Salamander Keel Hauler Pro
| Date of Review: | July 25, 2003 |
| Reviewer: | Wes Kisting |
| Product: | Salamander Keel Hauler Pro |
| Cost: | $90.00 |
| Construction: | 2-inch webbing belt with QR buckle and easy-pull tassle; dual-mouthed Cordura rope bag with bungie cinch-cord; 43' Kermantle shock-absorbing 1000-lb. tow-or-throw line; 15' Kermantle shock-absorbing 2000-lb. quick-tow line; dual stainless steel carabiners |
| Manufacturer: | Salamander |
| Reviewer Data: | 6'0" tall, 175 lbs., 25 years old, 4 years paddling experience |
| Reviewer Kayak: | 17'3"L x 22.5"W Perception Eclipse kevlar sea kayak |
| Testing Conditions: | calm, sunny day (mock rescue scenario); 110-mile circumnavigation Isle Royale |
| Familiarity: | three months |
| Best Suited For: | kayaking guides and serious kayakers who want an outstanding towing belt and throwline all in one |
| Quick Rating: | Q9 - V6 - U9 What do these numbers mean? |
Convenient Design
The smartest, most appealing feature of the Salamander Keel Hauler Pro is that it includes not one, but two lines: a 15' quick-tow line, and a 43' line for towing in swells or for throwing to persons in distress. Consequently, it offers a very versatile towing system with throw-bag rescue capability all in one convenient package worn around your waist, where it will always be handy. As a throw-bag, the Keel Hauler Pro performs to reasonable expectations. Just pull the quick release, open the bag's mouth, and throw it. I achieved a realistic distance of 30 to 35 feet when throwing it from a seated position. Surprisingly, despite its mildly bulky package, the Keel Hauler Pro is also comfortable to wear. I wore it for three of five days on a 110-mile circumnavigation of Isle Royale and never once felt like it was inhibiting my range of motion. I only took it off for the other two days so that I could fit into my rain jacket, which would only stretch around my PFD after I removed the additional bulk of the Keel Hauler Pro.
Outstanding Durability and Construction
One look at the beefy Keel Hauler Pro should confirm that it's built to last. Heavy-duty stainless steel clips should prevent corrosion and guarantee a solid lock on any kayak in tow. The sturdy 2-inch webbing belt could survive a barrage of tidal waves, and the quick-release buckle almost feels solid enough to take a bullet (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration). Regardless, there should be no concerns as to whether the Keel Hauler Pro can survive even the most demanding conditions, year after year after year.
My only serious gripe about the construction is that the stuff bag which contains both ropes is sewn directly to the quick-release belt. This means that you can't (or shouldn't) thread the quick-release belt through the straps on your PFD. If you do, the rope bag will not slide off when you pull the quick release. You'll just remain caught with the QR buckle invariably snagged on a belt loop and the bag still sewn to the belt. If Salamander had simply made the rope bag separate from the QR belt, the bag would be able to slide off harmlessly when the quick-release is pulled. As it stands, you just have to wear the whole setup over the top of your PFD, without running it through any belt-loops, or else risk a potentially disastrous hang-up on the water.
Another, lesser gripe is that the Keel Hauler Pro (especially its 43' line) is relatively difficult to re-stuff while still attached to your waist. Realistically, you need to take off the belt or rotate it around to your front so that you can see what you're doing as you re-stuff the line. To be fair, most throw bags are this way and this is a minor concern. I just wouldn't want to try re-stuffing it in large ocean swell or crashing waves.
High Cost
Given the $90 price tag, it may be hard to justify the cost of the Salamander Keel Hauler Pro. Of course, a decent throwbag by itself will typically run anywhere from $35 to $60, and a quick-release towing belt and tow tether will add another $25 to $40, bringing you very close to the cost of the Keel Hauler Pro which is a convenient, all-in-one package. For someone looking to bring their kayak up to Coast Guard standards of seaworthiness (a throwbag is required) and be outfitted to tow another kayak under any conditions, the Keel Hauler Pro makes a lot of sense. For the casual or fair-weather paddler, any of the much cheaper alternatives should suffice, and the Keel Hauler Pro will simply seem like expensive overkill. If the Keel Hauler Pro were about $20 cheaper, I would have assigned it a much higher Value rating, and if it were $30 cheaper, it would definitely be one of those deals that no serious kayaker should pass up. As it stands, $90 is quite pricey, but I am glad to have my Keel Hauler Pro along on expeditions or whenever the water get rough.
Final Comments
If you take a lot of risky expeditions, lead kayaking tours, enjoy playing in rough water, or frequently paddle with a weakling who usually needs a tow, you'll probably appreciate the versatility and convenience of the Keel Hauler Pro. However, there are cheaper alternatives to consider. Shop around, but don't rule out the Keel Hauler Pro just because of its price. It really is a great setup.
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