We have a Whetman Equipment Sea Kayak contact line in for review from Whetman Equipment. The system is designed to safely tether two kayaks together for short line contact rescue.

Whetman Sea Kayak Contact Line

The Whetman Sea Kayak Contact Line is made up from two short lengths of tape that are colour coded red/yellow for easy identification, a metal D ring, a QR cam buckle and two carbiners.

The system is available with a range of different carabiners (see the Whetman page for more details) but this one here at Unsponsored HQ comes with two Kong Argon (RK) carabiners.

Whetman Sea Kayak Contact Line

Reduced chance of snagging through the use of a key lock nose.

If you are not familiar with Kong climbing gear, rest assured that they make some of the best climbing hardware available. So these carabiners will have no issue at all being used in this system.

Each of the carabiners is retained in correct position within the tape via an o-ring. I remember using the same system with some Petzl runners and extenders a few years back so I know that this simple system works really well.

The QR cam buckle and metal D ring work together to create a system similar to the one many us use on our rescue PFDs. By working together the system will continue to work well under load, resist slippage and yet will still be able to release easily when required.

Whetman Sea Kayak Contact Line

Short contact line for quick close contact rescue of one sea kayak by another sea kayak. Quick release cam buckle with toggle also provides length adjustment. Port & Starboard colour coded lines and two colour coded carabiners.

Selection of snag-free carabiner styles available, all held in position by a retainer ring.

Primary application is a very short quick “contact” towline from a deck line of the rescuer to the bow of the casualty, putting the bow just behind the hip position of the rescuer.

Second application is to enable a stablised raft up by crossing the Contact Line over two boats and connecting to the outer deck lines of each boat, then adjusting it to be tight so as to prevent any chance of capsize.

Initial impressions are very good. It is a well thought out system that has many more applications than I first thought.

I could even see this being used on inland waterways is certain situations, for example instructing.