Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Rigs

Peter Rattenbury wrote:

 > I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has towed
 > someone for HOURS in rough sea, using a body-anchor system.

I have towed for hours, but not in rough seas. When my daughter started 
paddling (she was eight years old at the time) I bought a Salamander tow 
system. My daughter would quickly become tired and I'd break out the 
belt (Parents who paddle singles with their young children are well 
advised to always carry a tow). I'd drag her and that Necky Gannet for 
hours, sometimes in a stiff wind, but for the most part on flat water.

There were plenty of times I wished for a deck mounted system as it was 
very fatiguing to be continually pulled to the rear while paddling. 
Toward the end of the day I'd find myself leaning well forward to 
counteract the constant rearward drag, something I didn't do at all at 
the beginning of the day.

The Salamander's nylon bag began to unravel after a short period of use, 
and the thick rope took forever to dry so I replaced it with a small, 
very compact tow belt & bag (I don't recall the name - but the biner was 
attached to the bag so you could throw it like a football). The belt was 
very narrow and would quickly become uncomfortable when towing. It would 
probably work as a PFD tow, but I'm too fat to get the belt around my 
PFD. To this day, I carry the rope as a tow system in my day hatch, but 
not the belt. If needed I would simply clip it on to the cow tail 
attached to my PFD. This is the tow system I carry when paddling solo, 
simply because it is very unlikely to ever be used, doubles as a throw 
bag, and a tiny bit better  than having nothing at all.

Speaking of cow tails, my PFD has an integrated belt and I encourage 
anyone with one of these to practice shedding your tow system. I've 
found that the PFD belt loops tend to stop a tow system (cow tail or tow 
rope D-ring) and in practice have continued to tow even after popping 
the quick release. I've found that skipping a loop or two (or 3) when 
attaching the belt will help reduce this problem. YMMV.

Finally I ended up with a North Water quick release tow line. As for a 
waist mounted system, this is by far the best system I've run across and 
what I always wear in a group. The wide belt is ok, but what really 
makes it stand out is once deployed it has a very big pocket to restuff 
the line in, which has been a difficult task for every other tow system 
I've tried (I usually end up stuffing other tow lines between my chest 
and PFD till I return to shore). My daughter, who is now 14 and a BCU 3 
star, would never willingly accept a tow from her old man so my towing 
has now been reduced to simple practice tows. I continue to look forward 
to my old age when she tows me around while I sip on apple juice and 
take naps.

So with all this, why did I never switch to a deck mounted system? To be 
honest I don't know. Possibly with all the different boats I have, from 
folders, plastic, fiberglass and wood, nothing switches as easily 
between them like a belt. And like I said, I just don't do much towing 
any more.

Not sure if this will be of any use, but there it is.

Woody
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