Re: [Paddlewise] wind

One thing we do when out as a small group is take turns towing each 
other, even if the weather is fine. This is especially nice when you 
are in a group with a mix of strong and weak paddlers. It's a great 
way to let the strong paddlers work as hard as they want without 
leaving anyone behind. It can also take the "shame" factor out of 
being towed. Personally, I think towing and being towed is kind of 
fun, so make a game out of it and when you or someone else really 
needs a tow it becomes a non-issue.

For those of you who are new to towing or don't have your own setup, 
it is really easy to make your own kit instead of spending the big 
bucks the pre-made set seem to cost. I had an old whitewater throwbag 
to which I added a few feet of thick shockcord at the end and then 
slapped on a cheap used carabiner (my good 'biners stay on the 
climbing rack ;-). Get yourself a length of 2" webbing (ie seatbelt) 
and a quick-release plastic thingy. If you're being really frugal (ie 
you're a real cheap bastard) yank that seatbelt out of the backseat 
of your car, c'mon, no one uses it.

You could get fancy and sew the throwbag to the belt but I just run 
the webbing through the loop on the bag end of the throwbag. You 
could also make a nice custom bag or modify an old fanny pack to make 
something that sits better on the belt but I was feeling lazy and 
happy with my solution so I haven't improved it. Besides, it adds to 
that old cobbled together crazed kayaker look.

I leave mine under the shock cords behind the cockpit where it can be 
grabbed quickly and deployed. The length of the rope can be adjusted 
if you don't have a cam-cleat by typing a loop in the rope and 
running the webbing through it. For a tandem tow I like about 20ft of 
rope.

-Patrick

At 11:59 AM -0500 12/16/03, aldercreek_at_qwest.net wrote:
>
>I always make the decision to tow, I never 'ask'.  I tell the clients this
>at the safety/ put-in talk.  If you wait too long, like has been discussed,
>you run the risk of trouble.
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