Tow, Tow, Tow Your Boat
By Steve Isaac (aka Chief)
The longest portage Verlen Kruger made during his paddle around
America odyssey was over 60 miles. The WaterTribe Okefenokee Challenge
has a 40 mile portage if you want to take the fastest route around the
swamp. Even those going through the Okefenokee need to portage about 10
miles from the Traders Hill checkpoint to the Okefenokee launch
site.
Any expedition may involve some long portages so a good towing rig
may come in handy even if you aren't doing the WaterTribe Challenge. A
boat cart and towing rig will make the job easier, and you will be able to
portage the whole load in one trip instead of two.
This weekend I made the first attempt to develop a towing rig that
would be able to tow my boat and gear 40 miles. The rig has to be light
weight and stow inside the kayak. Setup time is not important, but should
be kept easy. This was the first weekend of my "training pyramid" and I
had to do 5 miles. Using equipment on hand, this is what I came up with.
First Rig
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I used a 46" nylon loop used for climbing. I used two cable
ties to make two end loops. This makes it easier to keep the setup on the
pack when putting the pack on. This loop is too long. Next time I
will try a 36" loop.
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By slipping the end loops over the pack waist belt I was able to
form a "hitch" for connecting the kayak. The pack includes a hydration
system. The suspension works well for the job of packing and towing
although I doubt that Dana Designs had this application in mind.
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Clipping a carabiner between the center section of the loop and the
boat completes the setup. It is easy to clip in and out. You can
reach around and grab the carabiner if you need to control the boat for rough
sections or downhills.
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The setup works pretty well. The boat tows level and it's
pretty easy to walk. The tongue weight is about 5 pounds. It is
very critical that the boat be perfectly centered on the wheels or the boat
will wander behind you. The cart should have a centering mechanism
designed in.
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The balloon tires on this rig make rolling resistance too
high. Primex makes a version with better tires for this job. Also,
it might be possible to use 20" bicycle tires but then storage in the boat
would be an issue.
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Turning is no problem. You do have to take turns to the
outside and swing wide. Watch out for the back half of the boat hitting
something. Also, on steep ups and downs it is possible to hit the back of
the boat on the ground. Either make the rig higher or add a skid
protector to the back.
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If you get to St. George after me, this is all you will see for the
next 40 miles. :)
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I towed this rig for 5 miles on Sunday. My heart
rate stayed in mid zone 2 the entire time. It is essential that you
practice towing as I recommended in the discussion forum. The muscles
used are very different. Also, the friction on your feet is noticeably
greater. It will take some miles to toughen everything up so you don't
damage yourself over 40 miles. |
| This rig needs some modifications, but
don't wait for the perfect rig. Get started now on your training.
Next time I will fix the following issues:
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Different tires
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Centering and alignment structure for the cart
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Shorten the connection between the belt and the boat. There is too much
bouncing.
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Either raise the cart or install a skid protector.
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Add reflectors on the back
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© 2001 Steve Isaac. All Rights Reserved
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