riverman wrote:
[snip] However, no matter which one you choose, it should be a deliberate
CHOICE, taking into account the advantages of each one and used in a
manner that best utilizes those advantages.

In any case, those prepackaged tie-down kits are a waste of money, and
they send a rather embarassing signal about your ability to really
analyze a situation. Strange as it sounds, but I feel uncomfortable
paddling with someone who I don't believe 'thinks about things', but
instead relies on dogma and protocol, and if I notice my paddle partner
using some prepackaged tiedown kit, my opinion of their ability to
troubleshoot on-river situations deteriorates.

YMMV
/rant

--riverman

The *worst* are the ratcheting straps found 'four for $9.99' at Home
Depot/K-mart/et al. I replaced two gunwhales last year as a direct
result of those (not to mention the stress it caused the hull) and a
just rescued another. And yeah - a slip knot instead of a more
permanent loop is my preference on bow lines.

Marsh