Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Rigs

Peter,
    I don't qualify as someone who has towed for HOURS in ROUGH seas, 
but I have towed for miles, sometimes in moderate chop -- all with a 
waist-mounted system.  I use a Salamander Pro, which has a bungee at the 
base of its long tow line. This doesn't eliminate the shocks of dynamic 
changes in the tow, but it mitigates them well enough so that they are 
not a problem, even over distances and time. 
    But, speaking of distances and time, it seems to me a great benefit 
of waist-mounted systems that they can be easily handed off to a 
reliever, so that people can take turns on very long and/or arduous 
tows.  We practice this routinely in our Canoe Safety course.

Bob Volin

Peter Rattenbury wrote:

>	...at sea, you may find yourself towing someone for HOURS at a
>time.  This raises issues of efficiency  paddling over long stretches in what
>is probably rough water when all the dynamics of the tow [ the 'snap and
>twang' of the tow]  is transferred on to your body.
>	...it is tough enough trying to tow someone over any sort of distance
>in rough water, without the added bonus of having the strain clamped around my
>waist and chest..try it for an hour or two and you'll see what I mean.
>        ...I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has towed someone for HOURS
>in rough sea, using a body-anchor system.
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