What materials could be used to construct an emergency sea anchor?

The construction of an emergency sea anchor is crucial for managing a vessel's drift in rough waters or during emergencies. The materials chosen must provide sufficient drag and stability in the water.

Boat buckets or an air tank filled with water can effectively create drag when deployed as a sea anchor. When a bucket or tank is filled with water, it can capture water effectively, increasing its drag against the current, allowing it to stabilize the vessel and help maintain its position in challenging conditions. This method is practical and uses commonly available materials that can be readily found on board most vessels.

While options like plastic bags and ropes might provide some drag, they are not as effective or reliable as the weight and shape of a bucket or tank. Wooden planks and nails would not create the required underwater profile to slow a drifting vessel, and metal sheets and weights could be cumbersome and difficult to deploy quickly in an emergency situation, thereby delaying the effectiveness when quick action is needed.

Using a boat bucket or an air tank filled with water ensures a functional and efficient emergency sea anchor that can help control a vessel's drift in a safe and practical manner.