Sew it yourself! Series Drogue Cone Kit – 164 Cones lets you sew your own drogue cones. This cone only kit comes with all the materials to sew 164 drogue cones. Cones come computer plotted and precut and are easy to assemble. 164 Cones are for a boat with a displacement of 50,000 lb.

The Series Drogue was conceived by Don Jordan in collaboration with U.S. Coast Guard researchers after tests showed conventional sea anchors were subject to fatigue. The single large fabric parachute would fill with water and often collapse under the strain generated by the storm waves.

Looking like a parade of jellyfish in single file, the Series Drogue consists of 100 or more 5-inch diameter cones made of nylon sailcloth attached every 20 inches along a length of line. A 15-50 pound anchor at the end of the line keeps the drogue from popping out of the water, a common problem in traditional sea anchors.

The design of the Series Drogue ensures the cones will fill and grab hold of water, keeping the boat properly positioned for the next wave strike (Best Capsize Prevention for Breaking Waves). Proper boat position is “stern to” or running with oncoming waves, lessening the relative speed of the onrushing walls of water. The steadier grip of the Series Drogue ensures that the boat’s fittings are under a more constant load and less likely to get destroyed. In simulated fatigue testing, the drogue was subjected to 15,000 cycles (the equivalent of a giant hurricane) without failure.

Deployment and retrieval from the water is easy and in most cases can be done hand-over-hand. A winch can be used for retrieval in extremely difficult storm conditions (drogues can compress around a winch without damage).

The U.S. Coast Guard development team hopes that boaters will add this easily made and stored device to their boat’s inventory of safety equipment.

Series Drogue Cone Kit—164 Cones Specifications:

• Displacement: 50,000 lb.
  
• Line Length: 121 / 121 / 121 ft.
  
• Line Diameter: 1″, 3/4″, 5/8″
  
• Anchor Weight: 50 lb.

Series Drogue Cone Kit – 164 Cones Includes:

• 164 Precut Series Drogue Cones
  
• 1,312 ft. Black Nylon Tape 3/4″
  
• 2 rolls Seamstick 1/4″ Basting Tape
  
• 3 cones V-46 White UV Polyester Thread
  
• Latch Hook
  
• Series Drogue Kit Instructions

Items required but sold separately include: Nylon double braid line, splicing tool, thimble, bridle, and anchor.

For line, bridle, and anchor specifications and to see a full chart of requirements by boat displacement, refer to the Series Drogue Selection PDF.