Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Rigs

I wrote:
"If the possibility of being in surf exists I'd avoid towing during that
time unless you can release your tow instantly if necessary."

Peter responded:
>>>>If you were towing in through surf, then released the tow, you now have
an incapacitated or weak paddler behind you attached to a length of tow
line. That paddler capsizes, wraps him or herself to the kayak in the
towline... and surfs on into you. I'd prefer to have nothing to do with
towing in surf.
This brings up a pretty hard to solve scenario: How do you land an
incapacitated paddler through surf? I just keep hoping it'll never
happen. If it did, I think I might keep paddling along to a better
landing, no matter how far.<<<<<

Gee, I think I can stay out of his way once I drop the tow line. Anything
else would now be they towees problem, wouldn't it.;-)

I've never been towed except in practice so I don't tend to look at it from
the towees point of view. If the slip not is maintained, each end of our
kayaks has a quick release tow line so hopefully the towee could quickly
shed the tow line as well. Anywhere there could conceivably be surf I'd also
want to add a longer line between the kayaks quick release towlines so we
would be well apart if either of us got caught up in a breaker.

Notice I was careful to say "if the possibility". If you are outside a surf
break, even if you don't plan to go in, there is a possibility that you may
end up in surf whether you intended to or not. I think that would be a good
time to let a paddler who isn't totally incapacitated paddle on their own
until the danger has subsided.

When I write "surf"  I'm usually talking about the 5 foot and up variety
that dumps rather than spills. Someone talked about having towed another
paddler in through surf with a body or boat mounted tow rig. I'd guess he
wasn't talking about 6 foot dumpers then.

If you have a truly incapacitated (former) paddler and are facing any
possibility of having to land them through dumping surf your best bet would
probably be to call for an outside rescue ASAP. If that's not a possibility
and there was no other options but to go in through dumping surf to reach
safety and medical attention I'd probably slide them down inside the
cockpit, seal their spray deck or cockpit cover over them (after making sure
it was cinched down tight enough the surf isn't likely to blow it off) and
then tow them as far into the break zone as I could without excessive danger
to myself due to the tow. Then I would try to beat them to shore in order to
help them land (rather than roll up and down the beach in the surge getting
dizzy). Of course if their kayak has a fixed bow bulkhead they probably
won't be able to get down into it far enough to be able to use the air
inside the kayak to breath while they are tumbling around in the surf. Maybe
I could amputate them at the knees first (or maybe switch kayaks with them
before going in). So many possibilities here. Why he left Plum Tree, to roam
around the sea, God only knows.


Matt Broze
www.marinerkayaks.com
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