I know I may be silly to think we might come up with some type of consensus, but perhaps we can agree within about 10 feet or so: I want to make my own tow rig. I already have all the components sans rope. What is the opinion as to the LEAST amount of rope needed, keeping in mind I paddle mostly solo and if you're not a purty gurl, I'm not that inclined to come save you anyway! I assume I want Spectra?, but what diameter? I like A. Lincoln's attitude. When asked what he felt was the ideal lenght for a person's legs, he said "long enough to reach the ground". Mark www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
How about 12 feet. That gives the kayak being towed a bit of wiggle room behind your kayak. 30 - 35 feet and 50 feet seem the most common legths. BTW, I was e-mailing one of my Storm Island rescue buddies this weekend - Andrew Madding. I had towed him for 6 hours plus in a gale during that incident. The 50 foot length was too long for the steep, breaking seas. Anyway, Andrew just finished logging 25,000 cumulative miles in his Pisces kayak. That's a good accomplishment. He just bought a sailboat.Guess you'd get tired of paddling after 25,000 miles. Doug Lloyd >I know I may be silly to think we might come up with some type of >consensus, > but perhaps we can agree within about 10 feet or so: > > I want to make my own tow rig. I already have all the components sans > rope. > What is the opinion as to the LEAST amount of rope needed, keeping in mind > I > paddle mostly solo and if you're not a purty gurl, I'm not that inclined > to > come save you anyway! > > I assume I want Spectra?, but what diameter? > > I like A. Lincoln's attitude. When asked what he felt was the ideal lenght > for a person's legs, he said "long enough to reach the ground". > > Mark > > www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mark Sanders wrote: > What is the opinion as to the LEAST amount of rope needed Contact tow - a few feet. However, I think that figuring out how to shorten a long line quickly is better than having one too short. I use 50ft and don't consider anything else, since that the legal requirement where I live. > I assume I want Spectra?, but what diameter? Not necessarily. Spectra is strong, but it doesn't hold knots well and will be a small diameter for the strength. Small diameter means painful on the hands if you have to pull on it. To enhance floating, get a Spectra core with polypropylene sheath. The polypro sheath will make knot holding a bit better. There are some good rescue grade ropes like this in commercially available tow kits. If you make your own, you might have to look around for this kind of rope. I prefer 3/8 line for this, but that's bulky in some paddlers' minds. It's about the smallest that is comfortable on the hands in a hard pull. Many people prefer 1/4" - anything smaller will be too much pain, though you can get adequate strength in Spectra and similar high end line in small sizes. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This page will respond to the length question, http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/pages/expertcenter/towing-skills/Towing-Skills-3.shtml Then you might want to go back to the full discussion http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/pages/expertcenter/towing-skills/Towing-Skills-1.shtml Cheers, Bob Mark Sanders wrote: > I know I may be silly to think we might come up with some type of consensus, > but perhaps we can agree within about 10 feet or so: > > I want to make my own tow rig. I already have all the components sans rope. > What is the opinion as to the LEAST amount of rope needed, keeping in mind I > paddle mostly solo and if you're not a purty gurl, I'm not that inclined to > come save you anyway! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
[Please remove all old content that is not pertinent to your reply including old headers and footers. It's list policy.... this post was modified to meet policy] Does anyone have good/bad experiences/recomendations regarding coaming mounted systems? For ex. the North Water Sea Kayak Coaming Tow Line? Seems like they would be portable if you have several kayaks (vs. deck mounted) and take the stress off your back.... *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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