DIY Drogue

[Dejon Hamann]

Pictures and Description from Robbie Bell:

At the four corners of your 5’x5’ material you need  a loop or one of those Ύ  inch ”rivets” with a Ό inch hole in the middle of it.

Attach a 1 inch shackle to each of those corners.

Make four ropes about 12 feet long of about  3/8 inch diameter polypropylene.
.
At each end of each rope fit a metal swivel spring clip in a matching size to the shackle. (8 in total)

Get two G clamps that will fit on to the gunwales of most boats.
Probably 3 or 4 inch gape.

Drill a Ό inch hole at the heel of the G clamp. (opposite end to the screw)

Fit a 1 inch shackle to this and then clip two ropes to each G clamp with one rope to each corner of the material and you are good to go.

We only used to be allowed one centrally located G clamp and as a hangover from that I have a safety rope fitted to one clamp. This is a dog lead with a karabiner at each end and was used in case the G Clamp jumped off.

With the drogue fixed at each end of the boat you can carefully manoeuvre the boat with the drogue still in the water. However most pre-match briefings state that it must be inboard when  manoeuvring. Pulling on one pair of ropes quickly collapses the drogue and it comes in fast.

A drogue like this seldom tangles, is easy and quick to untangle and sets quickly 95% of the time.

One less hassle which allows you to concentrate on fishing especially on repeated short drifts.

Voila…………

Best Regards

robbie

[Anita Coulton]

What material is the drogue made out of?

[Dejon Hamann]

I think it's actually a "Drogue". I couldn't find anything similar in my local stores.  It's like a waterproof canvas. Thicker then a tent, but as flexible.  And quite honestly after fiddling with a few materials I think it's easier in the long run just to buy the real deal and be done with it.  At least for some of us american weekend loch style hacks    

Wychwood International Para Drogue is the one repeatedly recommended.  Basic cone wind socks from basspro/cabelas will do the job too, but the pivoting is horrible and you can't motor with them in the water.
  

[Jim Frazier]

do those typically have a hole in the middle ? and is the "G" clamp so u can clamp it to the bow for the slow drift approach ?

[Robbie Bell]

Hi There,

That is a Wychwood Drogue that I have adapted.

The material is something like polypropelene but I am not certain.

It is about the weight of Denim and not as thick as canvas.

We had to use the sock type ones in this years Canadian Nationals and whilst we appreciated the effort in supplying them they were no where as good as our own that we used in practise.

The winds were strong mind you.

I would personally avoid any with holes in them.

If you require any more information just ask.

Best Regards

robbie