From the Rainforest: Towing 101

April-May 2006

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

Towing is the art of hitching up to another kayak and pulling it along. I’ve heard the argument that we need to remove the stigma from being towed, to think of it as creating a ‘temporary double’ to help along a slow paddler. But for me, sea kayaking is all about empowerment, the feeling of being in control of your own boat at your own pace. It’s not a race. In fact, slowing down i

s probably one of the healthiest things our society could learn to do. If someone is consistently travelling at a slower pace than the rest of the group, then the group needs to slow down, or the slower person should be switched into a double kayak with a stronger paddler in order to keep up. And perhaps the slower one should find another, more compatible group of people to paddle with in future.

However, on very rare occasions I have used towing for two reasons: to get an injured person back to town, or to help someone get through a short stretch of wind against which they could not paddle un-aided, for the greater good of the group. My partner Bonny has also used it on a few guided day trips, where beginners in bulky doubles could not steer their kayaks in high winds.

In terms of equipment, you have a number of choices. First, do you want a manufactured, ready-to-use system, or do you want to create a DIY rig? Second, do you want to tow from your boat, or from your body?

Obviously, ready-to-use systems have some advantages. Someone else has done all the thinking and has tested the design to make sure it works. This leaves you more time for paddling. On the other hand, many people enjoy the DIY aspect—engineers, rock climbers, people like that.

Attaching a tow rope to your kayak is kindest on your back, although the line can get tangled in your rudder and any safety gear on your rear deck. Towing from your body requires a belt-type system, worn around your waist. This can cause some stress to your spine and I avoid it these days, although I do have a short tow line attached to my lifejacket for getting people out of really bad situations quickly (which I have never used).

My own preference is a manufactured, boat-mounted system. This comes in the form of a little bag which I simply clip onto the back deck of my kayak, ready should I need it, but otherwise out of sight and out of mind. Some people choose to deploy a tow rope whenever they go kayaking. Because mine is so easy to deploy, I tend not to, unless I’m anticipating a problem.

All I have to do is open the convenient toggle at the top of the bag, pull out the loop at the end of the rope, pull it over my torso and set it around the rim of my cockpit. I then paddle over to the boat to be towed, attach the brass clip on the outside of the bag to their bow, and paddle away, letting the rope play out to its full length. There is a built-in bungie cord in the rope, which takes out a lot of the jerks. The most important part of any tow system is the quick release, in case you need to get out of the system fast—say a great white shark is chowing down on the stern of the boat you’re towing! Test yours before every trip.

As soon as you begin mixing ropes, bodies and waves, you need to consider adding another piece of equipment to your PFD—a rescue knife. These began appearing in the mid-80s on river paddlers’ lifejackets. It seemed macho at the time, but you’ll now find one on my ocean paddling PFD, although I’ve never used it.

In terms of technique, again you have a number of options. How you act will depend upon whether your team member is able to paddle, or is incapacitated. Whenever possible, have the person being towed help out by paddling. This will make your job easier, as well as keeping the person more stable and warm. Make sure someone paddles beside, to troubleshoot and provide moral support (“So, the farmer says to the salesman...”).

If a paddler is really incapacitated, you will need to have someone rafted up, holding on tight the whole time, just like during a rescue. This can be difficult, especially in big waves. You also need to consider what could happen if the person you’re assisting were to capsize. Could the person wet exit and then climb back in? If not, you would need outside assistance from a bigger vessel. In other words, don’t try towing your buddy with a broken femur!

One thing you can be sure of—the person being towed will cool off considerably. Be sure to anticipate this—give snacks and layer up with warm hats and extra sweaters, or you will be dealing with hypothermia as well as whatever problem started you towing in the first place.

My advice regarding towing would be to try out some different rigs and set yourself up with your favorite. Then get out there and practice with your paddling mates, before you need it (see my Time Well Wasted column, April/May 2004). Remember, towing is not a technique for dragging your friends around—use good judgement to avoid conditions beyond the group’s abilities.

© Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck operate Rainforest Kayak Adventures in Clayoquot Sound 1-877-422-WILD

Email: mail@rainforestkayak.com Web: www.rainforestkayak.co