An improved way to mount canoe swim lines

After years of doing things one way I’ve decided to try another and so far it’s been quite successful too.
This is my new method of mounting swim lines to a canoe and requires no drilling, plus it’s easy to adjust and takes minutes to fit.
I’m using high strength Palm Pro 25m 10kn lines on a Hou Canoe Prospector with tough 8mm bungee cord.
If you have any fees back or better ideas do share them.

[@dianabenobo]

I'm a day sailor and keep 10 foot painters loose in the bottom at both ends in case I have to swim after she tries to breeze off. A 10 foot advantage and couple of wraps about my foot for a step up might help me fix my bailer.

[@canoepoler]

Two things that I like about this... It is a good idea AND you are always looking for a better way. Thanks for sharing.

[@barnaclebill1615]

I really enjoyed the demonstration! Nobody in America has figured this out yet. 👍👍😁🇺🇸

[@outdoorinstruction]

It’s not ideal for all rivers, we tend to have narrower and quite technical rivers in the uk. Though I’m sure this set up has some applications for you guys over the pond 🇬🇧

[@sandroweiner1858]

great video, we typ. drill the deck plate and install 10mm black elastic cord.

[@daveknapton4096]

thanks for the video and sharing your knowledge..... do you attach a painter too at that end or other end of boat only?

[@outdoorinstruction]

Kind words thank you Yes I do I’ll post a painter video soon. But in short I have painters 1.5 boat lengths long bow and stern. Made from red 8mm floating rope.

[@REXpeditions]

I am currently in the process of outfitting my boat and love this setup. This is my first time outfitting a canoe. I like the clean profile of this. In your opinion, when I need a painter, would there be an issue with me just pulling the needed amount from the bag and somehow attaching it to the grab loop? Maybe clove hitch it?

[@outdoorinstruction]

Thanks for your comments. There’s lots of ways of popping rope on your boats and I have a simple philosophy of 1 is it safe 2 does it work. Using a shortened swim line via a clove hitch sounds fine for open water painters to me. I’d not use that system on a river as the swim line would be difficult to deploy. But as long as you remember to revert to full lines it should be fine. I personally prefer having both painters and swim lines on rivers.

[@REXpeditions]

@outdoorinstruction Thanks for the feedback. I'm currently watching your other video, "using painters to improvise a swim bag attachment." I'll probably do this instead. After I gain more experience, I can decide what best works for me.

[@outdoorinstruction]

@@REXpeditions take a look at using painters on open water and using them to assist as well. The right length makes all the difference. I have a few ideas around lines and painters to play with, take a look and play with ideas

[@wrzlgummidge7663]

Nice set up, thanks for sharing. I usually have my swimline secured at the stern - why do you have yours at the bow? atb

[@outdoorinstruction]

I have both bow and stern swim lines. Doubles my options.

[@matthewbrain7885]

Great idea thanks for the videos, which end do you normally put the throw line on? Bowor stern? Thanks

[@outdoorinstruction]

Thank for the kind words. I carry two swim lines as they are often useful in other situations eg tracking and rescues.

[@matthewbrain7885]

@outdoorinstruction that's great thank you, so is that one on the front and the other on the back? And a swimline to hand for rescues?

[@outdoorinstruction]

@@matthewbrain7885 yep. I have the two 10mm 1000kg lines mounted in bags at bow and stern. I also carry a smaller slimmer throw line on a belt (so it’s always with me) to put into action if needed.

[@mccluskeyp]

What method did you use to seal the ends of the bungee cord? I was inspired to try your setup after watching this video and thought I could just fuse the ends of the bungee. However, all I ended up with was burnt rubber sticking out a little from the sheathing which was melted around the perimeter of the burnt rubber. The ends of the bungee shown in your video, for example at 5:20, look much cleaner than mine. Any help or insights you can provide are appreciated.

[@outdoorinstruction]

I used a glowing red hot rope cutter, then used the hot tip to seal around the bungee sheath. I did this very close to the pre tied barrel knot.

[@cyclostrophic]

Just entering the world of moving water. Is a swim bag distinct from a throw bag? Our throw bags have buckle handles that tend to catch with this type of set up. One group I paddle with here in Northern BC (Canada) prefers a setup similar to this, while another has only painters at the ends of the canoe and a throw bag secured within easy reach inside boat below the gunnels for shoreline rescues. Do your swim lines also work as painters then? Thks!

[@outdoorinstruction]

Hi, in a nutshell a swim line and a throw bag are exactly the same thing. However some heavier weight and stronger lines work better as swim lines as they can then be used for pulling and mechanical advantage work to unpin boats. When looking for a throw line bag to use as a swim line, the keywords are long enough for the width of the river (many rivers are far too big for this type of rescue technique in North America) and easy enough to open when under stress. I have seen quite a few people use very long painters as their swim lines, however these unbagged and unmanaged ropes become a liability in swamped boats. I have 5m painters and on rivers 25m swim lines with 1000kg strength

[@cyclostrophic]

@@outdoorinstruction Thanks!

[@wrzlygummidge]

wondering why you mount at the front rather than the back? when I take a swim, I make my way to the back of the boat, to avoid putting myself between canoe and a potential obstruction. appreciate your thoughts. thanks for sharing, atb

[@outdoorinstruction]

I actually have bow and stern lines on white water. But if I had to choose I’d go for bow as I can see the line on the deck and that it’s not getting tangle. I’ve been coaching advanced white water this week and the swimmers often came up in all manner of places around their boats so it’s not possible to predict where’s safest to mount a line

[@vincepack5213]

Concern - with the tie off outside the easy reach of the paddler, how can you quickly cut the line in the event of a snare? When raft guiding, the throw bag tie off is within about a half arms length away so it can get cut loose immediately when it gets hung. In a kayak, it either is held by hand or tied to a quick release belt on a rescue pfd. Curious…

[@outdoorinstruction]

Hi, I’m not quite sure what you mean here exactly? The rope isn’t attached to the paddler but held in their hand as they swim to the bank. If there’s an entanglement they simply let go.

[@vincepack5213]

@@outdoorinstruction was referring to the rope being attached to the rescuers boat, not the swimmer. If the rope snags (common), the craft it is attached to is in peril.

[@outdoorinstruction]

@@vincepack5213 thanks for clarifying that. Anything in the water eg people boat bags and ropes has a possible chance being caught up. Boats are far more likely to be pinned and caught due to their size and shape so it’s important to get them out of the water and the kit contained asap. It is possible that a rope could catch but it’s not common.

[@jessoldham8923]

Where did you purchase your short sling from?

[@outdoorinstruction]

I didn’t, it was a gift. But similar products can be sourced from climbing shops as 60, 90, 120cm climbing slings

[@peteregan56]

Hi, I have a Hue Prospector as well. Just outfitting it now. What length sling did you use?

[@jonathanreynolds2227]

Is there a reason not to tie the line to the canoe and swim away with the bag when you need it?

[@outdoorinstruction]

Definitely! Having a "clean" line ie no knots or bags significantly reduces the chances of that being caught up on anything.

[@jonathanreynolds2227]

@@outdoorinstruction Right, understood, thanks.