While in the surfing class, I was wearing a Lotus PFD designed to have the tow-line attached. I had the tow-line caribiner clipped to the strap on the right PFD pocket. Somehow, either when I was climbing on, or when I capsized, the carabiner also clipped onto one of the deck lines. The next time I capsized, I found myself not only underneath the water, but I was clipped underneath the kayak. Not a good idea to wear your carabiner outside of the pocket exposed. It is designed for quick attachment... and it works quite efficiently. Gronseth had suggested wearing the tow-line inside the pocket. Definately a better practice. Robert cc: paddlewise rcline_at_onramp.net Key ID CCOD188A Key Type DSS/Diffie-Hellman Key Fingerprint: 4EF2 AC35 0932 CF1C A8BF ECDA 5CCA D796 CCOD 188A Bal's PGP Public Key Server: http://pgp5.ai.mit.edu/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
It's too bad that Lotus doesn't sew a "D" ring on the inside of the pocket flap like the old Foster-Rowe jackets had. With a plastic "D" ring on the inside of the flap and one on the outside of the flap you could leave your caribiner clipped on the inside until you were paddling in rock gardens etc. where you could clip it on the outside for quick access. (BTW, the tow system I am referring to here is, like the Foster-Rowe design, a 15-17ft 3/4 inch nylon strap with a shock absorber arrangement sewn in. It is rolled up and kept stowed in the larger right side pocket of the Lotus. The advantage of the strapping is that it is easy to roll back up for quick stowage after an anchored or towed rescue in rough water). John Winskill Robert C. Cline wrote: > > While in the surfing class, I was wearing a Lotus PFD designed to have the > tow-line attached. I had the tow-line caribiner clipped to the strap on > the right PFD pocket. Somehow, either when I was climbing on, or when I > capsized, the carabiner also clipped onto one of the deck lines. The next > time I capsized, I found myself not only underneath the water, but I was > clipped underneath the kayak. > > Not a good idea to wear your carabiner outside of the pocket exposed. It > is designed for quick attachment... and it works quite efficiently. > > Gronseth had suggested wearing the tow-line inside the pocket. Definately > a better practice. > > Robert > > cc: paddlewise > > rcline_at_onramp.net > Key ID CCOD188A > Key Type DSS/Diffie-Hellman > Key Fingerprint: 4EF2 AC35 0932 CF1C A8BF ECDA 5CCA D796 CCOD 188A > > Bal's PGP Public Key Server: http://pgp5.ai.mit.edu/ > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, Jun 15, 1998 at 07:32:23PM -0600, Robert C. Cline wrote: > Not a good idea to wear your carabiner outside of the pocket exposed. It > is designed for quick attachment... and it works quite efficiently. After years of wearing a couple of carbiners on the shoulder of my PFD, I read a similar report from Charlie Walbridge; I now carry them in a "hardware pouch" that's tucked inside the top of my throwbag. One couple unclip drops that pouch at my feet -- which is right where I want it -- and leaves the throwbag ready to go. I'd also suggest having locking carabiners around -- since they can't accidentally clip themselves into anything, they're useful when you`re setting up Z-drags and other things that you really really really don't want to find yourself attached to. The only exposed 'biner I have left, and I'm beginning to think very seriously about moving this one, is the oversize "paddle" 'biner that I keep clipped into the front deck loop on my Crossfire or Cascade so that I have a place to stash a floating paddle while doing a rescue. However, that 'biner on that loop is close enough to snag the grab loop of my sprayskirt, and *that* makes me decidely nervous. I'm starting to think about carrying that 'biner somewhere else quickly accessible in whitewater situations because I never want to find myself clipped to the boat. ---Rsk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 98-06-16 01:13:15 EDT, johncw_at_narrows.com writes: << It's too bad that Lotus doesn't sew a "D" ring on the inside of the pocket flap like the old Foster-Rowe jackets had. With a plastic "D" ring on the inside of the flap and one on the outside of the flap you could leave your caribiner clipped on the inside until you were paddling in rock gardens etc. where you could clip it on the outside for quick access. >> Actually, there <is> a small "D" ring inside the pocket on their "Strait Jacket", and that pocket is one of the optional places they recommend for their tow line. Jack "Joq" Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote: > > Actually, there <is> a small "D" ring inside the pocket on their "Strait > Jacket", and that pocket is one of the optional places they recommend for > their tow line. Actually, there is a D-Ring in _each_ of the two pockets. Whoever suggested locking D-Rings instead of the ones with a swing gate has offered the best solution. I have snagged myself getting in and out of boats because of something protruding in a pocket but that is easy to take care. The idea of being binered to a deck line or bungee is absolutely the scariest prospect around. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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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