Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 16:53:50 -0600
From: "Mike McNally" 
Subject: [Paddlewise] tethers

Doug Lloyd, or somebody else mentioned tethers.  I would think it would be a
good idea to tether your survival bag and your kayak bow line to your off
hand.  Here is another good place to use a bungy.  ...and tether the paddle
to the boat.

I think a powerfull wave wipeout would easly pull this stuff off your wrist
or do some real damage to your arm.  So I'm thinking: tight wrist bracelet
of cord, bungy tied to bracelet, boat & surv bag tied to bungy, knife locked
into vest.  Tie the survival bag on with a dark colored line and the boat
with a brite one.

Configure the survival bag line so that there is a loop in it appropriate to
go over head and 1 arm, for swimming with it.  Between this loop and the
wrist knot leave 16in of line.  You'll cut this after putting on the loop
and will appreaciate the 16in.  After it's on your shoulder, the survival
bag should trail just behind the end of your arm stroke and short of
interferring with your kick stroke.

What kind of bungy and how long?

How far do you want the bow of the boat away from you?

Mike



Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 23:39:42 -0800
From: Doug Lloyd 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] tethers

Can't totally picture this system, but in my upcoming article in SK
Magazine, I highly recommend against such tether arrangements. The only
thing that should ever go on your wrist is a *short* paddle leash
connecting your control hand to the paddle. Chri Duff uses a paddle leash,
and he is in bigger waves (at sea) than most of us.  Shoulderable loops
have a place for tethering oneself to very open-cockpited kayaks like the
inflatable ones, but that is it - IMHO.

I would hate to see you get all tangled or strangled in an overly complex
system. Also, leave your bow line alone, and let it function for the job it
is intended to do. Again, IMHO. You best be careful, or you may win a
"Darwin" award from the NSW kayak club in their newsletter from Oz land.

My friend, Doug Alderson, wrote an article about using a fannypack survival
bag you put around your waist if the going gets tough. He was immediately
trounced on for not mentioning that this arrangement could interfere with a
lay-back roll. I've wrestled with the issue too, over the years, as I tend
to paddle solo on exposed coast in rougher stuff. I finally went with
having everything in/on my PFD. 

You can "work" with your idea, but do try it out in some rough water with
some friends close by. Remember, if you bail and loose your kayak and are
dependent on your survival bag and then get messed up by that, then two
wrongs will not make a right - they may make you dead.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who gets tongue-tangled in long lines sometimes)  



Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 08:19:07 EST
From: Bhansen97
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] tethers

>>
 My friend, Doug Alderson, wrote an article about using a fannypack survival
 bag you put around your waist if the going gets tough. He was immediately
 trounced on for not mentioning that this arrangement could interfere with a
 lay-back roll.  
>>

I often use such an arrangement. When in the boat, I rotate the fanny pack 
around so it sits on my abdomen. Doesn't interfere with the layback at all. - 
Bill Hansen



Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 12:18:06 -0800
From: "Tom W..." gadfly
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] tethers

Doug,

         Here's a possibly foolish idea FWIW, how about a 8 meter 
"retractable doggy leash..."?  I have not tried one, but that perhaps?  One 
could carry two and hook them together with the clips at their ends so that 
the retractor was at opposite ends.  A simple cleat might prove useful to 
"tie them off" on either boat?

         When you mention a short paddle leash-I must agree heartily-I made 
mine from some "junk being sold for $1 a piece at my local dive shop." 
[squeeze buckles etc...] but since I do not use an... uh... 80deg, of 
set, oh you know-paddle that one uses a control had for, I put mine on 
the left wrist.

         I still and probably always will figure that a wrist-leash is 
better than one attached to the boat...  If I have to exit, I want as much 
with me as I can...

         As far as PFD's go, I also agree with you-In my case, I use a 
[ugh!] waterproof "fanny pack" that I rotate 'til 
it is in front of me-most of the rest goes in my PFD pockets, 
etc...  SPARES go in another sack either on top of kayak, or below the 
spray skirt...

         Tom...

gadfly

homepage:
http://www2.tscnet.com/~gadfly/



Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 12:51:42 -0800
From: Doug Lloyd 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] tethers

>>
Tom wrote:
Doug, As far as PFD's go, I also agree with you-In my case, I use a 
[ugh!] waterproof "fanny pack" that I rotate 'til 
it is in front of me-most of the rest goes in my PFD pockets, 
etc...  SPARES go in another sack either on top of kayak, or below the 
spray skirt...Tom...
>>

I used to use a fannypack too, but if you are short-torsoes like me, it
does impaired paddling a bit. Also, I carry a "spare tire" around my waist,
so there isn't much room for an "abnominalpack"!

My friend, Doug Alderson  uses a fannypack for his survival gear, puts it
on whenever he encounters rough seas. We have done some very rough passages
together (nothing macho - we usually make a run for it if there is a
possibility of getting shorebound on an exposed headland or some such
thing, and we need to relocate to more comfortable surroundings). He never
had a problem with the fannypack oriented toward the rear. It all depends
on your boat/skirt/body/comfort situation. Everyone is so different and we
often forget that in a world where we are so inclined toward looking for
pat answers.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who hopes if he ever had half the injury Tom sustained, that
I'd even have half the motivation Tom has shown) 



Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 
From: "Tom W..." gadfly
Subject: [Paddlewise] "pat answers" was:tethers

Doug,

         My reason for trying to always remember my fanny pack at the 
 least, is that my "judgement" is not always reliable...  But until I 
 get out beyond the harbor, I think I can safely keep my VHF in the truck...

         Since I seem to be about average or perhaps just a little tall in 
 torso dimensions, I suppose that would explain a difference.

>> 
Everyone is so different and we often forget that in a world where
we are so inclined toward looking for pat answers.
>>

         This is [I feel ] an important point.  It is also one of the 
 things I like about Paddlewise, and before that, Wavelength...

         I remember a thread about Jet Skiers, and the many different 
 approaches to their...approach!   As you say Doug, people are indeed 
 different, different builds, different concept of what is comfortable, of 
 what is "Safe" or a "good risk..." even what resources they have.  So, it 
 is important that we share our views, problems, and where possible, answers.

         If someone out of the blue, just handed me a kayak now-I'm afraid 
 I'd look at them and ask them, "are you kidding?"   But they 
 didn't-it's sitting out there hollering at me, "C'mon-let's GO!  We're on 
 the right side of the Sound now-C'mon!"

         I think for this season [40 year old wimp that I am] I'll wait 
 until the sun comes out for more than 9or10 hours...  Well, at least 
 February for heavens sake! 

         Oh and about a "bonk...?"  yea, well everyone [that I know of] on 
 this list has a kayak right?  Betcha if they get bonked, and are in coma, 
 betcha even those who cannot roll a kayak, will!   just a thought 

         Take care,

                 Tom...

gadfly

homepage:
http://www2.tscnet.com/~gadfly/



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:34:26 -0700
From: "Shawn W. Baker" 
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] tethers

>>
Tom wrote:
         Here's a possibly foolish idea FWIW, how about a 8 meter
"retractable doggy leash..."?
>>

Excellent idea, Tom!

Anybody know whether these things have [probably  :( ] steel springs
that would corrode?

Shawn

- -- 
Shawn W. Baker
http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/



Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 10:21:39 -0800
From: "Tom W..." gadfly
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] tethers

Shawn,
	
	Thankyou-

	I am not sure if these things have steel springs, but I wonder if a "wet 
down" with Boeshield  would help in that case.  Also storing in zip 
lock bags until need for their use comes up?

	'Course then there is the idea of using a [ahem] "hand turned dowel" in 
place of the reel...

	Tom...


homepage:
http://www2.tscnet.com/~gadfly/