Leash

Also called Tether.

Leashes are used to tie gear to a paddler or a kayak. Any gear that is likely to come off the kayak should be tethered. For example, if you carry a hand pump on the deck under the bungees, it's a good idea to tether it to the bungee as well.

[edit] Paddle leashes and kayak leashes

• Paddle leashes are used to keep a paddle from floating away if dropped. Some leashes attach the paddle to the kayak, other to the paddler (usually the wrist). Both have their adherents.

• Kayak leashes are used to ensure that the paddler and kayak do not get separated if the paddler ends up swimming.

The advantage of having a leash is that it keeps things together. The disadvantage is that it represents an entanglement hazard. For that reason, some types of leashes are not encouraged under certain conditions. Paddle leashes should not be used in very rough conditions such as surf. The risk of losing the paddle is exceeded by the risk of getting tangled in the leash if you get trashed. Wrist leashes have a different problem - if you get trashed, the paddle bashes you.

Wrist and kayak leashes are probably not as useful as some think. They provide a safe connection under benign conditions (when they are not required) and represent a risk under difficult conditions. Paddle leashes that attach to the kayak, on the other hand, provide value under benign conditions - they allow you to drop the paddle to take a photo, for example.

Recommendation: If you want to be able to let your paddle float while doing things like taking photos or grabbing snacks in calm conditions, use a leash that ties your paddle to the kayak. However, remove it when you get into difficult conditions. As well, ensure that the paddle leash can be released or cut free in an emergency - avoid overly strong leashes that cannot easily be cut or attach without a quick release mechanism.

[edit] Gear Leashes

It is not a good idea to leash everything in the cockpit - that represents an entanglement hazard. However, deck mounted gear that is not tied down will be lost - so tether your deck gear.

In general, keep deck gear tethers short. There's no reason to have a hand pump, for example, on a 2 m (6 ft) tether. It should only be long enough to hold onto the nearest deck line or bungee. In use, you will unhook the tether.

As a rule, you should only have the absolute minimum of gear on deck. A throw rope, chart case, spare paddle, perhaps a water bottle and that's about it. Anything else can go in the cockpit or day hatch. The chart case can be held in place with the chart park and secured to a bungee with a small carabiner or clip. Water bottles, like Nalgene, have a loop holding the lid to the bottle - use that to attach it to a bungee with a small carabiner or clip. The throw rope will have a carabiner on it - use that to secure it to the bungees. Some throw bags have Velcro straps - those can be used to attach to the bungees once the throw bag is under bungees.

Spare paddles should not need a leash - they should be secured under enough bungees that they won't come out without some coaxing. Remember that you may want to grab that spare quicky if you need it to roll, so it shouldn't be so secure that it can't come out with you sitting in the cockpit.

Gear in the cockpit should be secure enough to stay put in the event you do a wet exit. You can secure a paddle float behind the seat. Some hand pumps will fit on the side of the kayak between the hull and the seat vertical supports. If you pile lots of little things in a knee tube or shelf, make sure there's a "door" - I use a sponge to close up my knee tube.

A paddle leash is easy to make. Here's a link to one with a release on each end.