Dinghy-tow system

[Patrick Ewing]

Does anyone have any experience with the Dinghy-tow system? It looks and sounds quite interesting. I found it at http://www.dinghy-tow.com/ I am curious about costs of purchasing from them vs. making myself locally. It seems simple enough to make it myself. I did not find any prices on their site but heard a rumor of $800 or so. Thanks,Patrick

 

[Bob Teeter]

I saw the towing system several years ago at Atlantic City and picked upa copy of his flyer. The $800 price is what he is asking. I decided to make my own and did so out of 1" thick wall SS tube. I mounted to both the swim platform and dingy. I've only used it a couple of time, but it seem to work well. It is great to put the outboard onto the dingy and also for towing the dingy with the outboard attached, but out of the water. I didn't make any plans and I think I jused about 36" arms. That may vary depending on the type of dingy and the mounting to the boat. I may have about $125 in the total project.

 

[Patrick Ewing]

Description of rigging

Thanks for the response, Bob.Would you please elaborate on the system you made re: the rigging and the general setup. Did you use standard bimini fittings to mount the poles to the deck and to the transom of the dinghy? Are standard fittings adequate?How did you rig the control lines?It seems like it would be a lot easier and safer to get into and out of the dinghy with this system.Thanks,Patrick

 

[Bob Knott]

Dinghy tow info

I just sent away to them for info for my 380. He wanted $1,100.00Too rich for me I'll just keep on towin my dink. So far so good.Bob KnottH380

 

[Bob Teeter]

Dingy-tow system

I used the standard hardware, but upgraded to the heavey duty stuff when I could. I drilled and bolted the tube ends to make sure that they wouldn't come off under tow.As far as rigging, I just ran a 4 to 1 hoisting tackle to attach the dingy to the stern rail on the boat. I went as far to the outside of the boat as possible to get an angle on the line that would keep the dingy from swinging from side to side.As far as using the system to enter the dingy, I don't think it would work that well. It is still about 3-4 feet behind the boat and I think you would get very wet before you got in the dingy. I just found it a good way to put the dingy motor on when and to tow the dingy after the motor is on without lots of drag.Good luck.Bob