Whetman Sea Guide Towline
£89.95
Whetman Sea Guide Towline
The priority in making this
device was functionality. The user is likely to deploy the device on a
regular basis & needs a simple system which can be repacked in rough
water and then be deployed again.
The bag has two tows:
- Main Tow
- Second Tow
The two connectors are
positioned further forward on the belt on large easy to locate fixed
loops. There is a one way zip which only permits the main tow to be
stowed in one position that is on the left side. Therefore the main tow
can only be located on one side, keeping things simple.
The zip pull is a yellow ball on a cord. There is a wide band of reflective element on the top & side of the bag.
The
14metre towline is made of floating 19mm tape connected back to the
stainless ring & elastic webbing which is connected to a central
pivot point inside the bag.
The float can be positioned anywhere on the tape line and will stay in position. This is an advantage when the connector must be fed under decklines in a raft situation then the float will remain outside of the lines. The tape creates a very low profile connection to the karabiner which prevents snagging.
The ultra short second tow is a separate line of tape which is connected directly to the central pivot point and exits out of a drain hole in the base of the bag. It is deployed without unzipping the bag.
This second tow can be used as a contact towline, be used to cinch around a paddle shaft & allow it to float free, also useful should a throwline rescue be deployed into a gully; once thrown the throwline end can be clipped into the short tow & the rescuer is then hands free to prepare to tow out the casualty. Another application is should the wearer be assisting from the rocks on a rocky landing in swell he may wish to be held in position on a belay line connected to the short tow to prevent being washed into the sea.
The
bag contains four hard floats to give positive buoyancy if dropped in
the water. The bag material is waterproof and so does not absorb water
& become heavy.
The size of the bag is generous to ensure
ease of repacking the line whilst at sea in your kayak. To repack rotate
the bag onto your spraydeck & slacken off the belt to allow the bag
to sit forward of your PFD. The top will naturally open up and stay up
giving space to repack the tape. Paddle away from the line and trail it
over your shoulder. This allows you to repack it by pulling it down off
the shoulder into the bag.
The belt is 50mm webbing with a cam
buckle release & toggle. There is a slider to allow adjustment of
the buckle position to be set central around your waist.
Maintenance
Sea
salt crystals can form & block up the karabiners springs and so we
highly recommend rinse in hot water after use & spray with silicone
spray.
Wash the bag occasionally in hot water to free up the zip from salt crystals.