where I need to be, put out the spread and throw the sea anchor. I also keep mine about 20-30 feet away from the boat. I can get my anchor collapsed, in the boat and packed within 30-45 seconds when I have to.

[RiskTaker]

Hey Capt. Cary:

You have a Heavy Donzi, right? 32' . Just in case you happen to be looking for a biger sea anchor, they have one going on eb-ay right now, 8/29 and for the next 4 days.

It is 32' . Hey it even mtches your boat size. The bid is only up to $416.

That should slow down a good size boat.

http://cgi.ebay.com/32-ft-Para-Tech-...QQcmdZViewItem

Yeah, it is a little big. But I would not mind having a 24 footer.

[hannaman]

Thanks RT but thats a bit big. I have had my paratech for about 5 years without any problems. I think that one in particular would be for a huge sailboat.