suspension line length for a 12’ Bourd Type sea anchor?

[windseabob]

Does anyone have the suspension line length for a 12’ Bourd Type sea anchor? I got a good deal on a parachute from military surplus shop—but someone cut off the lines. So—I am splicing some new ones on. I did find a number on a skydiving hobbist website that said 1.5 times the diameter—which would be 18 feet. I thought that seemed long. Thanks for the help!!

[Brion Toss]

Hi there,
Your skydiving connection is using a good rule of thumb. The idea is that 1.5 times the diameter gives you an acceptable angle to the load, without too much chute-collapsing lateral component. This will also apply for you, but for your application wave length is a further consideration, so you'll want enough rode to get the chute one wavelength away. That way you'll avoid shock load and no-load moments.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss