Interrupted Tie-down

[Peach Canoe]

There's an unwritten rule in aviation that says you should never interrupt a pilot's pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, and the reasons seem obvious. But when it comes to tying down a couple of canoes onto the van, interruptions seem to come out of the woodwork, "So, how's the canoeing-- you just coming or going? You need a hand with that?"

I used to stop and talk, you know-- be polite. I did a poor tie-down during such an interruption and almost suffered a disaster-- I was lucky, however, to have had another pair of eyes along that caught the oversight.

While I try not to be rude, I do say something like, "I have to stay focussed on this tie-down job or I'll forget what I'm doing and screw it up. Please excuse me for a few minutes."

 

[yellowcanoe]

Oh definitely interruptions galore.. Something about a boat just starts conversations. Once I was sitting in my car preparing to back up and people were gawking and touching the boat. They stayed there for a long time.. and when I got out to ask them to move the questions started.

Its funny,, non canoers seem to be oblivious to the fact that concentration is needed

Worse is the Here Let me help You attack from the stern just as you have the boat in position ready to be loaded.

I think I need a placard.. like a work area sign. Portable .. on legs.. Saying Keep Away. Toxic

 

[Matt Hopkinson]

my favorite "let me help" moment is when you are solo-carrying your boat, balanced on your shoulders, and someone helps by forcefully lifting the stern for you.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

The older I get, the less inclined I am to put random people off when they want to talk. I think the pilot analogy is less appropriate than that of the truck driver. In that example, the driver often does a final "walk around" check before moving the vehicle. I do this myself before pulling a trailer and before driving off with boats on the roof. That check is done after every time I exit the vehicle before it moves again, even if the load was checked previously - and even if I haven't been interrupted.

Don't know what to do about the sneak "help" attacks. Pretty rare thing for me.

 

[Guest]

The older I get, the less inclined I am to put random people off when they want to talk. I think the pilot analogy is less appropriate than that of the truck driver. In that example, the driver often does a final "walk around" check before moving the vehicle. I do this myself before pulling a trailer and before driving off with boats on the roof. That check is done after every time I exit the vehicle before it moves again, even if the load was checked previously - and even if I haven't been interrupted.

Don't know what to do about the sneak "help" attacks. Pretty rare thing for me.

For me it depends on the who and when. If it is a curious local and I already have the bow line in hand and just need a couple of seconds to tie a hitch I keep going and reply with mindless “Yups” and “Sure is” until I am free to talk.

If it is a Ranger, local LEO or someone who seems more interesting I will occasionally stop what I’m doing and give them my full attention. If need be for some reason I’ll put the loose bowline under the windshield wiper, where I’m unlikely to forget it and drive off.

The three folks I know who have driven over bowlines were all interrupted in mid-tie.

Agree about the walkaround. I do the same thing when I’ve stopped for gas or in a rest area; check the ropes, wiggle the boats, have a look at the tires.

 

[Peach Canoe]

I usually stop after 20 miles or so and have a look at the straps and lines. Thereafter, I do a 'walkaround' at each normal stop.

Earlier, I was referring to the external check or walkaround that pilots do between flights.

 

[latremorej]

The older I get, the less inclined I am to put random people off when they want to talk. I think the pilot analogy is less appropriate than that of the truck driver. In that example, the driver often does a final "walk around" check before moving the vehicle. I do this myself before pulling a trailer and before driving off with boats on the roof. That check is done after every time I exit the vehicle before it moves again, even if the load was checked previously - and even if I haven't been interrupted.

Don't know what to do about the sneak "help" attacks. Pretty rare thing for me.

Me too. My wife hates it, I can have a conversation with a complete stranger for half an hour without any problem at all. I also do the "one last trip around the van" check

 

[yknpdlr]

There's also an unwritten rule that you don't let someone else tie down your boat, and you don't tie down some else's unless asked. Or even if it is a well known companion paddler, always double and triple check his (and your own) tying job on your boat. If you happen to do the tying for someone else, make sure the owner checks it for security and is happy with it before driving off.

 

[Odyssey]

I don't remember ever being interrupted during a tie down. Mind you with a memory as bad as mine I might've been and just forgot whatever the interruption was. (Just ask my wife. Ha.) I'm also blessed with the ability to tune out the chatter and get on with whatever I'm doing. (Just ask my kids. Ha.)
I'm only ever tying down 1 canoe, and so don't get into the macramé some of you folks creatively secure your loads with. You're all artists at it. I need to check my load at the first pit stop (gas or whatever) just to be sure and double sure. Sometimes it needs tightening sometimes not. I could never tie down another's canoe. People can be personal about things. Some don't want their stuff touched. I'm easy that way and sometimes forget other's perspectives. But I avoid touching other people's canoes unless invited to.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Symposiums are gab fests.And I have to tie down seven canoes. Maine Canoe Symposium for me is not only a canoeing event , but its a large venue with lots of walking and also weightlifting of canoes multiple times ( we share waterfront teaching venues)

 

[Peach Canoe]

Slightly off-topic, but related--

After some years the straps on the cam-straps become sort of 'polished'-- the weave gets knocked down and it becomes slippery, or at least less grippy. Has anybody discovered a method of refurbishing the surface of the strap?

 

[snapper]

Peach - I don't know of any way to refurbish the surface of the strap but my "extra" layer of security is to tie off with a two half hitches my extra strap against the buckle so I have both cam buckle & knot holding it all together (hope that makes sense).

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[yknpdlr]

I always tie in exactly the same way with the nylon webbing and cams, and a bow rope tie down. Starting rom the driver's side I throw the loose end of the webbing strap over with the strap leading front to back of the car. Leave just enough of the cam end hanging. Go to the passenger side, wrap around the rail (not the crossbar) and throw to the driver's side, front to back. Again now on the divers side, wrap once around the rail, thread through the cam and pull down hard to lock. Tie a half hitch tight against the cam so there is no slip into the cam, then wrap the loose end around the other part of the webbing to pull tight once or twice and tie two or more half hitches. Tuck the end so it doesn't flop in the wind. Then to the bow and front of the car with a standard small diameter nylon rope around the webbing loops coming out of the sides of the car hood. Loops are fastened to bolts just under the hood. Tie with a wrap around a bow thwart with a loop in the rope and a trucker's hitch at just the right tension. Rarely I will have a longer boat, but if so that will require a stern tie done the same way around ties to the car frame under the rear bumper. Always the same procedure, no variation to the routine.

If someone else tries to help, I have to either decline or instruct them so it has to be done the same every time, then check to see if it was done properly. I have heard too many stories of boats skidding along the pavement or ending up in the ditch to do it any other way.

 

[Guest]

I always tie in exactly the same way with the nylon webbing and cams, and a bow rope tie down. Starting rom the driver's side I throw the loose end of the webbing strap over with the strap leading front to back of the car

I do the same order, for functional reasons. I use rope for everything, with two belly lines and bow and stern lines. If the bow or stern lines are tied off first they present an obstacle to passing or tossing the belly line over or around the stems. To that end I don’t like people “helping” me loosen lines where the rope might simply be in my way in sequential tie down order.

If someone else tries to help, I have to either decline or instruct them so it has to be done the same every time, then check to see if it was done properly. I have heard too many stories of boats skidding along the pavement or ending up in the ditch to do it any other way.

I still check my wife or sons work, which is routinely correct. I have one paddling companion, who has probably tied boats down 100 times more often than I. He does his knots and hitches differently, but I have learned that I’d be better off checking my work than his, and most often he ties his boat and I tie mine and we manage to not get in each other’s way while doing so.

I mentioned this before, but I learned a peculiar un-tie-down lesson a few years ago. We were doing a downriver trip and a non-paddling friend had helped set the shuttle, dropping his car at the take out and driving my empty-racked van back to his car after we launched.

We were maddeningly some four hours late getting started. It was hot as hell out and we were running out of time. I was sweaty, rushing and none too pleased to be starting at noon instead of 8am.

I asked if he would help by tying off the belly lines on one side of the van’s Quick and Easy crossbars. I tied off the other side, tossed him the keys and got the hell on the river.

He had loosely looped a dangle of rope from the end of the crossbar, on the far side of the van. I didn’t notice. On the back shuttle the line fell free and dragged under the rear tire.

It tore the Quick and Easy bracket from the rain gutter and left a nasty gouge in the van’s roof. It did minimal damage to the Q&E tower and I keep spare parts for those in the van. I expect it would have destroyed a Thule or Yakima tower.

Don’t touch my dang ropes.