RE: [Paddlewise] Decklines

Erik:
I use 8mm decklines, which run around the edges of the fore and aft decks,
but not beside the cockpit. Toggles at the ends of the boat are spliced in
to the decklines.
These advantages come to mind:
1. a swimmer can use the edge decklines to move along the boat, or move the
boat along, more easily than with a central, relatively loose towline.
2. a rescuer in a T rescue can reach the deckline on the far side of the
boat and use that to hold the victim's boat steady during re-entry
3. there is a line at most points around the boat to grab it when retrieving
the boat after a surf swim
4. various bungies and straps can be attached to the decklines for attaching
paddlefloats, spare paddles, hatch tethers, deck bags, kitchen sink etc.
5. a variable attachment point is available for short tow ropes, when a very
short tow is used with the towed paddler's boat overlapping the rescuer's
boat half a hull.
However, I haven't tried the system you describe. Have you found your
towline to be too short if towing in swells? I feel that a 15 metre towline
is about right to avoid the towed boat surfing into the back of the tower.
And how long was the now famous Storm Island Epic towline? (The Troll is at
work!)
PT.


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