Trailing a Strap

"Hey! You have a strap trailing your boat!" and "That's dangerous. You shouldn't be trailing a strap."

Those are both statements I've heard from boaters when they notice an IKer with a strap trailing. In some cases, people will even float up and throw the strap into the boat. Surprising as it may sound, we have these on our boats on purpose. Some people even put them on the front and back of their boats.

The main reason is that if we flip or fall out of the boat, we have an extra line to grab onto so we can hold onto the boat. A secondary reason is that it gives us a quick line to drag the boat with if we're doing a quick scout or portage, or to tie onto if the boat is wrapped (I've used mine for this on more than one occasion). Yet another reason is that it keeps the strap available for securing the boat when it's rolled up after the trip.

It's very important to not use a rope for this purpose. Ropes compress, and it's possible for a rope to get caught between rocks, compress, and then expand. This locks the rope between the rocks, which can trap you in a place you don't want to be.

One thing I've learned is that when you are carrying your boat, you want to secure the strap into the boat so that it doesn't drag on the ground. Dragging straps on the ground is always a bad idea. They get dirty, which is annoying when you use them, and they get stepped on, which is both a tripping hazard and a way to tear up a strap.