If you’re going to go kayaking in any conditions, a throw rope is an essential piece of safety equipment. Knowing what it is and how to use it may even save your life, so it’s important to know what a throw rope is, and how to use it.
In fact, it’s a good idea to try using it before you get out on the river or in a situation where you need to use it so try and practice using a throw rope before you go kayaking.
A throw rope is basically a rope that has been designed specially for water rescue. As a result, it is long and very strong. Generally, a throw rope can also be stuffed into a bag – which makes the rope much easier to throw.
There will also be a clip on at least one end of the rope. This is all designed so that it will be much easier to save the person who is in the water.
Using a Throw Rope
The number one rule you need to remember is to never tie the rope to yourself and always be prepared to drop the rope is necessary. This is so that you won’t get dragged down into the water as well.
The first thing you want to do is try to get the attention of whoever you are saving by yelling or blowing your whistle. Once you have their attention, try to anticipate the current and see where they are heading.
Next, you want to ensure that you have a firm grip on the rope before throwing. Throw the bag part of the rope in front of the person who is in the water so the rope is across there chest. If you miss the first time, quickly retrieve the rope, empty the water out of the bag and try again.
Once they grab hold it’s time to pull them in. In some situations, the current creates a lot of water resistance which makes it difficult to retrieve the person.
You can always get more leverage by bracing your feet against the inside of your vessel or wrapping the rope around a tree if your near a bank. Once you can quickly and easily get the throw rope to somebody in the water, you’re ready to go.
What kind of rope do I need?
When you’re trying to decide which type of throw rope to get, it depends on the type of kayaking you’re going to be doing. If you’re just going to be recreational kayaking or going on a kayak tour, then you will probably only need one of the cheaper models of throw rope.
This is due to the fact that it is relatively unlikely that you’ll be in rough water conditions. If you do end up in rough water, however, you’ll want to have a throw rope with you!
If you’re going to be whitewater kayaking, you’ll probably want to look at one of the stronger, more expensive brands of throw rope. This is due to how whitewater rivers are.
These rivers have strong currents and can be very dangerous. It’s possible that the rope could catch on rocks, which might break the line if it is not strong enough.