Question re drogues

[Rutlander]

Under CEFF rules, can a drogue be attached to the boat with two G-Clamps in order that it collapses when the boat is powered back upwind at the end of the drift?

[Charlie]

I believe so and was fishing with a team member last week, who fishes a lot of comps, and did exactly that.

Charlie

[Rutlander]

Thanks Charlie.

[Sewinbasher]

I've fished in a number of trials and an inter-team competition and in all cases we've used a Paradrogue attached in this way and had no problems with the regs.

[Rutlander]

Thanks sewinbasher, that's put my mind at ease.

[jan]

does anyone elses paradrogue dive to the bottom at every opportunity - i never had problems with a plain drogue but the para keeps diving down and snagging the bottom - the stronger the wind, the deeper it goes - its unweighted and the legs seem to be the same length

[Chris]

How long are the ropes Jan?

They do seem to go deeper than a standard drogue but I would think that is either intentional as a cause to slow you down, or maybe an effect of being slower.

I've heard of a fair few drogues being snagged up in Rutland.

Rope length may be an issue though?

Chris

[Rutlander]

I haven't had that problem since changing the original thin grgeen cord for shorter lengths of polypropylene rope. The length of the ropes from the end of each webbing 'arm' to each G clamp is little more than the span of the drogue + the length of one webbing arm. The intention being to get the drogue to fold flat when the boat is under power.
I do remember that with the original thin green cord (which there seemed to be miles of) it did used to work really deep.

[jan]

i shortened the ropes to about eight feet for just the reason that you mention - i can just motor away and the drogue folds up and i can tow it along - i am often drifting shallow water 5-8 feet and it is continually snagging on the rocks, which can be dangerous - it seems to glide down at about 60° - the only solution seems to be to trip it every time it starts going deep then you have to wait for it to set again - pain in the bottom. its a shame as the ability to steam away is dead handy when you are drifting on to a lee shore - you can fish the drift right out - i might try sewing some trawl floats onto the top.

[tackletart]

Im struggling to get used to my para drogue.

I dont use G clamps but have seen them used. How far apart should the G clamps be?

Presumably when you motor away the distance between the cords is differant so it collapses?

Do you leave the drouge out (taking care not to snag the engine or bring it in as soon as it collapses?

What is the differance using polyprop rope over the green cord ?

On my old drogue I put a lead weight to get it down quick, I also used metal swivels where the webbing joined the drogue, to stop tangles and to get it down quicker, anyone done this on a para ?

Richard Tackletart

[Rutlander]

Richard - I'm no expert but I'll try and tell you what works for me. A G-Clamp is positioned roughly behind each angler (assuming there are two in the boat) and the correct position needed to ensure a broadside drift determined by trial and error. This generally isn't too difficult and a couple of slight moves of one clamp should sort things out - the clamps don't need to be positioned with a slide rule, if they're in roughly the right positions the boat will drift at right angles to the drogue. One thing to watch out for though is the angle of the outboard, it has the effect of a rudder and can affect the angle of the drift. You'll get closest to a drift at 90 degrees to the wind by pointing the outboard handle (think tiller) in the direction you want to drift.
As mentioned above, the ropes are the same length "The length of the ropes from the end of each webbing 'arm' to each G clamp is little more than the span of the drogue + the length of one webbing arm." I can't think of a better way to describe it but if you need it more accurately I'll measure the exact lengths/dimensions on my Paradrogue when I get home tonight.
In answer to your other questions. The idea is that you can leave the drogue out when under power as providing the length of the cords is right, it will collapse. And as for the question of changing the standard cord for 6mm blue polypropylene rope: it floats and it's easy to untangle. I haven't found the need to use swivels, I've considered it but decided that while it might look really neat, it would be an unneccessary complication.
Incidentally, while traditional screw-type G clamps work superbly, you can also employ spring loaded clamps like these - www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=102092&ts=38891&id=73319 - while really speeds up the operation and saves weight in your tackle bag.
Hope this helps.

[vivaecosse]

glad someone else brought this up,i was just thinking the same thing,usually have the drouge oot the traditional way,but its a pain in the erchie squeezing oot one more cast on the drift,haulin in the drouge startin the engine..lol organized chaos usually..lol

would appreciate someone advising on the length of rope required from the webbing strap to the G clamps as said on the previouse post,cheers

regards,pete

[Rutlander]

The rope, from the end of the webbing (attached with a half blood knot locked with a large cable tie trimmed off) to the end of the loop that's slipped over the G clamp is 483cm or 15'10" in old money. I've actually left some spare 'above' these loops in case I ever needed to attach the drogue at one fixed point in the middle of the boat but I'm going to trim that off now.

[jan]

i just have carbineers on the end of my ropes, clip them on to the gunwhale or around seats etc. the drogue stays out whilst steaming - mine are only 10 feet from drogue to end of the ropes, but its a small dinghy.

[Rutlander]

The reason I left my cords so long was for use on the boats at Rutland Water. They also work fine on Eyebrook and Pitsford boats at that length. I tried what looked right and settled for that. However, I am quite prepared to concede that the ropes don't need to be that long, I will try shortening them on my next trip.