Re: [Paddlewise] Homebrew Pigtail?

When I first got into technical rock climbing we routinely made a lot of our
gear using webbing and biners. For instance, we made sit and chest harnesses
from web rotated into a figure-8 and fastened in front with a caribiner.
Sometimes we would have our wives or girlfriends sew them together but just
as often we'd use blood-knots. So, in general, I have no problem with
carefully made safety gear.

Of course that term "carefully made" can be the catch. Sailboat equipment
can be strong and well-built but in these days of asian imports I'm not at
all sure I'd trust my life to something I bought at the marine supply store
unless I had some independent knowledge of its adaptability. Also rope on a
sailboat is generally chosen for its lack of stretch while rope for climbers
is stretchy by design. Even though they look identical the characteristics
can be very different.

Because the way we must depend upon our equipment in kayaking more closely
parallels the way climbers have to rely on their gear, I think that I'd look
to a climbing supply store (REI, for instance) and look at their equipment
and then compare that with what you find at a West Marine.

One caveat to that advice, however, concerns the salt water environment.
Climbing equipment might not be up to exposure to salt water and salt-laden
air simply because the gear is not designed for that environment. And not
all "stainless steel" is equal. Before I'd build some safety gear for sea
kayaking I think I'd make sure that my stainless is suitable. Some of the
other paddlewisers are much more knowledgable about metallurgy than I am and
I'm sure they'd have good ideas on this.

Of course, manufacturers of sea kayak safety gear can also have issues with
poor quality stainless hardware so it's probably a good idea to be cautious
there, as well.

If I built my own tow-rig I'd want to test it thoroughly in a safe
environment (like the lake in front of our lake house) before putting it to
into regular service and then test it frequently. This, again, is a good
idea with store-bought gear too.

By the way... bungee cord was - and is still - used in landing gear of
classic airplanes (like the Piper J-3 Cub, Taylorcrafts and Aeroncas) as a
shock absorber so it should be adequate for towing as long as any
connections between it and other lines are well made.


Craig Jungers
Mellowed out in Royal City, WA



On 10/16/06, Jim Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Derek wrote:
>
> >Hello
> >
> >I was looking at pigtails (cow tails) for a towing
> >rig.  Is there any particular reason why one couldn't
> >use a piece of stretch cord (possibly of the sailboat
> >variety) and a pair of rope climbing caribeeners?
> >Thoughts?
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