Canoeing: Towing and Assists

Canoeing: three methods for setting up tows and assists. How to set up a tow with a clove hitch on a bight or highwayman's hitch. Also a v-assist and a pencil rig.
If you enjoyed this then consider making a small donation to support the channel at: www.buymeacoffee.com/RayGoodwin
Many thanks to Lina Patel and Lizzie Harrington for their assistance. Our collie Billie Bonkers makes an appearance.
Paddling the Prospector from www.venturekayaks.com
Paddles by freebirdpaddles.co.uk
Gear by www.nrs.com
My website: www.RayGoodwin.com
My book 'Canoeing', is available direct from me or from Amazon.

[@jonwhiteley1352]

Excellent video Ray. Thanks, informative as always

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Jon. Glad you found it useful

[@duncanbrown7160]

Another great video. Merry Christmas to you and the family. I wish you all the very best paddling in 2020!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Duncan. All the best to you and yours and to many more paddles.

[@juliedavies3785]

Brilliant, a superb visual reminder after our excellent time on Bala learning these set ups. Thanks Ray, you’re a superstar

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Good to have the 'notes' to refer to after the course. As ever I very much enjoyed your company. Keep well

[@pacediver2594]

Rey informative thanks,have a great holidays

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you found it useful. Many thanks

[@ashrafel-gammal6654]

I am enjoying the new instructional videos nice series, I also like Lina's Pocket Canyon

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Ash. Appreciated

[@revlo007]

Ray thanks for these lessons! We mostly paddle tandem and sometimes with a solo paddler. When the solo gets tired we like to “raft up” as we call it. Your strategy looks good as it only needs one rope that is always in place. Thanks JimO

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad to help. It does cause a little surface rubbing at the contact point so just keep an eye on that.

[@davidblyth4330]

Thanks Ray - very clear, and I love the uncomplicated way the knots are explained and also formed so deftly in your hands.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad it was helpful! I am planning on a knots video: all the ones I commonly use.

[@davidblyth4330]

That would be excellent. 👍

[@nm-ge4tb]

❄⛄🎄Happy Christmas Ray and family🎄⛄❄

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

And a merry one to you and yours

[@gailmciver1440]

Thanks Ray, I have my canoe assessment on Sunday 6th and your videos have really helped me. Not been able to get out due to the weather much at all. Thank you x

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad to help. Good luck with your assessment.

[@gailmciver1440]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe Thank you !!😊

[@martinoutdoors6941]

Ray great video, would the assist methods shown here be used to help one another in windy conditions etc?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yes I tend to use these most going to windward when someone is struggling. I have used the towing for a whole group of solo paddlers when I have paired them up.

[@DeeKayBrewery]

great video, thanks Ray. You have tied a clove hitch right next to the cam cleat. As you have those there already, would you ever use the cam cleat to hold the tail of a rope rather than a knot bearing in mind these are releasable?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Hi Dave, so the clove hitch has a bight of rope to finish it to make it releasable, so that works. So why not use the cam cleat? I keep those small for 5mm cord for my sail. I would need a very much bigger cleat to handle the typical 8 or 9mm diameter of the average painter. Extra note: the cleat is mounted where it is to allow the releasable clove hitch to be tied there. Hope that explains my thinking

[@DeeKayBrewery]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe yes. Thank you. Of course for very different diameter rope/cord.

[@MilestoneOutdoors]

Thanks for this Ray. Is there a particular situation where you would use the pencil rig instead of the flying v? Never seen or tried it before so really interested 🙂

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

If I am going to do some distance I will use the pencil rig rather than the flying v. So on the Spey, after Aviemore, there is a long flat section before Grantown: there if someone needs assistance I will use the pencil rig. Down further, after Fochabers there are flats followed by fast sections: there I would tend to use the v because its quick and I can peel away to run faster sections. Hope that helps

[@MilestoneOutdoors]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe love that. Yep can see why each technique would be used in each scenario now. Thanks😁

[@linapatel4341]

We best get that knots video out Mr

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep that is one to get on with. Will have to check the availability of my film crew! For those not in the know that will be Lina that posted this reminder.

[@nigelgregory4777]

You're as bad as Paul, you know who I mean, the truckers hitch is a new one, and I've been in haulage nearly forty years, the quick release clove hitch, no problem 😀😀, another new knot, 🤔🤔☕, need a brew, Really looking forward to Windermere, hopefully it gives us a goal to aim for, 🙏🍻🍻. Ps, bet I can pulley a dolly down tighter than your truckers hitch 😜🍻🍻

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep here is to Windermere! Looking forward to being out and about.