Re: [Paddlewise] emergency stops and bow lines

R. Walker wrote:
> 
> What I've started doing, is running
> the bow line from the bow, back to the rack.   
> 
> I'm not sure I see much point in the kayak tied to bumper lines.
> The only way it is likely to ever do anything, is if the rack itself
> seperated from the car at high speed; and I think in that case, the
> result would be catastrophic whether or not there are two pieces of
> soft rope between the boat and the car.

This is not so important if your boat is in cradles, but if it's sitting
directly on the rack, using triangulated bow and stern lines to the
bumper prevents it from moving side to side. The line from the bow back
to the rack doesn't do that, although that's what I sometimes do when
carrying a short WW boat, where the wind forces are different.

Obviously, exactly what the bow and stern lines do differs depending on
the length of the boat and the vehicle. Mostly what keeps the boat from
sliding forward is the belly lines. Unless your boat is very radical,
it's wider and deeper between the racks that beyond them. The front
belly line is tied on smaller than the greatest circumference of the
boat, so the wide part can't slide through it.

Assume you have triangulated end ropes and the rear belly rope parts.
Nothing much very dramatic is going to happen. If the front belly rope
parts, the bow is kept from moving much by the front bumper ropes. Even
if the rack comes unattached, the triangulated ropes keep it more or
less on top of the vehicle.

Same scenario, no bumper ropes: rear belly rope parts, nothing much
happens until you brake. Then the front of boat can't move much but the
stern swings around and either snaps the front rope or torques your boat
to matchsticks. If instead the front belly ropes parts, the wind
instantly torques the boat around. Slam on the brakes and it comes
flying back.

Such fun. Let's go back to paddling.

Steve
-- 
Test Scoring & Reporting Services       Sometimes, you never can
University of Georgia                     always tell what you
Athens, GA 30602-5593                       least expect the most.
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