[alanw]

I'd put this as nice to have but not a necessity.

I thought I needed one when I first bought my yak so I installed one but turns out I rarely use it. Usually I'll tie off to kelp when I stop for lunch, or when I'm fishing the kelp and don't want to drift with the current.

The best thing about it is being able to tie off to the very front or rear of the yak and not worry about flipping due to wakes or waves hitting me and pulling against a tie off from the side handles.