Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Safer rigging

Posted By: Brianne Corbett
Date: Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 6:13 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Unsafe perimeter lines (Brian Nystrom)

: There are three problems with bungees: 1) They are weak. IMHO bungee cord
: should NEVER be used as a structural part of any rescue system and I
: consider decklines as part of a rescue system.
SNIP
: 2) Unless you do something to elevate them above the deck or provide pull
: tabs, bungees are VERY difficult to grab, especially with gloves on or
: with cold, wet hands.
SNIP
: 3) The very characteristic that makes bungee useful for retaining items on
: deck - it's stretchiness - makes it undesirable when you need to get a
: firm hold on a boat.

Brian...

100% correct. The bungees are not good perimeter lines at all. My boat has static perimeter lines that completely encircle the boat. This is the best way.

However, I have found two improvements that I am implementing for this season. First, I am replacing my current standard nylon lines with Spectra-core. I get a big time strength increase with Spectra core cordage. Spectra-core is made of a special extremely strong form of white polypropylene. It doesn't sag like nylon ropes do. That helps keep the lines taut.

Second, I plan to switch from one single length of rope doing a 360 around the boat to many individually secured sections. This will improve the overall redundancy and reliability of the rigging system and keep the lines more taut.

I also have added 3/8" braided polypropylene "grab handles" just behind the cockpit coaming. They lie flush until needed and then they pop-out a bit to allow a perfect hand grab... much more reliable than grabbing the coaming. They work extremely well with a stirrup or C-Step system.

I use these hand holds only for this purpose. They are a pure self rescue tool. That keeps them in top condition. And if they should get damaged... it takes about 5 minutes to replace them by threading a new section of cord through the two big washers under the deck and then tying a big Ashley Stopper knot on each side... simple yet very effective.

Another rigging feature I have implemented is paddlefloat straps. Bungees are suicidally worthless for big people using a paddlefloat in rough water. Companies like Seaward Kayaks use flat webbing straps with Fastex buckles. I use this system over the top of and just inside of my rear deck bungees. I can use the bungees to increase tension on the float... but it is the straps that bear the entire load. They are bolted to the deck with 1/4' bolts and giant washers spreading the force load.

Set up this way, the paddlefloat is truly a rigid outrigger with no tendancy to scissors.

Fortunately, I have never needed this rigging "in the wild." But I can assure you that I feel 110% better having top quality rigging and knowing that it actually works under very rough conditions and that I can rely on it.

Safe Paddling!
Brianne

Messages In This Thread

Unsafe perimeter lines
Ben Staley -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 12:50 p.m.

Re: Thanks for the good beta, Ben *NM*
Shawn Baker -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 1:13 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
Tim Mattson -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 2:03 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
dan -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 3:07 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
Jed -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 3:09 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
LeeG -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 4:28 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
Tim Mattson -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 6:16 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
Jed -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 7:04 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
Shawn Baker -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 10:34 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
LeeG -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 10:42 p.m.

Re: Unsafe perimeter lines
Brian Nystrom -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 11:12 a.m.

Safer rigging
Brianne Corbett -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 6:13 p.m.

Re: Safer rigging
Brian Nystrom -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 6:25 p.m.

Question for the Day
Shawn Baker -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 7:06 p.m.

Re: Question for the Day
Brianne Corbett -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 9:12 p.m.

Re: Question for the Day
Shawn Baker -- Wednesday, 6 March 2002, at 10:34 a.m.

Re: Question for the Day
Brian Nystrom -- Wednesday, 6 March 2002, at 1:10 p.m.

Re: Question for the Day
LeeG -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 7:15 a.m.

Re: Question for the Day
Brian Nystrom -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 12:48 p.m.

Re: Question for the Day
LeeG -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 4:42 p.m.

Re: Question for the Day
Brian Nystrom -- Wednesday, 6 March 2002, at 1:08 p.m.

Deck line materials
Brian Nystrom -- Wednesday, 6 March 2002, at 1:02 p.m.

Re: Deck line materials
Brianne Corbett -- Friday, 8 March 2002, at 7:50 a.m.

Re: Deck line materials
Brian Nystrom -- Friday, 8 March 2002, at 3:08 p.m.

I have one boat with and one without...
Craig Mackinnon -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 9:00 a.m.

Make that "taut" perimeter deck lines...
Craig Mackinnon -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 9:16 a.m.

Re:perimeter lines; rethinking rigging
Ben Staley -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 10:48 a.m.

Does the boat have sheer clamps?
Brian Nystrom -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 11:31 a.m.

Re: Does the boat have sheer clamps? *Pic*
Ben Staley -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 12:02 p.m.

deck lines
risto -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 12:41 p.m.

Re: deck lines
Brian Nystrom -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 5:23 p.m.

Re: deck lines
risto -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 5:02 a.m.

In defense of a good "Cat FIght"
Jed -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 7:32 a.m.

Fanning the flames, eh Jed?
Brian Nystrom -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 12:35 p.m.

OOPS!!! I didn't realize this was tongue in cheek
Brian Nystrom -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 2:05 p.m.

Re: deck lines
Brian Nystrom -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 7:37 a.m.

Re: deck lines
risto -- Thursday, 7 March 2002, at 12:31 p.m.

Re:perimeter lines: recessed rigging
Shawn Baker -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 2:01 p.m.

Re:perimeter lines: recessed rigging
Jed -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 2:32 p.m.

A suggestion
Brian Nystrom -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 5:52 p.m.

Unsafe perimeter lines
dan -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 7:35 p.m.

YOU are the man..........!!!!
Bruce S. -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 1:11 a.m.

Yeah, way to stay with it...
Craig Mackinnon -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 8:47 a.m.

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