Dinghy Drag

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Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Maine Sail said:
Most of the time unless it is the fast growing short steep stuff... You need a long painter and I also drop my Davis Pellican Wheels to prevent surfing...;) Works like a charm.. They create enough drag so the dink behaves quite well with no surging, snapping or tugging. When going down wind the added drag of the wheels can be useful..
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RIB or flat bottom
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Ron20324 said:
Where are your d rings on the side tubes? top? sides? bottoms?
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Ron if the question was to me they are low on the front. You can see them in the picture above. I wouldn't mind towing from the transom, but I'm concerned how to get the lines from back at the transom up to the D rings without exerting a lot of chafing and pressure on the tubes.

I'm thinking I could use a bridle like I have now off of the D rings that comes up to 3 links of chain with a carabiner hooked to the middle link. Then bring the back bridle off the transom forward to that carabiner and hook on there with the tow line. That way the rear lines wouldn't have to go down over the sides to the D rings. The tow bridles working together would I think keep the bow down when the outboard is attached or even when it isn't. The front bridle would center the back one, so that it wouldn't pull the dingy around sideways. The tow line would be hooked mainly to the back line and the front bridle would be there to keep it centered. Sounds like a lot of lines, but once they were setup and using snap hooks they would snap on and off very quickly.

I'm open to suggestions still, but think this will work. Only problem is I won't be able to try it until May or so when we go back out.

Maine half the time I forget to raise those wheels and on this day.............



http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/MacgregorTrips-3-Powell09/09-10-5-Powell-09.html

...........that got me into trouble :cry:.

Thanks,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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Alan

Alan

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Jun 2, 2004
4,174
Hunter 35.5 LI, NY
When I take my dinghy on any distance run I make use of the swim platform. With the engine tilted up so the prop is out of the water I pull the bow of the dinghy up onto the swim platform which leaves only a small part of the transom of the dinghy in the water and very close to the back eddies that form at my boats stern. This effectively makes the dinghy part of the boat with minimal drag. When we reach our destination the dinghy can easily be released and slipped back into the water.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
I don't think

I don't think that if you run a line from the transom, through the D rings, it will tow any different than it does now. Mine seems to tow the same either way. But as I stated, I never tow mine with the engine mounted. Put the eyes as far outboard as possible, with some big fender washers for backup. I run the bridle through wrapped around the lifting lines on either side, then through the D rings. Also, my dink has the drain plug above the water line when empty or when towing, and I leave the plug out, except when I forget. This keeps any spray from accumulating in the aft end of the dink. I am not anywhere near the boat now, or would get some pics.
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Sumner said:
Ron if the question was to me they are low on the front.

Now that I can figure out which responses are going to any of the multiple questions on this thread... Your d locations are not favorable to the idea to use them as fairleads. On your boat there would be a sideways strain on the d's, which is what you are trying to avoid in the first place. It would help, though and certainly better than just tying to the low d's. Your other, recent, idea sounds good, though.
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Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Ron20324 said:
.......Now that I can figure out which responses are going to any of the multiple questions on this thread.....
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Glad I wasn't the only one having that problem and sorry to have contributed to it, but thanks for the help,

Sum
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
I don't like it. There is no way for water to drain out of it so your bow will collect water causing a lot of drag. With the stern down you can have the check valve open so water will drain out.
Why not tow the dinghy using this method but have the dinghy upside down? It will ride on the front tube and no way for water to collect and drag you down.
A lot of ideas on this thread but none that will drastically increase the speed of your boat. I will start a new thread related to drag reduction techniques to give you a boost.
 
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