Hi Tim, Perhaps I don't really understand what you want and why: If you want the person to boat tether to keep you in the boat for control\security reasons, one very skilled paddler I'm aware of fastens himself into his seat with a seat belt-like arrangement, with a quick release buckle adapted I believe from the quick release on a diver's weight belt. His rolls and braces are incredibly reliable, so he figures he's safer in the boat no matter what. This is certainly not a good idea for everyone, since if you do decide to bail, you must release the skirt, then reach underneath it to pull the belt buckle open. If you want the tether so you can be rescued easily, I'd suggest that the loop bar tacked behind the neck of most serious kayaking PFDs is a better bet. Leave it unhooked and let the rescuer decide according to the circumstances where and when to clip you in. If you want the tether so you can rescue others, I'd suggest the quick release rescue belts built into many whitewater PFDs or the combo towbelt/throwbag line kits made by NorthWater and others. Tow belts are rather bulky around PFDs not specifically made for them, but they can be carried on the rear deck, and transferred if it looks like you're gonna need them. I've used mine to tow an exhausted paddler (an unbelievably clumsy process) and to rescue a couple of fisherman who had lost their boat (a rewarding process). If you want the tether so you don't get separated from your boat, I'd suggest that being tethered to your boat is potentially very dangerous. No cut away with a knife or quick release buckle will ever be as fast and certain as simply letting go of a paddle tethered to your boat. Plus it works as a "dead man's switch" - if you lose consciousness, you won't be dragged around, down with or beneath your boat. Philip Torrens At 02:38 PM 3/24/98 -0800, you wrote: > >First let me be clear about the scope of my tether >question. I would never tether myself to any equipment >in a white water situation. I would never tether >myself in a surf situation. Any tether would have >a quick release mechanism. I ALWAYS carry a knife >on my PFD (it lives there) so I ALWAYS have a backup >to any tether system. > >We've heard a number of responces concerning a >paddle tether. Thank you for the input. > >I am also interested in a Person tether -- i.e. a >short cord that goes from my PFD to my boat. It would >attach to a towing harness which has a quick release >mechanism on the front where I can easilly reach it. >Have any of you used a "person Tether"? > >By the way, I have a good (maybe even "bomb proof") roll so >my first line of defense is to never come out of my boat. >Hence, any tether arrangement can not interfere with >my roll. I also need to be able to setup underwater >for either side. This makes tethering the paddle to the >boat highly questionable since the gyrations of setting >up on the opposite side would make tangling a real danger. > >--Tim > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > **************************************** Mountain Equipment Co-op 1655 West 3rd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 1K1 Tel: 640-732-1989 Fax: 604-731-6483 email: pid_at_mec.ca Visit our website at: http://www.mec.ca ***************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 24 1998 - 15:45:50 PST
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