just me wrote:
How many here have one or both of these and have actually used them?





Never used one for real in a full storm, but years ago did experiment
to devise tactics & found them all but useless if not outright dangerous.

The boat will still lay beam on almost no matter how big the sea anchor
is; but in the moderate conditions we tested a 32ft yacht, well offshore
it provided a violent snubbing. No wonder books regularly report they
"fail" & probably it's just a well.

Most boats even high wooded motor boats, are safest just left alone to
lie a hull in all but the most extreme conditions & after that to turn &
run is about all that's left; then & only then in my view would a sea
anchor be of some use just to slow you, also the saloon carpet or a sail
laced to the line slightly aft will stop any breaking water reaching you.

K