Sea Anchors / Drift Socks

foxer · 09-11-2005, 03:38 PM

What size for a 20ft boat? How long of rope?

Silver Hilton · 09-11-2005, 06:12 PM

I use two 18" on about 8 foot of rope for a 19' boat.

Bluto · 09-11-2005, 06:46 PM

My 20ft was a jet and found it easier to use a single drift sock (But I can see where having two smaller ones might work better with an outboard). I used the Cabela's "Advanced Angler Pro" series (XL-44"). Worked great - never a problem pulling it in & always kept the boat straight. It is also big enough for use as a sea anchor if ever needed.

FishinMission · 09-11-2005, 07:05 PM

Get ones with the pull string that allows you to pull them in from the back end first. Way easier when you're in a hurry.

Mark

StinkyH · 09-11-2005, 07:32 PM

I've got two of the second largest(large?) 32" from FMO for my 20' NR Sportster (jet). Sometimes I wish I went with the larger ones since I don't have as much of a V to keep me straight with the current.

Add some floats as well.

To my brother while anchoring I said - "throw out that sea anchor" (not knowing he took it off the cleat previously)

He throws it off the back of the boat and then said, "Okay, what now?"

*anchor floats for a few seconds and then sinks about 20' back*

I picked up a few floats when I picked up the replacement anchor.

I wish I woulda cut the ropes about 1-2' longer - helps them stay a little deeper in the water and grab a little more current.

StinkyH

Gundog · 09-11-2005, 08:01 PM

I have one large sea anchor I used in the ocean on my old boat. I now use it on my NR seahawk but I would like to get a pair of smaller ones. I am not sure what size I need for anchoring. Any sugestions my boat is a deep V. Fishermans has them on sale right now but they are out of all but the small size so I got a rain check for a pair of large and extra large I am not sure of the diameter I am only going to buy one size but I am not sure which to get anyone know.
Mike

otisdog · 09-12-2005, 03:25 AM

I'm ghetto. I found a five gallon bucket w/holes drilled in it works fine :grin:

Shaker-King · 09-12-2005, 05:24 AM

We have a 20' deep V with a top that stays up all the time. For normal conditions we have two large socks that we use most of the time. If the wind is making us feel like a sailing ship we have "Bertha" a drift anchor we got at Boaters World. It is a 36" drift anchor. Don't be mistaken by the size, they don't measure the same way. The measurement is the diameter of the mouth Vs the length.

The last time we used Bertha was at Astoria in 3' wind waves. As soon as I pulled Bertha to leave the wind pushed us past our ball in a matter of moments.

Pete · 09-12-2005, 05:54 AM

I like multiple socks. I have two 18 inchers. Depending on wind and adjacent boats, I may put one at each corner, or I may put only one or both on the same side. If I had a third, I'd get a really large one for those low-flow days when the wind is blowing the wrong direction.

WaterDog · 09-12-2005, 08:16 AM

The bigger the better. I bought 2 36" sea anchors the other night and what a difference! I've had some 18" ones for a long time but with a hard top and the wind blowing up from the stearn the 36"er was the key to staying on anchor longer besides staying straight.

foxer · 09-12-2005, 12:25 PM

So what is the consensus on rope length? I have an outboard on a bracket. Eight feet seems kinda long though. Although I'm a newbie at this anchor fishing thing. Thanks for all of this info!

WaterDog · 09-12-2005, 12:51 PM

You need as much line as it will take to keep the sock in the water and stay filled. I actually hang mine from a mid ship and the sock will be even with the stern. I do this instead of the rear corner because the one on the kicker side will get hung up in the kicker. I see a lot of rope lengths I the 3 to5 range.

And as mentioned if you get a large sock, you will need to pull in from the rear of the sock.

wwjetboater · 09-12-2005, 01:06 PM

If you can wait until January a lot of upholstery shops sell them at the boat show for about $8 to $10 each. I think they use scrap material from boat tops. Until then use an old bucket with holes drilled in it. Most inportant dont forget the float I lost 2 to the fish gods before I wised up.

foxer · 09-12-2005, 02:35 PM

Thanks for all of the help. Just picked up two of the "large" sizes at Fishermans in OC. Gundog, the OC store had several of the large and x larges left.

Sablefish · 09-12-2005, 10:00 PM

hey guys, check out e-bay under "anchors" some pretty functional ones at a really decent price.

BCF · 09-13-2005, 03:14 AM

Quote:

I've got two of the second largest(large?) 32" from FMO for my 20' NR Sportster (jet). Sometimes I wish I went with the larger ones since I don't have as much of a V to keep me straight with the current.

Add some floats as well.

To my brother while anchoring I said - "throw out that sea anchor" (not knowing he took it off the cleat previously)

He throws it off the back of the boat and then said, "Okay, what now?"

*anchor floats for a few seconds and then sinks about 20' back*

I picked up a few floats when I picked up the replacement anchor.

I wish I woulda cut the ropes about 1-2' longer - helps them stay a little deeper in the water and grab a little more current.

StinkyH

All good advice, I add a brass swievel at the point of attachment on the sea anchor to keep it from twisting up the bag lines. You can also then use the same rope for different size bags.

BCF out