Small boat sea anchor

Abstract

A sea anchor that is durable, easy to retrieve, pick up, and store, deploys quickly, is always open, and reduces the chances of the cords fouling is disclosed. The sea anchor is useful in controlling the speed and position of watercraft. In one embodiment, the sea anchor includes a link for securing the anchor to watercraft and a rode attached at one end to the link and at the other end to a connector. The connector is also attached to a multitude of funnel cords which are affixed to a durable rigid funnel. In one embodiment the connector is a hollow conical shape with holes for attachment of the rode and funnel cords. The funnel can have tabs adjacent the mouth of the funnel for the connection of the funnel cords and fins around the stem for orientation of the funnel when in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sea anchor comprising:
 a funnel made of a rigid material comprising a mouth, said mouth having a first diameter, a stem, and an opening at the end of the stem, said opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first; and   said funnel having attachment means for attachment to a watercraft.   
     
     
         2 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means includes a rode. 
     
     
         3 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said attachment means includes a connector for affixing said funnel to said rode. 
     
     
         4 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means includes funnel cords. 
     
     
         5 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said attachment means includes a link for affixing said rode to said watercraft. 
     
     
         6 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said sea anchor is attached to said watercraft. 
     
     
         7 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said means for attachment is removable from said watercraft. 
     
     
         8 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said funnel includes tabs protruding inwardly from the edge of said mouth for attachment of funnel cords. 
     
     
         9 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said funnel includes fins protruding outwardly from said stem of said funnel to assist in the alignment of said funnel when deployed in the water. 
     
     
         10 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said funnel includes at least one through-hole defined by the stem of the funnel for the attachment of a second sea anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 10 , wherein a second sea anchor is attached to said through-hole. 
     
     
         12 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a second sea anchor is attached to said funnel. 
     
     
         13 . The sea anchor set forth in  claim 2 , wherein an additional sea anchor is attached to said rode. 
     
     
         14 . A sea anchor comprising:
 a funnel made of a rigid material comprising a mouth, said mouth having a first diameter, a stem, and an opening at the end of the stem, said opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first;   a plurality of funnel cords, attached to said funnel;   a connector, attached to said funnel cords;   a rode, attached to said connector; and   a link, attached to said rode and to a watercraft.   
     
     
         15 . The sea anchor of  claim 14 , wherein a second sea anchor is attached to said funnel. 
     
     
         16 . The sea anchor of  claim 14 , wherein a second sea anchor is attached to said rode.