What are the "best practices" for preventing chafe? Where should the attachment point(s) be? When should a drogue or sea anchor be attached to the bow, and when to the stern? Is there an acceptable way for a boat without sails to heave-to? ============================================== I partial reply to your questions. A sea anchor should be set two wave lengths from the boat, i.e. on a several hundred foot rode and in such a way as the anchor and the boat are as close to "in phase" in the crest and base of the wave as possible. If this is not done, the rode takes VERY large swings in loading and the chafe problem is severe. I have a Nordhavn power boat; I would not set a stern anchor because waves crashing over the stern are much more hazardous for me - with an aft cockpit, and no storm plates on the aft window - than large waves over the fore deck which is much better protected. I have not used my sea anchor, but if I do it will always be set through a foredeck chock and attached to both cleats, and with the attachment point about 6' to port (in the northern hemisphere) so that the boat will tend to take the seas over the port bow. (Starboard preferred in the southern hemisphere because of the rotational direction of the storm). Attaching an adjustable bridle line to the stern to allow the boat to be adjusted is a good idea, but not easy to do in a storm. Good and safe boating John Harris