Re: [Paddlewise] More Thoughts on Towing

-----Original Message-----
From: PJ Rattenbury <ratten_at_uow.edu.au>


> More thoughts on towing.  A tow rope of around 25m is de rigeur in the
>NSWSKC,  using cordage of a diameter around 4mm.  The logic appears to be
>you can get cordage of ample strength in this size for the intended
>purpose, and you can efficiently stow such cordage in a small bag.

5mm (3/16 inch) nylon may be better as it is less likely to get tangled and
is still stretchy enough (even if only 10 feet long) to dispense with any
added shock absorber.
<SNIP>

> And the big question is tangling the rudder. I cannot see how this
>possibility can be avoided with any delta rudder head arrangement.  And the
>bigger the sea, the more the likelihood.  Murphy's Law.


Attaching the towline to a webbing loop you put over one shoulder and across
your chest (or a PFD with towing attachment) will raise the towing point so
the rudder is less likely to snag it. When it does usually as the stern bobs
around in waves it releases it again and control of the towing kayak is
regained until the next time the cord hangs up anyway. You can shed a large
shoulder loop of webbing very quickly if need be.


> Has any P/Wiser towed in a REAL rescue situation over any length of time
>who could offer insight?>

I know Doug Lloyd has (and you'll probably read about it in a future edition
of Sea Kayaker magazine).

I have towed a lot of people but usually in mild conditions when there was a
need to hurry or the towees were exhausted. Once I was afraid I was going to
have to tow a seasick paddler (while I was a little queasy myself) into 25
knot winds and 6+ foot seas with breaking crests during one moonless
night(hard to see the horizon). I would try to find the horizon from the
crest of each wave and that was enough that I stabilized at a slightly
nauseous state and didn't get worse. I can tell you I wasn't looking forward
to towing then but was prepared to try if necessary. Normally I don't mind
towing at all. You can get a good workout without leaving everybody else
behind. I feel lucky that I didn't have to tow that night. We did discover
that if you are feeling seasick whatever you do don't stop and raft up as
you will get a lot less sick if you can keep paddling. This took about 10
seconds to figure out when we stopped and rafted up because one paddler said
she was too sick to paddle and needed to stop. With that as the alternative
she made several miles paddling into these seas and reached our destination
under her own power. I am very subject to motion sickness but this is the
only time it has happened while kayaking and I blame the lack of an easy to
see horizon.
Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************