Towing Question

[PeterB]

Have some of you no imagination? The main point of connecting to the deck lines instead of the front toggle is so that the towee isn’t at the mercy of the tower. For whatever reason the tower becomes incapacitated (or is ruining into a rock, or pulled into a tidal stream, etc, etc.), the towee should have the option of releasing as fast as possible. Bad things happen, black swans exist, stock markets lose more than 30% in a single day, two planes may take down the World Trade Center, etc.

Someone said “When towing you don't tow to the rocks, the person towing would be missing some marbles if they started rock gardening with a boat on towâ€. Yes, that’s true. Don’t you realize I’m not talking about rock gardening? Suppose two boats are in rough water near rocks to start with and one boat needs to be towed for whatever reason (he hit a rock, he’s afraid to face going through the breakers, etc.). Then isn’t it possible for the tower to get into more trouble than the towee is in? Wouldn’t the towee want to free himself from the now disabled tower?

Someone also said “2nd if a boat is on tow they are on tow for a reason and at the mercy of the tower, if they are at the point where they would be paddling again most people towing will gladly put away the linesâ€. Yes, but what if the tower can’t because she's too busy saving herself from a capsize, from hitting rocks, etc., or she's dead from a burst artery, etc

Additionally, in some instances the victim becomes the rescuer. For example, as head lifeguard in Monmouth County, NJ, I used to certify applicants for the position of lifeguard. I used to swim out and call for help. The applicant would swim out, dive down while facing me and turn me around in order to perform the rear huggie cross-chest rescue. Just as the applicant dived down, I would turn around quickly so when the applicant rescuer turned me around I ended up facing him as he came to the surface. Then I grabbed him around the neck. About 50% of the time I ended up having to rescue the applicant (i.e. the rescuer’s and victim’s roles were reversed). Although a contrived test, sometimes this scenario occurred naturally in real life!

The main point of using perimeter deck lines is not that towee can disengage: (that virtually never happens, as tower would first ditch their tow line or others would assist in doing so . ) _ It's that the perimeter deck line is the simplest, soundest, fastest, most tried -and- true point of attachment.

In a tow, ease and simplicity of clipping on and clipping off is of paramount importance. A tow needs be set up and underway quickly. I have been in practise/training scenarios where as much as five minutes are lost in setting up a tow (we got chewed out) ; it' s shocking how much ground (well , water) is lost in just a few minutes , especially In wind, waves and current (all likely conditions where a tow becomes needed) just a few minutes translates into a lot of drifting, which then has to be won back.

If you really think out all of these towee release,alternative tow set-ups , you will see that they translate into time lost, the possibility of entanglement and trouble , unneeded complications, and are simply not worth it.

The ability of the towee/victim to disengage from a tow is simply not a factor in towing scenarios, so far down the list of important factors as to be not worth considering. .

[bob budd]

I'm sorry you think that someone is "just plain wrong", there definitely are situations where the towee would like to be in control of the release. All it takes is a mistake on the part of the tower. We're all human.

[gyork]

.........not worth considering.

The number of posts so far (27) would suggest otherwise. I'll remember Leon's helpful suggestion if I'm in dire straits, and consider CUTTING THE DECKLINE.

[PeterB]

I'm sorry you think that someone is "just plain wrong", there definitely are situations where the towee would like to be in control of the release. All it takes is a mistake on the part of the tower. We're all human.

Message board discussion is all good, but it doesn’t matter what I think, or who’ s sorry about it. What matters is what pulls the overalls out of the chowder when you really need it, and the best way to sort that out is to try it. . Practice sessions on lakes, in nice warm water, are the perfect place to try this stuff out. Bring ideas, new rigs, see how they work.

If it doesn’t rain, I think I’ll be be at one tonight.

Mr. Lewis has proposed a rescue session this weekend . Maybe we can throw a few tows in as well, see how things go.

[Deb Millar]

The April 2009 issue of Sea Kayaker mag gives both an example situation where a tow-ee needs to release and the tow-er can't, and the solution in the form of a fast, simple, quick release knot for the tow-ee end of things.

The tow-er gives the end of the rope to the tow-ee, then ties the Highwayman's Hitch knot (which doesn't require a rope end to complete) to the deck line. The tow-ee can pull the rope to release the knot. No 'biner involved.

The knot is also useful for cartopping, that way you get lots of practice using it.

As a number of people have stated, speed is of the essence when attaching a tow line. While this sounds like a good idea, tying a knot as opposed to clipping on a 'biner takes time and sometimes, especially in a potentially dangerous situation, time can be at a premium.

Deb M

[Phil Allen]

All I have to add as a relative newbie compared to many that are posting is the observation that many of us have quick release disconnects on our short tow lines. Yet the idea of such on long tow lines really puts some folks brain in a twist. That said, at the extreme, I see the extra benefit of clipping into the deck lines as the rescuee could cut them to release the tow if necessary. But then again, if the tow-er is incapacitated and not towing, you could always cut the tow line.

Phil

[Deb Millar]

All I have to add as a relative newbie compared to many that are posting is the observation that many of us have quick release disconnects on our short tow lines. Yet the idea of such on long tow lines really puts some folks brain in a twist. That said, at the extreme, I see the extra benefit of clipping into the deck lines as the rescuee could cut them to release the tow if necessary. But then again, if the tow-er is incapacitated and not towing, you could always cut the tow line.

Phil

On the Northwater tow belt, there's a pull with a good sized knob on it. If you're on a long tow (the length of the tow line being another topic for "discussion") and you've got to release someone for whatever reason, you yank the pull which should release the buckle, and throw the tow line in the water. You should also be paying enough attention to the tow-ee (which is also a species of bird, lest I be corrected ) so they are in close enough COMMUNICATION with you so that they can tell you IF they need to be released.

The only time I can see cutting a tow line is if it gets tangled and someone is endangered. But then, again, "stuff happens".

Deb M

[EEL]

Message board discussion is all good, but it doesn’t matter what I think, or who’ s sorry about it. What matters is what pulls the overalls out of the chowder when you really need it, and the best way to sort that out is to try it. .

Indeed and under the circumstances in which it will most likely be needed. I believe the following Blake quote also applies. "The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction."

Ed Lawson

[PeterB]

On the Northwater tow belt, there's a pull with a good sized knob on it. If you're on a long tow (the length of the tow line being another topic for "discussion") and you've got to release someone for whatever reason, you yank the pull which should release the buckle, and throw the tow line in the water. You should also be paying enough attention to the tow-ee (which is also a species of bird, lest I be corrected ) so they are in close enough COMMUNICATION with you so that they can tell you IF they need to be released.

The only time I can see cutting a tow line is if it gets tangled and someone is endangered. But then, again, "stuff happens".

Deb M

I have attached a whiffle ball (golf ball sized) to my tow belt quick release buckle . I found that when reaching/groping for the quick release ,the little red ball/knob on the buckle was not big enough to get a quick feel for & locate , especially when groping around for it while upside down with gloves on. It now is very easily located and felt , works well, and I am happy.

the bird is a towhee, not towee. It's call sounds like "Drink your t-e-e-e-e-ea"

[Deb Millar]

I have attached a whiffle ball (golf ball sized) to my tow belt quick release buckle . I found that when reaching/groping for the quick release ,the little red ball/knob on the buckle was not big enough to get a quick feel for & locate , especially when groping around for it while upside down with gloves on. It now is very easily located and felt , works well, and I am happy.

the bird is a towhee, not towee. It's call sounds like "Drink your t-e-e-e-e-ea"

Now that's a good idea about the whiffle ball!!

As for the bird: maybe a male tow-ee could be a towhee....

Deb M

[Phil Allen]

On the Northwater tow belt, there's a pull with a good sized knob on it. If you're on a long tow (the length of the tow line being another topic for "discussion") and you've got to release someone for whatever reason, you yank the pull which should release the buckle, and throw the tow line in the water. You should also be paying enough attention to the tow-ee (which is also a species of bird, lest I be corrected ) so they are in close enough COMMUNICATION with you so that they can tell you IF they need to be released.

The only time I can see cutting a tow line is if it gets tangled and someone is endangered. But then, again, "stuff happens".

Deb M

Deb-

I was referring to the tow-ee cutting the tow-er's tow line should the tow-er become incapacitated (whew, I think I said that right). Ah never mind, its a "what -if, but 1000 paddlers have never come across this problem" discussion.

Phil

[rossjb1]

Hey, lets do this topic as a musical at the next christmas party...each of us appearing on stage singing our post, kind of like a kayak opera. Just think of the possibilities, props and all. Cardboard kayaks and fake waves. Peter B could narrate and do sound effects! It would be a blast!

Ross

[risingsn]

With all due respect, I wouldn't pay anywhere near two cents for your response. I've towed tired paddlers many times. I never thought of them as victims. They were just tired! If I were to capsize in rough water while towing I’d hope they would have some way to quickly release from me before my boat pulled them into a dangerous position.

I didn't expect you to, but is true none the less.

[risingsn]

Have some of you no imagination? The main point of connecting to the deck lines instead of the front toggle is so that the towee isn’t at the mercy of the tower. For whatever reason the tower becomes incapacitated (or is ruining into a rock, or pulled into a tidal stream, etc, etc.), the towee should have the option of releasing as fast as possible. Bad things happen, black swans exist, stock markets lose more than 30% in a single day, two planes may take down the World Trade Center, etc.

Someone said “When towing you don't tow to the rocks, the person towing would be missing some marbles if they started rock gardening with a boat on towâ€. Yes, that’s true. Don’t you realize I’m not talking about rock gardening? Suppose two boats are in rough water near rocks to start with and one boat needs to be towed for whatever reason (he hit a rock, he’s afraid to face going through the breakers, etc.). Then isn’t it possible for the tower to get into more trouble than the towee is in? Wouldn’t the towee want to free himself from the now disabled tower?

Someone also said “2nd if a boat is on tow they are on tow for a reason and at the mercy of the tower, if they are at the point where they would be paddling again most people towing will gladly put away the linesâ€. Yes, but what if the tower can’t because she's too busy saving herself from a capsize, from hitting rocks, etc., or she's dead from a burst artery, etc

Additionally, in some instances the victim becomes the rescuer. For example, as head lifeguard in Monmouth County, NJ, I used to certify applicants for the position of lifeguard. I used to swim out and call for help. The applicant would swim out, dive down while facing me and turn me around in order to perform the rear huggie cross-chest rescue. Just as the applicant dived down, I would turn around quickly so when the applicant rescuer turned me around I ended up facing him as he came to the surface. Then I grabbed him around the neck. About 50% of the time I ended up having to rescue the applicant (i.e. the rescuer’s and victim’s roles were reversed). Although a contrived test, sometimes this scenario occurred naturally in real life!

Your last example is exactly to the point & why the victim does not have control over the tow. My suggestion is that you may consider taking a class in towing from a qualified instructor...'but I'm just sayin'

[risingsn]

The main point of using perimeter deck lines is not that towee can disengage: (that virtually never happens, as tower would first ditch their tow line or others would assist in doing so . ) _ It's that the perimeter deck line is the simplest, soundest, fastest, most tried -and- true point of attachment.

In a tow, ease and simplicity of clipping on and clipping off is of paramount importance. A tow needs be set up and underway quickly. I have been in practise/training scenarios where as much as five minutes are lost in setting up a tow (we got chewed out) ; it' s shocking how much ground (well , water) is lost in just a few minutes , especially In wind, waves and current (all likely conditions where a tow becomes needed) just a few minutes translates into a lot of drifting, which then has to be won back.

If you really think out all of these towee release,alternative tow set-ups , you will see that they translate into time lost, the possibility of entanglement and trouble , unneeded complications, and are simply not worth it.

Well said

The ability of the towee/victim to disengage from a tow is simply not a factor in towing scenarios, so far down the list of important factors as to be not worth considering. .

[EEL]

Hey, lets do this topic as a musical at the next christmas party...each of us appearing on stage singing our post, kind of like a kayak opera. Just think of the possibilities, props and all. Cardboard kayaks and fake waves. Peter B could narrate and do sound effects!

I vote for arranging using music from Gilbert & Sullivan.

Ed Lawson

[Deb Millar]

Deb-

I was referring to the tow-ee cutting the tow-er's tow line should the tow-er become incapacitated (whew, I think I said that right). Ah never mind, its a "what -if, but 1000 paddlers have never come across this problem" discussion.

Phil

I see your point, Phil, but I'm presuming that the person on tow is, for whatever reason, unable to paddle comfortably. If the person towing somehow becomes incapacitated and the tow line has to be cut, then what do you have but an unpleasant scenerio if there are only TWO people. What if, hypothetically of course as I'm making this up as I go along -- the person who cut the tow line can now paddle but has no tow belt to tow the now incapacitated original tow-er.?

I know I'm probably being overly dramatic here, but these are scenerios that I'm using my feeble imagination to think of. If anything, the above situation I've described is a good argument to "go to sea in groups of three (or more)" as, should the original person towing tire or become unable to tow, there is some one else readily available who can come over and clip on. In a potential situation such as this -- or in any group paddle -- people should try to always be aware of their environment and the members in their group and radio communication between paddlers will only be a means of last resort if the group has gotten too spread out.

Just thinking outside the box, which is helpful in kayaking some times.

Deb M

[rossjb1]

I vote for arranging using music from Gilbert & Sullivan.

Ed Lawson

Sorry Deb, just a quick shot of absolute silliness, (once I start there’s no stopping…)

Ed. great idea! I'm thinking a finale as a West Side Story like fight. Instead of the Jets vs the Sharks it could be the Towers vs Towies or the Euros vs the Greenlanders or...

The Skegs vs The Rudders!

A choreographed fight scene with paddles used like kendo swords.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program (AKA reality)

Ross

[rick stoehrer]

Sorry Deb, just a quick shot of absolute silliness, (once I start there’s no stopping…)

Ed. great idea! I'm thinking a finale as a West Side Story like fight. Instead of the Jets vs the Sharks it could be the Towers vs Towies or the Euros vs the Greenlanders or...

The Skegs vs The Rudders!

A choreographed fight scene with paddles used like kendo swords.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program (AKA reality)

Ross

curiously, you made reference to the drivel on an e-board as "reality"

step away from your computer and go outside.

[subaruguru]

what pulls the overalls out of the chowder

Oh Peter...the imagery!

[PeterB]

I vote for arranging using music from Gilbert & Sullivan.

Ed Lawson

Maybe a Gangster rap comic opera revue .

I can be “Heavy Pâ€

But Gilbert & Sullivan would be fine, too:

“stay close to your desk, and never go to sea,

and you may be a ruler of the Queen's na-vee.â€

[Phil Allen]

You know how they tell us to keep our head out of our boats? well I think we all should get our buts in the boats and our heads out of the interweb!!

I like the musical theatre approach though.

Phil

[EEL]

step away from your computer and go outside.

And leave the matrix? Shudder.

It is so dry and warm and safe and easy.

Ed Lawson