Re: [Paddlewise] RE Throw bags for sea kayakers (was day hatch)

From: Patrick Maun <patrick_at_patrickmaun.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 23:01:49 +0100
Just adding my $.02 to the fray. I also carry a small whitewater 
style throwbag on my rear deck. It has come in handy quite a few 
times. I recall an incident where a canoe was being blown into a 
shoal and the paddlers (who were inexperienced with paddling and 
controlling in the wind) were unable to regain control of the boat.
I was able to paddle, toss them the throw bag and tow them away.


There wasn't time to set up a proper tow, but it was suprisingly 
easy to just hold the rope in one hand and paddle normally. I believe 
that due to the small amount of resistance of the canoe it was relatively 
easy to tow. 

The tow rope is also very valuable for hanging laundry to dry. For 
this I prefer the more static narrower gauge rope that you find in 
many smaller throw bags. The wider rope used for many contact tows 
sags too much between the trees. I am not sure, but fairly certain 
than a laundry hanging rope is not required in the US by Coast Guard 
regulations, but I could be wrong about that.

-Patrick

At Monday, 29 April 2002, "Joe Pylka" <pylka_at_castle.net> wrote:
[SNIP]
>        Throwbags are a primary rescue device in whitewater.  Typically 
they
>aren't longer than 70 feet since that's a practical limit on how 
far you can
>throw one.  
>
>        Take That Carabiner Off!!! if you will be throwing that 
rope.  You do
>not need the extra weight.  The concentrated mass of the rope in 
the bag is
>more than sufficient.  If more weight is necessary, just dip some 
water into
>the bag...    It can give someone quite a headache.  







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Received on Mon Apr 29 2002 - 14:10:48 PDT

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