Technique
by Doug Alderson
(all photos by author)
With a cow-tail line you can short-tow a partner in need of assistence, keep your kayak from drifting away after a wet exit, hang on to your paddle if you need both hands free for rescue, and clip into a throw line for an open-water tow.
A cow-tail can be clipped directly to the bow of a kayak that needs a quick tow to move to safety.
I like to get the most out of my kayaking gear; all pieces of my kayaking gear are under constant scrutiny. Less is better, smaller is better, simple is better, and function is paramount. The one piece of gear that may have provided the greatest opportunity for scrutiny is my towline.
A towline is a fundamental piece of safety gear. You can use a towline to assist a tired or injured paddlers and keep them moving with the group. With a towline you can help a struggling paddler keep on course when strong winds or current make directional control difficult. In many circumstances, a tow can prevent a more severe incident from occurring. In calm water most tow lines will work fairly well, but no one can guarantee calm water at all times. Used near surf, in breaking waves near rocks, or in strong current, towlines can still be useful but the risk of entanglement makes them particularly dangerous. It is often the case, though, that rough conditions make a tow an urgent necessity. Using towlines in rough conditions is deceptively difficult and proper training and practice are necessary. Well-designed gear helps make using a towline easier and safer to use. |
