[Paddlewise] Deck Tow lines

Hello P'Wisers.  I've been in lurk mode for 4 or 5 weeks - been
exceptionally busy for a variety of reasons.  My boat has been dry the whole
time except for an unplanned opportunity this past Tuesday (6 unplanned
hours of hydrotherapy in an unseasonably warm [80 degree] October day!!!).
By the way, sitting on a stool in the middle of the room, eyes closed,
listening via headphones to a "sounds of nature" tape, and breaking out the
paddle and doing "air strokes" just isn't the same - especailly when your
family catches you and has fun at your expense for the next week!!!!!
Sheeze - go figure!  

In Matt's DEEP TROUBLE, on page 91, there is a line drawing of a top view of
a boat.  The subject of the illustration is a float re-entry, but the
question I have is about the deck rigging.  The lines running bow to stern
are (I presume) for towing.  My originial intention was to use a "biner" at
both ends of a rope, with one attached to the bow, the other to the deck
rigging just foreward of the cockpit, so that someone could toss me their
tow line that I could "hook up", thus eliminating the need to bring the
boats together in the event that I need a tow and am not totally
incapacitated.  This scenario has nothing at all to do with my tow line that
would remain undeployed in this scenario - it just pertains to hooking up to
someone elses tow line.

After looking at the drawing mentioned above, I'm wondering if my intention
is short sighted.  What's the purpose of the rest of those lines in the
drawing, and how are they attached (the picture doesn't have clear details)?
I'm assuming that the whole thing together isn't an entire tow line.  So,
what's the scoop????

Rick - Poquoson, VA


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