ChrisO wrote:
Couple-O-points to y'all:
No matter where you attach the drogue/sea anchor etc to, it should have a quick release just like you have on a rescue vest or tow belt.
A 300 lb rating for 650 paracord is within range given for that type of cord. Keep in mind that this value is for the bare cord, splices and knots will weaken it!
A 300 lb rating for 15 cones sounds reasonable too, giving you a factor of safety between 2.0 (for 10 lb cone load) to 4.0 ( for a more credible 5 lb per cone). See figure 6 in USCG report for wave generated loading on cones.
Tethering yourself to kayak, paddle leashes etc.: Controversial. The risk is entanglement during a wet exit, especially in wild and wooly conditions! I used to tether my paddle with a coiled paddle leash to the kayak, until told emphatically not to by local sea kayakers. My leg did get mildly snagged once. But many top British sea kayakers feel that you SHOULD use a paddle leash...
Yep, I am on the fence on this since I would like to only have to worry about hanging onto the kayak, not kayak and paddle. However, I would stick to coiled tethers/leashes. In the end it is a trade off.
Definitely carry a rescue knife on you! What if your heavily laden kayak starts to sink?
Chris O.
I tether to the kayak via the PFD quick release and I carry the knife on the PFD, just in case I need to cut a line. I tether the paddle to the life line and I tether everything I have on the deck. Sometimes lots of things. Imagine several cases and bags attached to the deck. And that is controversial too, but I paddle only on multi-day trips and I need my food and toys.
I pay attention to the weather and I try to put on when the weather is friendly. I do not rely on a roll because it is close to impossible to roll with my set-up and if I capsize and need a wet exit the only way to get back in will be sideways... somehow...

or swim with the yak back to shore... most probably.
Everything on the yak, on the deck and under is waterproof and has positive buoyancy. After a capsize, the yak should stay afloat, or in the worst case scenario, all the tethered stuff should float around the boat. Potential entanglement? Absolutely! I am fully aware of that.
Putting in and raising the sail while still in the breaking surf kept both my hands full and the paddle followed the kayak only because it was tethered. The tethered paddle helped at quick landings too. Usually I throw the paddle away from the yak and extricate myself from the cockpit to cushion the landing and protect the yak from potential impact. Is that the proper thing to do? Probably not... but that's how I do things.
Please understand that I respect all the opinions based on experience and I have a lot of admiration and respect for those who are on the water all the time. I am not here to contradict what was established as proper practice and I don't encourage anybody to follow my procedure. I just feel comfortable with what I am doing and I always learn from (my) mistakes...

I apologize to the OP for drifting slightly OT... I may need a larger drogue...

Cheers