Craig wrote: > Throw lines are important in white water paddling where a paddler - either > in his kayak or already exited - can be trapped in hydraulics and unable to > swim out. Rich wrote >True, and there are other [similar] circumstances in which they're useful, >like snagging someone who's being flushed downstream. G'Day, The question came up quite a while ago and I think it related to whether a long throwrope or towline would be useful in a sea kayaking situation. An often quoted reason for using such a line is to aid towing in long period swell. But I think there are other circumstances where its handy. A friend recently helped carried out a rescue of two kayakers at the mouth of a cave/slot with quite tricky swell and breaking waves. If I interpret the rescue correctly it seems as if the length of the rope let him enter the danger zone, hook up and get out quickly before the rope took up the full load to tow the rescuee away. I've recently started using thick tow lines instead of sashcords, which have been assessed informally by some of my mates as dangerous. The problen with sash cord is that in a rough sea it might be pulled hard and damage an entangled limb or finger. Unfortunately the safer thicker cord won't fit in a pocket and its pointless having a tow line stowed in a hatch so its one of the few items I'll tolerate on the deck. But it takes up space and even more if I have both a 15 meter and a 5 metre line. So a friend showed me how to loosely braid the line to shorten it from 15 to 5 metres and then I fitted a quick release between the last two loops and a shackle on the deck. I can tow with 5 metres or extend to 15 metres depending on the circumstances. So far its worked well in practise rescues out at sea, though it took a couple of tries to learn how to braid loosely and avoid the line snagging when it was released.. I've yet to test the arrangement in a real rescue - has anyone else used a similar arrangement in a real rescue? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>PeterO wrote >I've recently started using thick tow lines instead of sashcords I only use a seakayak. No whitewater. I have for some years brought a 10 meter throwline of 6 mm Kevlar along with me because I don't like throwbags. I cannot throw much more than 10 meters. I keep the line located on deck in front of me and I use two household rubberbands to keep it neat. They must be removed before throwing. When wet it is absolutely dead and heavy and I have practised throwing it sitting in the kayak. There is no deadweight attached so there is nothing that can harm the resquee. Even in rough sea I can throw it reliably. The limitation is whether I dare take my hand(s) from the paddle. It's useful when I'm short of time and have a limited offset from the resquee. I have used it successfully a few times for assistance at sea and many times for contact to shore where it is nice to grab a "thick" line when being hauled through plants. It's also very handy for hauling kayaks up a slippery brink. Regards Jens Viggo Moesmand Denmark *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Tow lines best have quick releases and weak links. *************************************************************************** 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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