Re: [Paddlewise] Death by Tether

Walt Chudleigh wrote:

> caught on the raft frame, popped out and sank.  The tether idea sounds
> good despite the potential problems. FWIW An acquaintance of mine was
> nearly killed when a rope wrapped around his leg while he was lining a
> boat on a river.  He was dragged over 100 yards and swore that he would
> never go near a boat without a rescue knife on his PFD again.  A knife
> may not be a panacea but it increases the odds of a safe trip.

When I first started kayaking the last thing I wanted was to effect the
Rambo look or the Reynolds look from Deliverance, i.e. big macho knife
hanging upside down from one shoulder at the ready.  But one day I was
attending one of the million demo days, that most of us beginners seem
to search out when we first start off.

There was a guy who I respected very much, a quiet individual with no
flair for the dramatic or a macho bone in his body.  This time he was
sporting a knife on his PFD a la Rambo as he was demonstrating something
or other.  I asked "Why the knife?"  And he went into a long story about
getting caught by some line when wet exiting or attempting to roll.  He
was barely able to get his head above water and I can't recall how it
was all resolved.  But he realized then that a knife would have reduced
a difficult situation from panic to manageable.

Of course within a week I got a knife and the devil with the macho look
ans stares I often get  for it.

On tethers, as a result of the discussions here I have gotten a River
Shorty as a knife for my second PFD that resides with a boat I keep
assembled.  While considering tethers, I hit upon an interesting
solution of where to connect to.  I can't remember if I have shared this
on Paddlewise or in private email but for what it is worth here is a
workable solution for tether length and where to connect the non-knife
end of the tether (I retrofitted this to my other PFD as well).

Most sheaths that come with knives have a small hole at the tip area. 
Provided that the sheath itself is well secured to the PFD via one of
those lash tabs almost all PFDs have, you can secure the non-knife end
of the tether to that hole.  That small hole will accept the kind of
ring used to hold keys.  The non-knife end of the tether, if equipped
with a snap hook, can secure to that ring.  This way you can instantly
detach your knife from the sheath if you want to hand it over to someone
or use it yourself away from your PFD.  I have been using such a snap
hook for about 10 years; it is nickle plated, has a swivel eyehole for
tying the tether to and is available from West Marine; it has shown zero
corrosion.

As for tether line length, basically aim for enough line to be able to
hold the knife and, more or less, be able to straighten out your arm. I
am left handed and almost all knife tabs are on the left shoulder of
PFDs.  So my tether is a lot shorter than one that would go across my
torso in a cross body pull (i.e. left shoulder tabs favor a right hand
pull).  Figure out if the length of line may be too much and possibly
entangle you.  My tether is just 19 inches long (even though I have long
arms, the tether attachment to the sheath's tip helps reduce the length
of tether I need to stretch out my arm when hold the knife).

Use non-stretch line not parachute line as the latter tends to cling
more if it catches on you, I guess because of its surface and
stretchiness.  The line then hangs in a loop from the sheath with one
end (the snap hook) attached to the key ring in the sheath's tip and the
other end from the rear part of the handle where it is tied.  The loop
is relatively short and not likely to get snagged.  However, if you are
still nervous and there is a pocket in the immediate area or some
webbing through which you can gather part of that loop, do so; but make
certain that the gathered line will flow out unimpeded when the knife is
needed.

I hope this is helpful.  Do your own experimenting to see what will work
for you, though.

ralph diaz

    
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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."
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