Contact tow

This is a tow where the kayak being towed is in close physical contact with the towing kayak.

Whitewater paddlers usually use a pigtail on their PFD to perform a contact tow. The end of the pigtail has a carabiner which is used to hook onto the towed kayak. Since the pigtail is only about a half meter long, the towed kayak is touching the towing kayak. This is fine for short tows on a river.

Sea kayakers only use a contact tow for short distances or for rescues where the towed paddler is ill or incapacitated and requires supervision. In a difficult situation, the contact tow, using something like a pigtail or a deck mounted contact tow line, the rescuer can quickly hook onto another kayak and tow them to safety.

For a disabled or incapacitated paddler, the contact tow can be used to maintain the two kayaks in close proximity. A deck mounted contact tow system is ideal for this (see Towing and safety rigging). In this case, the rescuer positions the other kayak so that it is parallel to his own. The kayaks can be pointed in the same direction with the cockpits adjacent or in opposite directions with the cockpits facing each other. The contact tow line is then attached to keep the two kayaks together. This allows the rescuer to see and talk to the rescued paddler and immediately deal with any changes in that paddler's condition.