>> George's comments about towing are good. The reverse of this (one boat towing many boats) is the method used by yacht clubs to tow small sailboats. Whether they are towed in after a storm or just no wind this method (each boat tying on to a single tow rope) reduces the strain on the boats and eliminates the inevitable banging together that happens with a fan tow. They use tow ropes with lops spliced into them for the purpose. It also reduces the strain on the first boat. I once saw a bow fitting ripped out of the first boat in a multiple boat tow when they were tied end to end. The method used for tying on was a slip knot that could be quickly popped loose if a boat capsized or otherwise came to grief. One doesn't want to be fumbling about untying knots in an emergency. In a kayak a line around the waist with a slip knot is simple, cheap and doesn't cause the boat to be jerked around. Probably more sophisticated ways but I am such a cheap beggar. Cheers John Winters >> ************************************************************************** * My wife and I had to demonstrate both a line tow and a contact tow to pass the BCU Four Star proficiency assessment last year. We towed in tandem, and it was very easy. I think every kayaker should be prepared to assist in a tow -- the more, the merrier. The preferred way around here for a long tow is to run the line through a fairlead on the centerline of the kayak to a cam cleat just behind and to one side of the cockpit, where a simple jerk can release it. (Sophisticated paddlers, too.) The tow line has a shock cord tied to it to minimize jerking, and is stowed on deck in a bag ready for action. (The tow line is continuous, and spirals around the shock cord.) I have also seen tow belts, resembling a small fanny pack, that have quick-release Fastex buckles. However, I understand that they can be tiring on long tows, especially in waves, though they do have the advantage that they can be passed from one kayak to another. Chuck Holst *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
On Fri, 30 Jan 1998, Chuck Holst wrote: [snip] >> The method used for tying on was a slip knot that could be quickly popped >>loose if a boat capsized or otherwise came to grief. One doesn't want to be >>fumbling about untying knots in an emergency. In a kayak a line around the >>waist with a slip knot is simple, cheap and doesn't cause the boat to be >>jerked around. Probably more sophisticated ways but I am such a cheap >>beggar. >> >> >>Cheers >>John Winters >>>> >> >>************************************************************************** * [snip] >> >>I have also seen tow belts, resembling a small fanny pack, that >>have quick-release Fastex buckles. However, I understand that >>they can be tiring on long tows, especially in waves, though >>they do have the advantage that they can be passed from one >>kayak to another. >> >>Chuck Holst you can pass the tow rope from boat to boat if you all have cam-cleats too... nothing extra [as far as weight either] cam cleat release better than fastex buckles, under stress/emergency [at least in my experience]. this is from towing open boats in white/moving water while the boater swims out... and if you've done that you know it's more "dragging" than towing!! the waist belts i've seen would have been uncomfotable under high stress pulling, but besides the fastex buckle, one i saw had a ripcord type pin [similar to a cotter pin], held in place by pressure, and velcro. pull the pin, rope's gone... YMMV mark #------canoeist[at]netbox[dot]com-------------------------------------- mark zen o, o__ o_/| o_. po box 474 </ [\/ [\_| [\_\ ft. lupton, co 80621-0474 (`-/-------/----') (`----|-------\-') #~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~ http://www.diac.com/~zen/cpr [Colorado Paddlers' Resource] http://www.diac.com/~zen/rmskc [Rocky Mtn Sea Kayak Club] http://www.diac.com/~zen/rmcc [Rocky Mtn Canoe Club Trip Page] http://www.diac.com/~zen/mark [personal] -- Fortune: "You must realize that the computer has it in for you. The irrefutable proof of this is that the computer always does what you tell it to do." *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:32:46 PDT