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Depends
I have towed a RIB inflatable with a 15hp motor that took about a knot off the speed of my h34. I occasionally tow a Seadoo Explorer (inflatable w/60hp jet drive) that takes over a knot. I also tow an Inflatable roll up with no motor (a 45 lb dingy) that take almost nothing off the speed. Depends a lot on conditions and weight of what you're towing. Best to leave the motor off if possible. Barry
I have towed a RIB inflatable with a 15hp motor that took about a knot off the speed of my h34. I occasionally tow a Seadoo Explorer (inflatable w/60hp jet drive) that takes over a knot. I also tow an Inflatable roll up with no motor (a 45 lb dingy) that take almost nothing off the speed. Depends a lot on conditions and weight of what you're towing. Best to leave the motor off if possible. Barry
Depends a lot on conditions, too
Towing a dink in calm water may not matter much. Towing the same dinghy through chop is another story entirely. Also, speed may not be what you're worried about as much as aceleration. A dinghy can really slow you down out of tacks, and may even make it hard to get the bow to come around when tacking. That said - I tow mine all over the place because my boat is really too small to bring it aboard. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Towing a dink in calm water may not matter much. Towing the same dinghy through chop is another story entirely. Also, speed may not be what you're worried about as much as aceleration. A dinghy can really slow you down out of tacks, and may even make it hard to get the bow to come around when tacking. That said - I tow mine all over the place because my boat is really too small to bring it aboard. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Hydrodynamic drag
I can't imagine anyone towing a dinghy with the motor mounted on it. I consider this to be one of the most unseamanlike actions of a boater. Yet I see several people every year do this. Towing a dinghy takes at least a knot off your speed , possibly more. It is a real treat to sail without the thing so I can really feel the boat speed and acceleration. Dave
I can't imagine anyone towing a dinghy with the motor mounted on it. I consider this to be one of the most unseamanlike actions of a boater. Yet I see several people every year do this. Towing a dinghy takes at least a knot off your speed , possibly more. It is a real treat to sail without the thing so I can really feel the boat speed and acceleration. Dave
Inverted
My boat did not slow down at all when my inflatable was flipped over by a gust. The dinghy stopped dead! We were passing through some overfalls off a Cornish headland. Result was painter patches torn right off the dink, plenty of trouble trying to catch it and nothing to hold on to. Dink half full of water, real problems trying to get it on board. I ended up having to jump into the dink to bail it out whilst The Admiral said don't leave me alone on this thing. All very stressful. Dave's right its just bad seamanship.
My boat did not slow down at all when my inflatable was flipped over by a gust. The dinghy stopped dead! We were passing through some overfalls off a Cornish headland. Result was painter patches torn right off the dink, plenty of trouble trying to catch it and nothing to hold on to. Dink half full of water, real problems trying to get it on board. I ended up having to jump into the dink to bail it out whilst The Admiral said don't leave me alone on this thing. All very stressful. Dave's right its just bad seamanship.
Calm Water, No Motor
We tow quite a bit in the relatively calm waters of the California Delta. I've found that taking the motor off makes a huge difference. I've never tried it but I've always wondered how it would tow with the motor lashed to the floor in the center of the dinghy. I would think that getting that weight centered would help quite a bit. I've also wondered about those bracket things that lift the bow up to your stern rail, with only the stern in the water.
We tow quite a bit in the relatively calm waters of the California Delta. I've found that taking the motor off makes a huge difference. I've never tried it but I've always wondered how it would tow with the motor lashed to the floor in the center of the dinghy. I would think that getting that weight centered would help quite a bit. I've also wondered about those bracket things that lift the bow up to your stern rail, with only the stern in the water.
dinghy drag
I've measured the drag of an 8.5 foot inflatable in winds up to 16 kts and boat speeds up to 7 kts. The pull on the dinghy tow line was 7-13 lbs, depending on conditions. Allan
I've measured the drag of an 8.5 foot inflatable in winds up to 16 kts and boat speeds up to 7 kts. The pull on the dinghy tow line was 7-13 lbs, depending on conditions. Allan
To Dave of Mystic
I'm puzzled as to why you consider towing a dinghy with the motor mounted on it ot be poor seamanship. I've never heard this, or encountered it in the literature. What is your reference or reasoning? jv
I'm puzzled as to why you consider towing a dinghy with the motor mounted on it ot be poor seamanship. I've never heard this, or encountered it in the literature. What is your reference or reasoning? jv
To John
Seamanship aside, getting it off the dink before sailing protects your investment and your time. With weight on the stern and the bow up catching the wind, the dingy is more likely to flip if the seas and wind come up. A flipped dink/engine can ruin your whole day. Once the outboard goes under water you have committed your self ASAP to several hours of partial engine tear down and several cans of WD 40 to get water out of the engine, or kiss it good bye. Worse yet if it went swimming in salt water. Yesterday's Dream 1985 H31 Hull# 31395 Crab Alley Bay, Kent Island MD.
Seamanship aside, getting it off the dink before sailing protects your investment and your time. With weight on the stern and the bow up catching the wind, the dingy is more likely to flip if the seas and wind come up. A flipped dink/engine can ruin your whole day. Once the outboard goes under water you have committed your self ASAP to several hours of partial engine tear down and several cans of WD 40 to get water out of the engine, or kiss it good bye. Worse yet if it went swimming in salt water. Yesterday's Dream 1985 H31 Hull# 31395 Crab Alley Bay, Kent Island MD.
Unfortunate Dingy Experience
Our inflatable is an Avon 3.15 Rollup. That's a soft bottom with metal slat floorboards and an inflatable keel. It's made out of Hypalon and at 115 pounds, dry weight (no water or other stuff inside) it's fairly heavy to try to lift. One afternoon not too long after we bought it ($2,400) we were traveling in around 16 knots of wind (don't remember if we were sailing or motoring) with the inflatable on the bow and a gust caught it and blew it overboard. It wasn't tied down but with that weight, and conditions weren't bad nor were anticipated to be bad, so away we went. Was that ever a chore to get on-board!!! Water got inside and really increased the weight. I tried to lift it over the toerail but it was too bulky and the water had to be spilled. I let air out of the keel and some out of the pontoons and the floorboard came loose but was held on, fortunately, at the transom. Lucky! Finally I got it on board and decided never again. It was amazing how little air it took to send that heavy inflatable flying! Consequently, we practically never tow it in conditions where the wind is expected to get over about 8 to 10 knots and seldom to it anyway. Anything above that and I get really nervous. Consequently I practically never tow it. I'd much rather do the extra work to launch and retrieve than to have any worry. It's also a hassle when going to the fuel dock or into a marina. I have towed it with the outboard (8hp Johnson) but only on very rare occasions - short distance in fairly flat water. I really don't like towing with the outboard on (that's another $1,400). There is significant drag when towing with the outboard on, say, .3 to .4 knots?? -guessing- with our H-35.
Our inflatable is an Avon 3.15 Rollup. That's a soft bottom with metal slat floorboards and an inflatable keel. It's made out of Hypalon and at 115 pounds, dry weight (no water or other stuff inside) it's fairly heavy to try to lift. One afternoon not too long after we bought it ($2,400) we were traveling in around 16 knots of wind (don't remember if we were sailing or motoring) with the inflatable on the bow and a gust caught it and blew it overboard. It wasn't tied down but with that weight, and conditions weren't bad nor were anticipated to be bad, so away we went. Was that ever a chore to get on-board!!! Water got inside and really increased the weight. I tried to lift it over the toerail but it was too bulky and the water had to be spilled. I let air out of the keel and some out of the pontoons and the floorboard came loose but was held on, fortunately, at the transom. Lucky! Finally I got it on board and decided never again. It was amazing how little air it took to send that heavy inflatable flying! Consequently, we practically never tow it in conditions where the wind is expected to get over about 8 to 10 knots and seldom to it anyway. Anything above that and I get really nervous. Consequently I practically never tow it. I'd much rather do the extra work to launch and retrieve than to have any worry. It's also a hassle when going to the fuel dock or into a marina. I have towed it with the outboard (8hp Johnson) but only on very rare occasions - short distance in fairly flat water. I really don't like towing with the outboard on (that's another $1,400). There is significant drag when towing with the outboard on, say, .3 to .4 knots?? -guessing- with our H-35.
Estimate 30 pounds drag at 6 knots.
I have adjusted the painter on my 10' inflatable while doing about 6 knots, and its about all I can do to hold it far less pull it in. The postion I do this in is not the best so that would be a factor, but the pull must still be at least 30 pounds! I think a pull of 30 in the wrong direction would take 1/2-1 knot off my boat speed.
I have adjusted the painter on my 10' inflatable while doing about 6 knots, and its about all I can do to hold it far less pull it in. The postion I do this in is not the best so that would be a factor, but the pull must still be at least 30 pounds! I think a pull of 30 in the wrong direction would take 1/2-1 knot off my boat speed.
Draggin
We tow a 10' inflatable often, (never with the motor attached)like Bill said a soaked motor can ruin your whole day. I find that if I adjust the painter to let the dink kind of ride down our stern wave, it seems to surf along behind us with much less drag.
We tow a 10' inflatable often, (never with the motor attached)like Bill said a soaked motor can ruin your whole day. I find that if I adjust the painter to let the dink kind of ride down our stern wave, it seems to surf along behind us with much less drag.
Towing with outboard on
I have towed our 11 Avon RIB with a 15hp outboard since 1996 all without any major problems. I'm sure there are seas out there in which I would not want to do that but I haven't been caught in them yet. I use three towing lines, one to each cleat port and starboard and one to the center line so when the seas get a little rough 6-8' and dinghy doesn't sway from side to side while riding up or down waves. The motor tilts up completely out of the water and has never been as issue at all. Don't know why Dave considers it such bad seamnship, but I've found over the years that opinion as like ___holes and everybodys got one, right or wrong! I don't have an opinion about what right but I can tell you I've sailed all over New England without a problem, now if i was going to Bemuda or offshore to FLA that would be different, but I'm not. I cruise coastally for one or two weeks at a time and never have had a problem. Anyway that my 2 cents. Do what works for you, learn from mistakes when you make them, and don't give a hoot what other people think about what works for you, just do it. Bob knott H380
I have towed our 11 Avon RIB with a 15hp outboard since 1996 all without any major problems. I'm sure there are seas out there in which I would not want to do that but I haven't been caught in them yet. I use three towing lines, one to each cleat port and starboard and one to the center line so when the seas get a little rough 6-8' and dinghy doesn't sway from side to side while riding up or down waves. The motor tilts up completely out of the water and has never been as issue at all. Don't know why Dave considers it such bad seamnship, but I've found over the years that opinion as like ___holes and everybodys got one, right or wrong! I don't have an opinion about what right but I can tell you I've sailed all over New England without a problem, now if i was going to Bemuda or offshore to FLA that would be different, but I'm not. I cruise coastally for one or two weeks at a time and never have had a problem. Anyway that my 2 cents. Do what works for you, learn from mistakes when you make them, and don't give a hoot what other people think about what works for you, just do it. Bob knott H380
Another Concern
In 25 knot winds I had my roll up dingy (no motor) get airborn and land up side down. Glad it was only 40 lbs so I was able to pull it on board and deflate it. Barry
In 25 knot winds I had my roll up dingy (no motor) get airborn and land up side down. Glad it was only 40 lbs so I was able to pull it on board and deflate it. Barry
Agree with Barry
Bob, I also tow my RIB with the 15hp engine attached. It is the only practical way. We only have a 31' boat. There is no place to stow this engine for any length of time on board. When you have a traditional inflatable they can easily become airborne. I can see the downside of trying to tow a 8' inflatable with a little 2-3 hp engine on it. We get winds in the 20-35mph range on a regular basis. We had friends with a Dyer dink and that thing was the worst. If things got really rough it would swamp and then they would need to haul it in a dump the water so they could continue. We have never had these problems with our RIB, but with a 115# engine and about the same for the RIB it would take a lot to flip this sucker. One big advantage of the RIB hull is that it does not allow the air to easily get under the hull.
Bob, I also tow my RIB with the 15hp engine attached. It is the only practical way. We only have a 31' boat. There is no place to stow this engine for any length of time on board. When you have a traditional inflatable they can easily become airborne. I can see the downside of trying to tow a 8' inflatable with a little 2-3 hp engine on it. We get winds in the 20-35mph range on a regular basis. We had friends with a Dyer dink and that thing was the worst. If things got really rough it would swamp and then they would need to haul it in a dump the water so they could continue. We have never had these problems with our RIB, but with a 115# engine and about the same for the RIB it would take a lot to flip this sucker. One big advantage of the RIB hull is that it does not allow the air to easily get under the hull.
Dingy ,AKA Submarine
I pulled my 12 foot POS, I mean Quicksilver to Dry tort. south of Florida and thru the Bahamas from Norfolk last year , I only had one problem, It went under water 3 times in the Neuse river, First time I lost both seats and fuel tank and , if I had the motor on Im sure that would have been another problem. I tow with the plug out so it drained, The tow rings on front of the dink bent, one pulled out, I had to keep going due to the weather. After I fixed the tow rings I towed it the rest of my trip, I would , and have towed any time in just about any weather condidtion, but never with the motor on. I also do not keep the new seats in it or anything else i want to keep in it. You know it really is not a problem at the fuel docks or going into slips if you watch the painter length and shorten it up before you get near the dock, plan ahead . I also can lift it up over the life lines on the bow with the extra jib halyard. Then I lash it on deck with some clips installed on the bow. If I want to get it out of the water . Cause it slows my boat down when I tow it.
I pulled my 12 foot POS, I mean Quicksilver to Dry tort. south of Florida and thru the Bahamas from Norfolk last year , I only had one problem, It went under water 3 times in the Neuse river, First time I lost both seats and fuel tank and , if I had the motor on Im sure that would have been another problem. I tow with the plug out so it drained, The tow rings on front of the dink bent, one pulled out, I had to keep going due to the weather. After I fixed the tow rings I towed it the rest of my trip, I would , and have towed any time in just about any weather condidtion, but never with the motor on. I also do not keep the new seats in it or anything else i want to keep in it. You know it really is not a problem at the fuel docks or going into slips if you watch the painter length and shorten it up before you get near the dock, plan ahead . I also can lift it up over the life lines on the bow with the extra jib halyard. Then I lash it on deck with some clips installed on the bow. If I want to get it out of the water . Cause it slows my boat down when I tow it.
Dingy tow
I tow a light weight inflatable withe no noticeable change in speed. I towed it with the motor on once but I am not looking for any more insurance claims.
I tow a light weight inflatable withe no noticeable change in speed. I towed it with the motor on once but I am not looking for any more insurance claims.
second wake
I towed my dink without the motor for miles with no problem. Try to position the dink on the second wake. By paying out the painter alittle at a time you can watch the dink pull less and less on the line. Of course the drawback to this is the dink can surf into the stern of your boat. So place a funnel type device on the painter to divert the dink when the painter slacks, the funnel dips into the water creating drag and pulls the dink to one side.
I towed my dink without the motor for miles with no problem. Try to position the dink on the second wake. By paying out the painter alittle at a time you can watch the dink pull less and less on the line. Of course the drawback to this is the dink can surf into the stern of your boat. So place a funnel type device on the painter to divert the dink when the painter slacks, the funnel dips into the water creating drag and pulls the dink to one side.
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