Re: [Paddlewise] Safety Tether

Doug Lloyd wrote:

> Gary said:
> <<<Does anyone on this list use safety tethers to tie themselves to
> their kayak?>>>
> <snip>
>
> Gary,
> I'm on the digest version so I don't know if anyone replied to you yet.
> My take on tethers is too practice long and hard in real-life conditions
> in rough water, on a safe lee shore, with competent paddling partners -
> practicing wet exits with full retention of your boat and paddle (a
> paddle tether is okay). Once you can master keeping your kayak in hand
> without in blowing/down-washing away, then use boat tethers judicially,
> where and when appropriate.

Sorry for my poor communication skills earlier today (under assault from a
bad cold right now). My point above if not clear to all was that one ought
to perfect a skill to the point of reasonable success (in this case, exiting
in rough/windy conditions), then add back-ups as necessary (and perfect
those skills to the same degree).

It really bothers me that modern paddlers are frequently found forgoing
essential-core skill development in exchange for devices and aids. Learn how
to brace well, then learn how to roll (if appropriate to your craft and
desired rescue repertoire), then add the backups -- not the other way
around. Because I write about, promote, and recommend safety gear (as well
as carry a lot myself), I find myself under condemnation frequently for a
philosophy of gear dependence -- one that is antithetical to my actual
practices and attitudes toward paddling.

>
> I like systems that do double duty. A pig-tail with carbiner attached to
> a short (or long) line that forms the basis of your tow system can be
> clipped to your deck lines to negate separation in those instances where
> loss of kayak would be a disaster. This type of tether fall under the
> "Audry Sutherland school-of-double-duty" philosophy.

Hopefully this made sense too. I'm simply saying that using your already
present tow system can be an efficient approach -- all things being equal. I
see my spell-checker caught me off guard. That should be "carabiner." Sorry
Dave Kruger, you gave me an earlier spelling lesson on this once before!

>
>

Doug Lloyd

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