Buoyancy Aid - expedition

[jungle jim01]

I'm trying to find a high quality expedition buoyancy aid in the uk which has good freedom of movement. I amlooking for something that has a good built in towing system (ie one that can quick release without tension) as well as abple storage for personal safety kit. If anyone has any suggestions I would be glad to hear from you.

Thanks

[Craig Addison]

There are quite a few expedition BA's on the market, but you'd be hard pushed to find on with a built in towing system, not even sure why you would want one, for a proper sea kayaking towing system you need somewhere to stuff 10-20 metres of towline, you're better off with a tow belt or a deck mounted system, FWIW the so-called towing attatchments on white water BA's were originally designed to be used as a belay point, so as not to fall in when rescuing pinned boats, using a throw line etc., although they do come in handy for a short tow.
My advice is, buy a decent exped BA such as Palm, Wild Water etc. & invest in a proper towing system separately.

Craig.

[Mike Buckley]

Cows Tails do indeed make a convenient attachment for a short tow - notably of a swamped kayak being recovered - by people who are prepared to physically attach themselves to another craft in what are usually confused white water situations. Rather them than me ;)

The manufactures literature/instructions usually makes reference to the intended purpose which Craig outlined.

There IS confusion about the use of CT's - one outdoor retailer in Scotland even has one being used to attach the kayaker to the boat (in their "display" in the shop). I saw this copied on the river and the bloke paddling told me "he'd seen it in ****".

A waist belt makes a much better alternative and will be rather kinder on your back. By far the best method for towing a sea boat is a boat-mounted tow where the load is taken by the boat.

Mike.

[Mark R]

Cowtails...they're for securing to your lunchbox, right?


-----------Mark Rainsley

[Jim]

>Cowtails...they're for securing to your lunchbox, right?
>
>----------- Mark Rainsley

Nope, those things are camera cases - much more useful than lunch!

Unless I am very sure I won't get caught out I will not use a cowstail for towing, the chest harness is not set up for quick release if you capsize. I do use the cowstail a lot to anchor myself if I am wielding a line in a slippery place, or more rarely if I have to rescue someone/thing and need to be on a line. It is also ideal for someone else to attach a line to should you become trapped. All these purposes are much more for whitewater river kayaking than sea paddling, and I religiously strip my BA of all my river rescue gear including the cowstail before going into the salty stuff, which also helps prevent corrosion to it!

JIM

[Graham Dore]

I have been pleased with my Yak Zambezi. It has a back pocket big enough for flares and a bivi bag as well as a small pocket on the front. I have made a rope bag and tow for the back which links into the cows tail belt and have used this for an extended tow in fairly testing conditions. I agree that the quick release could be slicker but I find it to be OK (e.g. have practised releasing when capsized).

Looking at the Yak website I wonder if the Zambezi is changed now as it is still listed but has 'new' against it - I bought mine a couple of years ago!

Graham