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Lining Harness?

NikonF5user

NikonF5user

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Anyone have experience lining with a tied-on harness? I am debating adding a lining-hole set up with PVC before doing the Big Salmon and potentially the Missinaibi this summer if I keep my RockSTAR, but have also thought about just using harnesses around the carrying handles fore and aft. Not sure if a harness would pull over the stems that close to each end however; would love to hear some experiences with using them (especially with a solo boat). I suppose the thwarts could also be used, but they are pretty well centered on the RockSTAR.

The only boats I've lined much in the past have been tandems, and I have lined with the painter attachments. I think this is easier with a tandem as the weight is held lower in the boat, but I suspect lining a narrower solo with painters will be more susceptible to tipping...
 
I've never lined with a harness but if I was serious about trying it with a solo I'd be tempted to install a couple webbing loops to the gunwale for attachment points.

Alan
 
I've used a bridle rigged for tracking as demonstrated bi Bill Mason. IMO, on of the first two videos above has the bridle too far forward (carry thwart attachment). The other has the bridle too snug. The third video has the bridle too far back. Just my opinion based on my trial and error.

Mason had this figured out IMO.

A bridle (aka harness) on the upstream end is definitely the way to go vs grab loop attachment when tracking or lining if the water is even a little bit pushy. I like to keep a bridle pre-rigged and ready to attach to the forward thwart (or bow seat if available) when I know I might need it.
 
Here's a little insight from Cliff Jacobsen's Canoeing Wild Rivers. He references the Bill Mason sling and includes a couple diagrams.

Hopefully it's not considered poor form to excerpt entire images of a published book in the forum. In consideration of Cliff, the very least I can say is that I emphatically recommend the book! And every CT.netter should have their own copy! It's one of my favorites and is a regular reference, as evidenced by my underlining and notations in the margins. @Glenn MacGrady, I'll gladly remove the post should you determine that I should.

IMG_3968.JPG

IMG_3969.JPG
 
Cliff's diagram is similar to what I do, but I prefer not to have a carabiner under my hull. A quick figure 8 knotted loop in a short piece of line would be my preference, but I've also just looped the lead on with a bowlin.
 
If I just have the one long line at hand - which is usually the case - I tie it off to one end of the thwart. Then I do a figure 8 in the line where it will be under the boat and a little ahead of that thwart. Then the whole line passes around the hull, under the other end of the thwart with a couple alternating wraps, back under the hull, and through the figure 8 loop.
 
I use the Bill Mason style harness and have to say that it certainly is the way to go!
Although Bill only had one loop under the hull I feel safer to have two loops (that makes an X under the hull) so that the figure eight knot is fixed in the position you want it and will not slide back and forth when things get dicey. I have the harnesses prepared in a litte mesh bag so they are pretty quick to take out and lash on when you need them. I use floating rope which helps a lot from getting snagged under rocks or debris. And no carabiners, just knots.
Do try this if you haven't. It makes a world of difference!
 

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Thestripper said:
I use the Bill Mason style harness and have to say that it certainly is the way to go!
Although Bill only had one loop under the hull I feel safer to have two loops (that makes an X under the hull) so that the figure eight knot is fixed in the position you want it and will not slide back and forth when things get dicey. I have the harnesses prepared in a litte mesh bag so they are pretty quick to take out and lash on when you need them. I use floating rope which helps a lot from getting snagged under rocks or debris. And no carabiners, just knots.
Do try this if you haven't. It makes a world of difference!
Click to expand...
Cool setup! Is that a Charles River?
 
Thestripper said:
I use the Bill Mason style harness and have to say that it certainly is the way to go!
Although Bill only had one loop under the hull I feel safer to have two loops (that makes an X under the hull) so that the figure eight knot is fixed in the position you want it and will not slide back and forth when things get dicey. I have the harnesses prepared in a litte mesh bag so they are pretty quick to take out and lash on when you need them. I use floating rope which helps a lot from getting snagged under rocks or debris. And no carabiners, just knots.
Do try this if you haven't. It makes a world of difference!
Click to expand...

Good point about the floating line. We here probably all know that, but lurkers may not. Definitely should be part of the conversation.
 
If I had my way floating lines would be mandatory for any ropes attached to a canoe, also lining/painters should be of appropriate size (and length). I really get annoyed when someone asks me to help them line their boat through a tricky section and then hands me a 75ft pile of 6mm crap they bought at the Dollar Store.
 
Armchair novice chiming in here - I have no real lining experience of my own but have been reading up in the hopes of using the skills on a future trip. Garrett Conover's 'Beyond the Paddle' has an extensive chapter about lining. His harness placement approach seems to pretty much mimic Mason and Jacobsen. He says attaching at the decks or carry handles is the absolute worst idea due to the tendency to roll and swamp the canoe. He says harness provides the best control, at the cost of exposing your rope to more abrasion; a PVC installed in the stem just above the waterline is good for convenience but not as good for control as the harness (but still good, just not best). Of course Mason and Conover at least were dealing with tandems of generally longer lengths.

Interesting to note the excessive trim in the Mason screenshots - akin to poling, though some might say that's too much trim for poling.
 
Tsuga8 said:
Armchair novice chiming in here - I have no real lining experience of my own but have been reading up in the hopes of using the skills on a future trip. Garrett Conover's 'Beyond the Paddle' has an extensive chapter about lining. His harness placement approach seems to pretty much mimic Mason and Jacobsen. He says attaching at the decks or carry handles is the absolute worst idea due to the tendency to roll and swamp the canoe.
Click to expand...
Well you know, I had to try that myself, and found out pretty quickly that he is correct. ;)
Tsuga8 said:
Interesting to note the excessive trim in the Mason screenshots - akin to poling, though some might say that's too much trim for poling.
Click to expand...
Getting the upstream end clear out of the water helps when climbing a drop.
 
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