Thoughts on using, stowing and deploying towlines and on making your own boat mounted tow system.
"On Body" Systems.
North Water's BA tow system.
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These are readily available from various kayak retailers and most of the major equipment manufacturers produce one or more varieties, usually based on a waist belt with a quick release buckle and an integral bag to store the line in.
The picture shows a Palm bag - this particular one came with an alloy karabiner but you can also buy cheaper versions with a plastic tow-hook which might just suffice to tow an empty boat in calm conditions, but I have to question whether it would cope with the shock load of a swamped, loaded sea-kayak in bumpy conditions!
The alloy krab does need some care and maintenance in a salt-water environment of course and these are really intended for use on flat water for towing river / general purpose boats for a relatively short distance.
I do question the use of these with a sea-boat as the tape is only marginally over 2 meters long – as the rear deck of most sea-boats will be at least that you’ll end up with the towed boat constantly over-riding yours. I carry a length of cordage to extend the line if I’m using my waist belt with a sea-boat. I often wear it in addition to having my boat mounted line as I find it ideal to get a line on quickly, and sometimes all that you need is a short line for a quick tow away from a hazard.
In many cases, that may suffice and may be actually a better option than deploying the much longer line on the boat. Personally though, I don't like using a waist tow if I have to tow for any distance.
Brian Nystrom has some interesting thoughts on modifying a North Water waist tow so that it can give either a short tow (for a quick, close tow) or a longer tow line for more lengthy towing requirements. He suggests that a waist tow is more versatile than a boat mounted line in some situations.
BA Systems
Several manufacturers are producing tow systems that mount on the chest harness of a BA – see the Knoydart site for some illustrations although of course other retailers can supply similar systems. The picture below shows one by North Water and they say that it’s “12 feet of line” so you’ve got 4 meters or so plus the cows-tail attachment.
As with waist belts, they offer versatility but move the point of pull even further up your body with resultant risk of personal injury. On the plus side, such systems provide a quick, easy deployment and relatively easy re-stowing after use.
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