Wave Witch - sort of a cross between a wave ski on steroids and a surf ski.

The most fun I've had in a kayak so far - both on flat water and in waves.

But in the waves, I leash the paddle to the bow eye to win the hearts and minds
of any swimmers inshore of whatever break I lose it in and to prevent blowaways
in an offshore wind.

I encase most of the leash in pool noodle foam to minimize the risk of
entanglement and to prevent it wrapping around the bow.

So far, so good....

But the bowline that I use to tie the leash on to the bow eye seems to be the
wrong knot. It wants to come loose after enough exposure to me floundering
around in the white water. I've tried a whole bunch of half hitches and
they're good for awhile - but they, too, come undone with enough white water.

Looked for some kind of non-metallic snap connector (don't want metal banging on
the fiberglass), but no luck so far.

I've got a kludge that works - sort of... but I'm thinking maybe there's a knot
specific to this situation. Something that won't come loose, but is still
reasonably easy to untie and also can be tied leaving minimal line between the
knot and the beginning of the pool noodle (so it can't flip around the bow)

Can anybody name such a knot?
--
PeteCresswell

Figure 8 on a bight, doubled.

http://www.indoorclimbing.com/Figure_8_Knot.html

Won't slip or jam. The only knot allowed for such an application in the
high-angle rescue unit to which I formerly belonged; the bowline being
specifically prohibited for such use.

Don't forget the "stopper knot".


"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message
...
Wave Witch - sort of a cross between a wave ski on steroids and a surf
ski.

The most fun I've had in a kayak so far - both on flat water and in waves.

But in the waves, I leash the paddle to the bow eye to win the hearts and
minds
of any swimmers inshore of whatever break I lose it in and to prevent
blowaways
in an offshore wind.

I encase most of the leash in pool noodle foam to minimize the risk of
entanglement and to prevent it wrapping around the bow.

So far, so good....

But the bowline that I use to tie the leash on to the bow eye seems to be
the
wrong knot. It wants to come loose after enough exposure to me
floundering
around in the white water. I've tried a whole bunch of half hitches and
they're good for awhile - but they, too, come undone with enough white
water.

Looked for some kind of non-metallic snap connector (don't want metal
banging on
the fiberglass), but no luck so far.

I've got a kludge that works - sort of... but I'm thinking maybe there's a
knot
specific to this situation. Something that won't come loose, but is
still
reasonably easy to untie and also can be tied leaving minimal line between
the
knot and the beginning of the pool noodle (so it can't flip around the
bow)

Can anybody name such a knot?
--
PeteCresswell

(PeteCresswell) wrote:

But the bowline that I use to tie the leash on to the bow eye seems to be the
wrong knot. It wants to come loose after enough exposure to me floundering
around in the white water.

What kind of line are you using? Some don't hold knots well. Spectra and cheap
polypropylene laid (twisted) rope will untie easily. Polyester braided line
(kernmantle or double braid) will hold a bowline forever as will nylon. Bungie
can come untied if not tied really tight. If you have the right line, the knot
is easy.

Mike

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Wave Witch - sort of a cross between a wave ski on steroids and a surf ski.

The most fun I've had in a kayak so far - both on flat water and in waves.

But in the waves, I leash the paddle to the bow eye to win the hearts and minds
of any swimmers inshore of whatever break I lose it in and to prevent blowaways
in an offshore wind.

I encase most of the leash in pool noodle foam to minimize the risk of
entanglement and to prevent it wrapping around the bow.

So far, so good....

But the bowline that I use to tie the leash on to the bow eye seems to be the
wrong knot. It wants to come loose after enough exposure to me floundering
around in the white water. I've tried a whole bunch of half hitches and
they're good for awhile - but they, too, come undone with enough white water.

Looked for some kind of non-metallic snap connector (don't want metal banging on
the fiberglass), but no luck so far.

I've got a kludge that works - sort of... but I'm thinking maybe there's a knot
specific to this situation. Something that won't come loose, but is still
reasonably easy to untie and also can be tied leaving minimal line between the
knot and the beginning of the pool noodle (so it can't flip around the bow)

Can anybody name such a knot?
--
PeteCresswell

One hard pull on a figure 8 loop could result in a bad jam. Instead
try a Zeppelin Loop:

http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/zeppelinloop.html

wrote:

One hard pull on a figure 8 loop could result in a bad jam. Instead
try a Zeppelin Loop:

http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/zeppelinloop.html

Interesting - that's just a Hunter's bend with a bight (the Hunter's bend was
invented by a guy named Hunter, not named as a result of being particularly
useful for hunting). The Hunter's bend is an attractive knot - very nice symmetry.

Mike

Michael Daly wrote:
wrote:

One hard pull on a figure 8 loop could result in a bad jam. Instead
try a Zeppelin Loop:

http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/zeppelinloop.html

Interesting - that's just a Hunter's bend with a bight (the Hunter's bend was
invented by a guy named Hunter, not named as a result of being particularly
useful for hunting). The Hunter's bend is an attractive knot - very nice symmetry.

Mike

They look very, very similiar, but it's not based on a Hunter's Bend,
it's based on the Zeppelin or Rosendahl bend. A Zeppelin bend starts
with non-interlocking b and q shapes and will not jam. Hunter's Bend,
on the other hand, is highly susceptible to jamming.

http://www.geocities.com/roo_two/Zeppelin.html

wrote:

They look very, very similiar, but it's not based on a Hunter's Bend,
it's based on the Zeppelin or Rosendahl bend.

You're right - they look the same on one side, but not the other. Thanks for
the correction. The Zeppelin is a neat knot - I have to add it to my collection.

Mike

Natural fibre (cotton, hemp, ..) swells when wet so knots are less
likely to come undone.

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Wave Witch - sort of a cross between a wave ski on steroids and a surf ski.

The most fun I've had in a kayak so far - both on flat water and in waves.

But in the waves, I leash the paddle to the bow eye to win the hearts and minds
of any swimmers inshore of whatever break I lose it in and to prevent blowaways
in an offshore wind.

I encase most of the leash in pool noodle foam to minimize the risk of
entanglement and to prevent it wrapping around the bow.

So far, so good....

But the bowline that I use to tie the leash on to the bow eye seems to be the
wrong knot. It wants to come loose after enough exposure to me floundering
around in the white water. I've tried a whole bunch of half hitches and
they're good for awhile - but they, too, come undone with enough white water.

Looked for some kind of non-metallic snap connector (don't want metal banging on
the fiberglass), but no luck so far.

I've got a kludge that works - sort of... but I'm thinking maybe there's a knot
specific to this situation. Something that won't come loose, but is still
reasonably easy to untie and also can be tied leaving minimal line between the
knot and the beginning of the pool noodle (so it can't flip around the bow)

Can anybody name such a knot?
--
PeteCresswell

Per Wm Watt:
Natural fibre (cotton, hemp, ..) swells when wet so knots are less
likely to come undone.

I think I'm experiencing this. Had problems with Marlowe pre-stretch. Switched
to some el-cheapo junk rope that I found at Home Depot and it seems tb holding
well.
--
PeteCresswell