Hi

New to boat fishing today and bought a Wychwood Adjusta in advance. We managed to set the thing out ok about 15' from the boat but it didn't seem to slow us greatly, it also seemed to have a mind of its own moving, on some occasions, from 90 degrees to the boat to 0 and back! We were fishing in very windy conditions and had a rough day, only taking fish when anchored. A very humbling experience.

I've not been able to find any info on how to use this style of drogue properly (all 4 corners have ropes going to a central swivel which then has an 8m cord to attach boat-side) and I've also noticed that Wychwood seem to have discontinued the model, bought from a tackle shop whose owner didn't know much about them, selling, as he said, maybe one every two years!

Anyway. Have I bought a duffer? Is there a specific way to use it to get best results? It was clipped to a tensioned cord wrapped around a boat seat which was fairly central.

Also, can I modify it if it's a bad design? There seems to be loads of info around about drogues which use two ropes, which seems to be the preferred set-up - to which points would I attach the ropes if I were to go for such a mod?

Any help would be greatly appreciated - please keep as simple as possible!

Many thanks in advance

Had this ajusta drogue worked fine for me. Just get a g clamp so u can move the anchor point along the side of the boat to find the point of balance of the boat ie start to drift in a straighter line- assuming u still using one anchor rope here. Just experiment, but the best place is often 2 ft past the row lock towards the back of the boat. In heavy winds have the drogue as far away from the boat as possible. (within reason 5-7 meters.). The close the drogue is to the boat the more swing effect you will get. Strong winds are always a nightware with drogues.

Two anchor points are favoured more by anglers as you can drive the boat parrel and the drogue collapses allowing you to go to a new fishing spot quickely then having to pull in a single roped drogue. Hence probably why they no longer make them just guessing here. Yours is easily converted by the way to a duel anchor point drogue just cut the ajusta attachement and create 2 loops to tie onto.

Many thanks IceJohn, I'll have a go using your advice

I often had trouble with them tangling up ,so i purchased one from Cabellas,it had a built in strip of lead,and a built in strip of foam on the opposite end ,just a matter of throwing it out and it will open no trouble.Also there is a blue line to pull in that collapes the drogue and easy to pull in.

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Ant
Converting your drogue is simple.
First go to B&Q and get yourself 30 feet of their "Red soft 5/6 mm cord" (much kinder on the hands than the existing thin cord - throw that away) and two 8 mm "D shackles" along with 2 small G cramps (big enough to clamp the red cord to the twart of a boat)

Now cut your existing drogue cords at the swivel - take any two - lay the ends together and tie a loop in them. Do the same with the remaining two cords.

Cut the red cord in the middle - giving two 15' lengths. Melt the cord ends with a swift wave over a gas flame (stops them unravelling) Knot one end of each cord in a loop.

Join the looped end of your red cord - and the loop of 2 drogue cords with one of the D shackles - repeat with the other 2 drogue cords and the other red cord.

Mark (with black permanent marker) the boat end of your red cord every one foot for six feet.

Now when you throw your drogue over the side of your boat, having secured the other ends of the red cords to the thwarts with the G cramps - one at the bow and one at the stern - the D shackles will quickly sink - forcing the drogue to open - adjust the "set" of the drogue, to make the boat drift square to the wind and not crabbing sideways, by pulling in (gently) and re-securing the bow (pointy end) cord one or more "marks" shorter until you acheive a straight drift.
The number of marks shorter, may vary, dependant on solo or two up - the amount of tackle onboard, size and weight of outboard (or non) and the type of boat - experiment till you get it right for that particular boat and the weight carried. Just remember the number of marks for future trips.
You can (with some experiance) motor the boat away with the drogue still in the water. It will collapse and move to the rear of the boat - be careful not to turn the boat so that the drogue is "eaten" by the prop turn the other way
To remove the drogue when required - pull on one red cord only - and your drogue will collapse easily.

HTH ..... Tony

Or you could just buy a properly made one !

I've done the things for long years of pain and I sell mine complete with all the necessary and tapes you don't have to replace .

But what do I know !

Best wishes

Steve P