Letters

June-July 1999

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

TOWING THE SAFETY LINE ARTICLE

Many years ago on the west coast, I learned a very good lesson. The coaming separated from the hull of my kayak in the middle of a 30 day trip. Prior to this, I used to pick up the kayak at the front part of the cockpit as I lifted the boat. I did not consider how much upward pressure the palm of my hand was applying to the coaming every time I did this. Fortunately, my repair kit fixed the problem and I was able to continue the trip. When I read about the coaming model of tow line, in the December/ January '99 issue of Wavelength, I thought about that day.

A tow line can also be attached to a PFD, a waist belt or the back deck of your kayak. All these systems have advantages and disadvantages, and the new "coaming model" is no different. A tow line wrapped around the outside of the coaming will, like the palm of my hand, put a lot of unnecessary pressure on the front part of the coaming when the rescuer is towing someone. The constant tugging and pulling of the tow line as the kayaks move up and down the waves will tend to pull the coaming away from the hull of the kayak and in time create the same problem mentioned above. My vote is still for a deck mounted system if you want to be comfortable.

Leaders should consider towing as their first line of defense. A tow line should be used to keep the group together. If one person is not strong enough to tow, consider a tandem tow in calm water.

A double kayak will improve your situation but it will not negate the value of a tow line. If you put the injured or ill person in a double kayak this person may not be able to paddle and the other paddler will need to have a tow line attached if the waves get choppy, if the wind increases, or if they need the extra power to keep up with the group.

A good leader should attach a tow line to an injured person's kayak, inform the group of the person's injury, reduce the cruising speed of the group and consider changing the group's expectations for the day. A person with tendonitis, for example, can give the injured wrist the rest it needs and reduce the swelling by soaking the wrist in the cold ocean en route.

David Blacoe, Sooke, BC

SAND SKIS SAVE THE DAY

I thought you and your readers might be interested in the sand skis I used on a solo solstice trip last year to the south side of the Brooks Peninsula. The old saying that "necessity (pulled muscle) is the mother of invention" proved true when I was moving my kayak over a fairly long distance to where I was camped. As I didn't bring a set of wheels (next time) I ended up using two crab pot floats. With their upturned shape, durability and rigidity, they proved better than two telemark Rossignol Attaque skis.

Using one piece of rope (beach find) to hold the floats together close enough to keep the kayak's stem clear of the sand, and two pieces of rope to keep the floats apart, I secured the floats to the outer edges of the kayak. You are now ready to carve turns in the dunes.

I found that even with a fully loaded kayak I was able to move easily over the sand to my launch spot. To prevent confusion for any turtles swimming by, the ski track is easily smoothed over.

Mike Sheehan

KAYAKERS HARD TO SPOT

We own a 39'sailboat and have a concern about the visibility of kayakers. The dark blues, greens, browns and blacks and even camo's worn by kayakers, are sometimes hard to spot in choppy seas and failing light conditions. We have learned to look for others when we see a kayaker from the deck of our boat, knowing that there will be two or three more within a 1 / 2 mile radius.

John & Barabara Hunt West Sechelt, BC