Re: [Paddlewise] tethers

Can't totally picture this system, but in my upcoming article in SK
Magazine, I highly recommend against such tether arrangements. The only
thing that should ever go on your wrist is a *short* paddle leash
connecting your control hand to the paddle. Chri Duff uses a paddle leash,
and he is in bigger waves (at sea) than most of us.  Shoulderable loops
have a place for tethering oneself to very open-cockpited kayaks like the
inflatable ones, but that is it - IMHO.

I would hate to see you get all tangled or strangled in an overly complex
system. Also, leave your bow line alone, and let it function for the job it
is intended to do. Again, IMHO. You best be careful, or you may win a
"Darwin" award from the NSW kayak club in their newsletter from Oz land.

My friend, Doug Alderson, wrote an article about using a fannypack survival
bag you put around your waist if the going gets tough. He was immediately
trounced on for not mentioning that this arrangement could interfere with a
lay-back roll. I've wrestled with the issue too, over the years, as I tend
to paddle solo on exposed coast in rougher stuff. I finally went with
having everything in/on my PFD. 

You can "work" with your idea, but do try it out in some rough water with
some friends close by. Remember, if you bail and loose your kayak and are
dependent on your survival bag and then get messed up by that, then two
wrongs will not make a right - they may make you dead.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who gets tongue-tangled in long lines sometimes)  




At 04:53 PM 12/11/99 -0600, Mike wrote:
>Doug Lloyd, or somebody else mentioned tethers.  I would think it would be a
>good idea to tether your survival bag and your kayak bow line to your off
>hand.  Here is another good place to use a bungy.  ...and tether the paddle
>to the boat.
>
>I think a powerfull wave wipeout would easly pull this stuff off your wrist
>or do some real damage to your arm.  So I'm thinking: tight wrist bracelet
>of cord, bungy tied to bracelet, boat & surv bag tied to bungy, knife locked
>into vest.  Tie the survival bag on with a dark colored line and the boat
>with a brite one.
>
>Configure the survival bag line so that there is a loop in it appropriate to
>go over head and 1 arm, for swimming with it.  Between this loop and the
>wrist knot leave 16in of line.  You'll cut this after putting on the loop
>and will appreaciate the 16in.  After it's on your shoulder, the survival
>bag should trail just behind the end of your arm stroke and short of
>interferring with your kick stroke.
>
>What kind of bungy and how long?
>
>How far do you want the bow of the boat away from you?
>

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