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From: Tom Buckley <nbrunner_at_telus.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Tow Ropes
Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 23:54:56 -0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)
I'm heading out to spend more money. Jeez, this doesn't seem to end. This
isn't a toy though. I am buying a tow  rope and am looking for pros & cons
of a waist belt verses coaming tow system. Any thoughts would be appreciated

 
Under toys, I just purchased a Pentax W30 waterproof digital camera. It
takes awesome pictures and videos. I'm heading off to the Deer Group on the
West Coast of the Island for the long weekend and am looking forward to
using it more.
 
Tom 
Excuses only satisfy 
Those who make them
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From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Ropes
Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 08:33:30 -0700
I don't like coaming tow systems. I suppose it makes a difference as to how 
much lip and the height off the lip on your particular coaming. Once my 
thick skirt is wrapped around the coaming, a thin line will still just make 
it, but it still doesn't seem "natural" to run a tow line this way. I think 
if I were going to make a quick-deployment tow rope for short duration tows, 
and do it on the cheap, I'd make a shoulder-strap tow line. But hey, we 
kayakers love spending money, so fill your boots. :-)

Have fun in the Deer Group. Send us a pictures-link after. The Deer Group is 
one of my favorite quick-getaway places, from the Bamfield terminus. Watch 
for winds coming up fast - May can pound like gang-busters, though we have 
had some incredibly serene Mays in the past. I think the team of two 
paddlers circumnavigating Vancouver Island just left. Don't get in their 
way. :-)

Doug Lloyd

> I'm heading out to spend more money. Jeez, this doesn't seem to end. This
> isn't a toy though. I am buying a tow  rope and am looking for pros & cons
> of a waist belt verses coaming tow system. Any thoughts would be 
> appreciated
>
>
> Under toys, I just purchased a Pentax W30 waterproof digital camera. It
> takes awesome pictures and videos. I'm heading off to the Deer Group on 
> the
> West Coast of the Island for the long weekend and am looking forward to
> using it more.
>
> Tom
> Excuses only satisfy
> Those who make them
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From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Ropes
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 07:56:16 -0700
I've followed this thread closely because I've been thinking of a decent tow
system too. We used to carry throw-ropes but someone made the point that a
throw-rope, while very useful in white water, isn't that useful in a typical
sea kayak situation.

A waist tow system doesn't seem that bad except for the cost and the bulk
and some added complexity. Yet another system. On the positive side this
system seems to have the least possibility of tangling with the rudder.

I don't like the idea of a coaming tow at all. The idea of something making
my spray skirt that much more difficult to release makes me nervous.

To tell the truth I'm leaning towards attaching a cam cleat to the deck of
the Nimbus and using 5/16ths line as a tow system. The only caveats to that
is the possibility of entanglement with the rudder and that handing off the
tow might be complicated if no other boat had the same system. Plus the
added handicap of having something sticking up on deck that other things
could hit or get stuck on.

We are planning some paddling get-togethers amongst our group so perhaps
some experimentation is in order this summer once the water warms up nicely.
If anyone else does this - or has done this in the past - a report would be
appreciated.

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA

On 5/13/07, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> I don't like coaming tow systems. I suppose it makes a difference as to
> how
> much lip and the height off the lip on your particular coaming. Once my
> thick skirt is wrapped around the coaming, a thin line will still just
> make
> it, but it still doesn't seem "natural" to run a tow line this way. I
> think
> if I were going to make a quick-deployment tow rope for short duration
> tows,
> and do it on the cheap, I'd make a shoulder-strap tow line. But hey, we
> kayakers love spending money, so fill your boots. :-)
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From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Ropes
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 12:21:36 -0400
Craig Jungers wrote:
> handing off the
> tow might be complicated if no other boat had the same system.

I hear this a lot, but I don't see the problem.  Release it from the 
kayak, tie a loop in the end of the line and hook it onto another 
paddler's PFD chest strap system, for example.  A figure 8 on a bight is 
a pretty quick knot for such a situation and is easier for many people 
than the more obvious bowline.

Mike
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From: John H <seajohnkayak_at_yahoo.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Tow Ropes
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 11:01:09 -0700 (PDT)
PaddleWise and Craig - Please do keep us posted on the outcome of you local discussion. i am very interested you your thoughts and input. 
  John 
  Santa Rosa, CA

Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> wrote: 
To tell the truth I'm leaning towards attaching a cam cleat to the deck of
the Nimbus and using 5/16ths line as a tow system. The only caveats to that
is the possibility of entanglement with the rudder and that handing off the
tow might be complicated if no other boat had the same system. Plus the
added handicap of having something sticking up on deck that other things
could hit or get stuck on.

We are planning some paddling get-togethers amongst our group so perhaps
some experimentation is in order this summer once the water warms up nicely.
If anyone else does this - or has done this in the past - a report would be
appreciated.

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA



       
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