Sea Kayaker routinely has an ad showing a sailboat towing multiple sea kayaks, with three of them tethered to the same cleat jostling each other at their bows. While this makes an interesting picture, it would appear to be questionable seamanship, especially when crossing rough seas. What would be the best way of towing two unladen sea kayaks (with all openings sealed) behind a cruising sailboat? One on each quarter? One tow line to the yaks tied up like an elephant parade? Tie them up short to the bow toggles with the bows lifted a few inches out of the water (I like this best)? Perhaps the whole concept is flawed: If a kayak flips over, what then? You can't safely stop in a storm every five minutes to flip your kayak upright. How much iron would I have to lash to the seat of a typical sea kayak to make it self-righting when otherwise empty and sealed? Ken Cooperstein *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>Sea Kayaker routinely has an ad showing a sailboat towing multiple sea >kayaks, with three of them tethered to the same cleat jostling each >other at their bows. While this makes an interesting picture, it would >appear to be questionable seamanship, especially when crossing rough >seas. > >What would be the best way of towing two unladen sea kayaks (with all >openings sealed) behind a cruising sailboat? One on each quarter? One >tow line to the yaks tied up like an elephant parade? Tie them up short >to the bow toggles with the bows lifted a few inches out of the water (I >like this best)? > >Perhaps the whole concept is flawed: If a kayak flips over, what then? >You can't safely stop in a storm every five minutes to flip your kayak >upright. How much iron would I have to lash to the seat of a typical >sea kayak to make it self-righting when otherwise empty and sealed? > >Ken Cooperstein My wife and I lived on a cruising sailboat for just under two years. We learned (by making mistakes) that towing a dinghy, kayak, whatever should only be done in protected waters with calm seas. Even towing our Tinker inflatable dinghy, which is very stable, would get us into trouble. Trying to get a boat upright from the deck of a sailboat in less than ideal conditions is VERY difficult. If you can, put that kayak on deck. Regards, Keith N. Smith Duluth, GA. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> tow line to the yaks tied up like an elephant parade? Tie them up > short > to the bow toggles with the bows lifted a few inches out of the water > (I > like this best)? > Me too. > You can't safely stop in a storm every five minutes to flip your kayak > You would probably want to bring them aboard in stormy conditions. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> My wife and I lived on a cruising sailboat for just under two years. > We > learned (by making mistakes) that towing a dinghy, kayak, whatever > should > only be done in protected waters with calm seas. Even towing our > Tinker > Did you ever try to board the sailboat from the kayak? I've been thinking about maybe building a swimming platform to step out onto and a line coming down to pull my self up with. Hope this isn't off topic. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> My wife and I lived on a cruising sailboat for just under two years. >> We >> learned (by making mistakes) that towing a dinghy, kayak, whatever >> should >> only be done in protected waters with calm seas. Even towing our >> Tinker >> > Did you ever try to board the sailboat from the kayak? I've >been thinking about maybe building a swimming platform to step out onto >and a line coming down to pull my self up with. Hope this isn't off >topic. Yes - but it is a unusually stable kayak - Folbot Greenland II tandem seakayak. You can stand up in the thing. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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