[Paddlewise] Yow! (Was Death by Tether)

James Lofton <n5yyx_at_etsc.net> wrote:

>One might also check to make sure the knife will not be able to snap back
>at you, if you dropped it. That was the first thing that came to my mind.
>Kind of like on a bungie.. Sure would ruin your day to be stabbed in the
>face(or anywhere)by a knife that slipped out of your hand and the tether
>was under tension.
>
>James

This reminds me of the time I was getting out of my boat while wearing the type
of nylon sprayskirt that uses a heavy 1/4" bungie cord to attach to the coaming.
The bungie had about a foot leftover from what was needed to fit around the
coaming and was knotted both at the grommet where it goes inside the seam AND at
the loose ends of the bungie.  Well, as I was getting out of the kayak, the knot
at the end caught on something on the boat.  My hands were full, and I figured
it would just come loose easily, so I continued working my way from the boat.  I
was evidently not fully aware of the strength of two thighs standing up, pulling
against the bungie.  Well... it certainly did come loose, and snapped me on the
derriere so hard it almost took my breath away.  Yow!!  Don't let this happen to
you, kids.  There is a serious side to this as well, since the knotted end could
just as easily have caught on something during a rescue.

Evan
Woodinville, WA.


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