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I’m
doubtful you will find this piece of kit in any kayak shop but it has
proved its worth time and time again. An Extraction Line is a 5m length
of 4mm Spectra cord that is lightning fast to deploy, particularly when
compared to the normal 15m tow rope. It is a very versatile piece of
gear that can be used either ‘daisy chained’ (about
1.2m length) or unravelled (5.00m length). Used unravelled the line has
a breaking strain of near 1 tonne.
I carry mine comfortably clipped around my waist. It can be easily
carried in your PFD or other location provided you can access it
quickly for immediate deployment.
Core
Purpose:
- To quickly
extract a kayak from potential danger, loaded or not.
It is
significantly faster than deploying a 15m tow line or part length
thereof.
Secondary
Purposes:
- To clip 2 or 3
boats together for a hands free morning tea or lunch on the water.
- Sling rescue,
fitted around the coaming to assist exhausted/ injured paddler to
re-enter.
- Clothes line
or similar when kayak camping.
- Anchor line
securing your boat or multiple boats to a jetty or similar.
- Pull a kayak
through shallow waters eg: Monkey Mia.
- As a contact
line connecting you to your boat in case of a wet exit in rough
conditions.
- Pulling your
kayak further up the beach, loaded or not. Saves bending down and
pulling which reduces the chances of back injury.
- As an
emergency tie-down to a roof rack or similar.
- Can’t find
your dog lead - here’s a solution.
The
Ingredients:
- Spectra cord
5.5m by 4mm. A half metre is used for a knot and loop at each end.
- A
high quality karabiner (krab) equal to the breaking strain of the
Spectra cord. The krab should have a no notch gate. Notches tend to
grab whatever cord is being detached from the karabiner.
The
Recipe:
- Tie a minimum
10mm loop at one end of the cord using a figure of eight knot.
- Attach
the krab to the opposite end. Best use a tight knot and cinch it in
using a cable tie. This will lock the knot and prevent it from sliding
on the krab.
- Now
‘daisy chain’ the cord starting from the 10mm end
loop. Proceed until there is one ’daisy loop’
remaining and pass that loop over the krab gate. That creates a locking
loop which stops the ‘daisy chain’ from
unravelling.
The
Method: (Deployment)
- Krab the 10mm
loop end to your PFD, Cow Tail or Tow Belt.
- Release the
locking loop and clip the krab to the boat being rescued.
- Start paddling
away, tension on the line will cause the ‘daisy chain’ to unravel.
- Finished-
simply gather or splay the extraction line, stuff it inside the front
of your PFD or other method you prefer. If time allows, it only takes
2.5 minutes to ‘daisy chain’ the line.
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Extraction
line showing locking loop
Extraction
line complete
No notch
karabiner
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