drift speed?

[Tony_N]

I was interested to see the thread a few days ago about para anchors. I can't imagine how it is that they don't get in the way of fishing.

Anyway, it raised a question in my head about what speed of drift encouraged people to throw these things overboard. I know that this is an intuitive thing and if your baits are not getting down then its time to slow the boat down - But for discussions sake, roughly what speed might that be? 3kts? 4?

While on the topic of current/drift speed when is it too fast to safely put an anchor down - lets say in a 5.8 or 6m glass boat?

[NeilD]

Sea anchors don't slow your drift if there is no wind as you still drift with the current. I like to use them if there is a bit of breeze about. The speed of drift isn't an issue when deciding if you are going to use one. It is the size and direction of the seas if you are running it off a stern cleat. The sea anchor can be used to hold the bow into the wind in the case of motor problems and in these conditions I have used one in 35knts.

Neil

[Sportfish_5]

Tony - the higher quality sea anchors (para etc) are trailed far enough from the boat to not get in the way of bottom dropping (3-4m+). They are easily retreived via a second rope attached to a bouy on the top of the shute which is just what you do if you nail a good size fish that wants to run. As Neil mentioned they will do nothing to slow your drift if there is no wind and swell/wind direction as well as prevailing sea conditions and boat size will dictate whether they are used from the stern or bow.

If you want a good one then you need to pay the extra $$ for the parachute type set up as the cheap Lanzas ones are a waste of time for fishing purposes.

Cheers

Greg