Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Rigs

In a message dated 3/31/2005 7:14:10 PM Pacific Standard Time,  
ratten_at_uow.edu.au writes:

I can  see the postives of a tow rig attached to  PFD
or waist for some  situations,  but I can't see an advantage in a handing off
procedure  with a waist type.  That is, I can't see the transfer of the tow as
an  issue with either system.


If someone needs me to contribute to towing the victim I don't need their  
belt as I'm wearing one or my back deck is wearing one. However, not everyone  
wears one, so transferability is a good feature. That is an issue best 
addressed  on the beach before launch, by the way .I can take my deck mounted tow bag 
and  add webbing loops so that a quick release belt can be added on the fly if 
I need  to transfer it to someone not wearing one, but I have yet to do so.
 
Transferability has another issue which the pro-deck mounted guys have not  
addressed. How about your travels abroad? Will your expectations of a boat  
rental or borrowing include a jam cleat and fairlead? I bet that won't happen. I  
have found no practical way to add one to my folder, either. A waist belt  
appears to me to be the best solution for travelling in particular and in some  
respects waist belts may be the best solution overall as they do most things  
well.
 
PFD mounted systems also solve the travelling issue well. Most, if not all  
can be transferred on the water. Although I didn't like the one I had, one of  
the best things about them is that their advocates suggest a higher rate of  
access to it than any other system, meaning, it is always on them and 
available.  I've sometimes dropped the ball and not checked for people actually putting 
 their waistbelts on before launch and the folks with them on their pfd's 
make  that situation really nice.
 
Just a couple of cents to the subject,
 
Rob G
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