Has anyone used their dingy outboard to power their sialboat into a slip after losing their main engine. I have a 37' Legend. How large of an outboard would I need to push my sailboat with the dingy. I always appreciated the responses. Thank you!
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The smallest outboard will do the trick, however,
this assumes you're not pushing against wind or current. Given no other forces you could theoretically push your 37 along with just two fingers, however, those two fingers would take quite a while to get it moving and then stopped again (it's that old high school physics mass/force/time thing.) To answer your question though, a 2 horse outboard will get you into your slip in a pinch but you'll find that it's more about technique than power. If you're short handed a hip tow provides nice control of the mother ship except that you may not be able get into your slip with that arrangement. At that point anchoring off and coordinating plans with someone in the dinghy who is good at maneuvering and helping hands at the slip will get you in without too much drama. As with normal docking it's more about techenique , planning and communication than brute force.
this assumes you're not pushing against wind or current. Given no other forces you could theoretically push your 37 along with just two fingers, however, those two fingers would take quite a while to get it moving and then stopped again (it's that old high school physics mass/force/time thing.) To answer your question though, a 2 horse outboard will get you into your slip in a pinch but you'll find that it's more about technique than power. If you're short handed a hip tow provides nice control of the mother ship except that you may not be able get into your slip with that arrangement. At that point anchoring off and coordinating plans with someone in the dinghy who is good at maneuvering and helping hands at the slip will get you in without too much drama. As with normal docking it's more about techenique , planning and communication than brute force.
Think like a tug or towboat
I have not done it but I have seen a 8 hp on a 11 foot inflatble dock a 38 foot sailboat. Think of a towboat or tug docking a larger boat. Side tie to the larger boat, using the rudder to help steer the boat. Lots of dock help also helps. That being said I have moved a 26 foot boat with a 18 footer and an 85hp out board.(would not win an award but we did move it about 1/4 mile and did not hit anything so I consider it a suscessful) Takes some practice to be good at it, and need to be way ahead when making turns. However it can be done, wind and current make it harder especialy when working against you. Could also sail into slip in a pinch if wind is working with you. As in all "special" docking situatins, lots of dock help can be very handy. Good Luck !
I have not done it but I have seen a 8 hp on a 11 foot inflatble dock a 38 foot sailboat. Think of a towboat or tug docking a larger boat. Side tie to the larger boat, using the rudder to help steer the boat. Lots of dock help also helps. That being said I have moved a 26 foot boat with a 18 footer and an 85hp out board.(would not win an award but we did move it about 1/4 mile and did not hit anything so I consider it a suscessful) Takes some practice to be good at it, and need to be way ahead when making turns. However it can be done, wind and current make it harder especialy when working against you. Could also sail into slip in a pinch if wind is working with you. As in all "special" docking situatins, lots of dock help can be very handy. Good Luck !
break out the strokes
The navy has been doing it since the invention of the oar. Small boats with oars towing a huge sailing vessel. Boats move pretty easily and provided there is no wind or current to contend with a 1-man row boat could be used. I've done this with my 37.5' Legend and my 8' 8-Ball pram.
The navy has been doing it since the invention of the oar. Small boats with oars towing a huge sailing vessel. Boats move pretty easily and provided there is no wind or current to contend with a 1-man row boat could be used. I've done this with my 37.5' Legend and my 8' 8-Ball pram.
I've done it with a 2.5hp Cruise 'n Carry
I towed my 30' Morgan (previous boat) for several miles to an anchorage when my trusty Atomic 4 failed. It was a 10,500# boat. In the protected waters I was in, I could tow at about 3kts. Anchored and got a repair part and fixed the A4 problem.
I towed my 30' Morgan (previous boat) for several miles to an anchorage when my trusty Atomic 4 failed. It was a 10,500# boat. In the protected waters I was in, I could tow at about 3kts. Anchored and got a repair part and fixed the A4 problem.
all that said
using a small outboard on a dink is a big load on a small motor, I know of several times when owners tried to do this running the ob motor wide open to get speed. This is a bad mistake. the engine will overheat and burn up if you lay on it long enough. So use it to gain control and move the boat at a slow pace with minimal throttle on the outboard and it will be fine. but not at wide open throttle.
using a small outboard on a dink is a big load on a small motor, I know of several times when owners tried to do this running the ob motor wide open to get speed. This is a bad mistake. the engine will overheat and burn up if you lay on it long enough. So use it to gain control and move the boat at a slow pace with minimal throttle on the outboard and it will be fine. but not at wide open throttle.
it works
I pushed my old 22-footer, 3000#, with a 1.75 horse on the dinghy. It went fine, worked well enough for a 3 mile trip down the river and through the harbor. I tied the dinghy alsongside at the rear of the boat (on the quarter), like yawlboats of yore. Obviously there's not much acceleration or stopping power, so planning ahead is important.
I pushed my old 22-footer, 3000#, with a 1.75 horse on the dinghy. It went fine, worked well enough for a 3 mile trip down the river and through the harbor. I tied the dinghy alsongside at the rear of the boat (on the quarter), like yawlboats of yore. Obviously there's not much acceleration or stopping power, so planning ahead is important.
Worked for me after loosing my engine and main
sail on the way to Maine.. At that time the dinghy had a 8hp outboard that was able to get the boat to 3 to 4 knots... Dinghy tied to the rear quarter of the boat in flat conditions. This was for at least 10 to 15 miles and I did have the outboard almost open up with no problems overheating, but that Maine water is quite cold too.
sail on the way to Maine.. At that time the dinghy had a 8hp outboard that was able to get the boat to 3 to 4 knots... Dinghy tied to the rear quarter of the boat in flat conditions. This was for at least 10 to 15 miles and I did have the outboard almost open up with no problems overheating, but that Maine water is quite cold too.
Yep, works!
I towed my boat into a mooring field at Balboa Panama. Had to go three miles in tropical downpour. Made it in less than an hour. Of course it was a 25hp Yamaha.
I towed my boat into a mooring field at Balboa Panama. Had to go three miles in tropical downpour. Made it in less than an hour. Of course it was a 25hp Yamaha.
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