I recently purchased a 9 foot inflatable Mercury hypalon dinghy with inflatable floor. I would like to rig a towing line and harness. Any suggestions as to configuration, line size, etc?
Thanks.
Thanks.
New Inflatable Dingy Towing
- Thread starter colmitch71
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I tow my 9ft inflatable and use the Davis towing bridle hooked on to the two rings on the bow with a 30ft 1/2 line. use something that floats or if not put some floats on the line so it doesnt sink and wrap around your prop. Remember you want the line long enough so the inflatable doesnt surf down a wave and get to close to your boat.
if you are going any distance towing your new dink, you might reconsider----towing often causes changes in ownership when the tow line breaks or the dinghy breaks--yes , even brand new inflatables break away----consider, if you have the room in or on your boat carrying it on deck rolled up in the bag or below decks, same way----yes, is more difficult, but will save ya money in the long run.......friends od mine have found loose dinghies in the ocean ......they are very difficult to return to owners who have sailed out of country without knowing their dinghy has taken leave of their tow lines......if you are inland is not so much a problem---also use cables and lock it to your boat......donot want to lose that investment!! must make sure the tow lines are at leasdt a wave length distance from your boat---so it wont hit boat or jerk---jerking makes damages....keep the action smooth....
You also run the risk of it turning it over in high wind or rough water so it's best to tow it empty without the motor.
A different technique is to pull the bow up on the stern of your boat and tow with just the stern of the dingie in the water.
A different technique is to pull the bow up on the stern of your boat and tow with just the stern of the dingie in the water.
I've been towing an Avon inflatable dinghy for most of thirty plus years and my only problem in that time was loosing one oar. With the advent of the inflatable floor which I think is one of the best inventions for us sailors, it is easy to tow your boat.
I agree with those that use a bridle from ether side of the dinghy and then use a tow line. I like a fifty footer for my tow line but remember I take my dinghy to the beach here in the northwest and like to run the line up to something I can tie it too--big tides and you can loose a dinghy by watching it float away.
However when towing I like to bring it up close to my sailboat stern. In rought seas even bringing the bow on board the stern. It is only sixty pounds and it is easy enough to tie it on the stern cleat. It is also less wetted service.
I have done some research, albeit, not good research but I've dropped my dinghy off and measure my boat speed--then went back for the dinghy and covered the same distance with dinghy attached and got the same boat speed. That was with a Hunter 380 with Max prop. I don't believe these new inflatable floors are heavy enough to slow a boat down but I will have to try this experiement once again since I now have a Hunter 27 with a much smaller engine. I'll try to remember to tell this group later on in the summer.
I agree with those that use a bridle from ether side of the dinghy and then use a tow line. I like a fifty footer for my tow line but remember I take my dinghy to the beach here in the northwest and like to run the line up to something I can tie it too--big tides and you can loose a dinghy by watching it float away.
However when towing I like to bring it up close to my sailboat stern. In rought seas even bringing the bow on board the stern. It is only sixty pounds and it is easy enough to tie it on the stern cleat. It is also less wetted service.
I have done some research, albeit, not good research but I've dropped my dinghy off and measure my boat speed--then went back for the dinghy and covered the same distance with dinghy attached and got the same boat speed. That was with a Hunter 380 with Max prop. I don't believe these new inflatable floors are heavy enough to slow a boat down but I will have to try this experiement once again since I now have a Hunter 27 with a much smaller engine. I'll try to remember to tell this group later on in the summer.
Try this
Instead of a bridle, use two lines. One from each towing eye, to a cleat on either side of the transom. This makes it less likely for a single line to part, and loose the dink. As to line size, I use 3/8 on my 8' Merc. dink, and could more than likely get away with 1/4 or 5/16. I tow mine when inside, and running around all the little islands here. But if going offshore, or for longer distances put it on deck. Mine rolls up and stows in front of the mast nicely. If your like me, and tend to get absent minded sometimes, pull it up tight to the transom. You can get it right up against the boat, and can even raise the bow of the dink up some. I prefer to do it like that for a couple reasons. Keeps the dink from filling with water if it gets snotty, and keeps you from getting the painter tangled up in the prop.
Instead of a bridle, use two lines. One from each towing eye, to a cleat on either side of the transom. This makes it less likely for a single line to part, and loose the dink. As to line size, I use 3/8 on my 8' Merc. dink, and could more than likely get away with 1/4 or 5/16. I tow mine when inside, and running around all the little islands here. But if going offshore, or for longer distances put it on deck. Mine rolls up and stows in front of the mast nicely. If your like me, and tend to get absent minded sometimes, pull it up tight to the transom. You can get it right up against the boat, and can even raise the bow of the dink up some. I prefer to do it like that for a couple reasons. Keeps the dink from filling with water if it gets snotty, and keeps you from getting the painter tangled up in the prop.
When towing with OB on dink
I reverse the OB on the transom, so the shaft/prop is sitting inside the dink.
I reverse the OB on the transom, so the shaft/prop is sitting inside the dink.
Very good ideas here
From our 2004 California Delta Cruise log:
The North Fork of the Mokelumne River is the only way to get to Lost Slough by sailboat. We were chugging merrily along with the sound of the dinghy burbling behind us. The North Fork from the water is not very visually appealing, with flat topped rocky levees and few trees. The ride, however, is smooth and well protected from wind. About halfway up the curving river, Cory came up from down below, looked astern and said “Dinghy’s gone!” We turned Aquavite around to try to find Aquatender. Less than a few minutes later a large ski boat came racing up the river around a bend, towing our dinghy. They’d seen us lose it (who tied the knot, Stu?) and said they’d honked at us, but I guess we couldn’t hear them over our own engine. Nice folks, very helpful.
Haven't towed since, which means I'm due for another cruise, soon!
From our 2004 California Delta Cruise log:
The North Fork of the Mokelumne River is the only way to get to Lost Slough by sailboat. We were chugging merrily along with the sound of the dinghy burbling behind us. The North Fork from the water is not very visually appealing, with flat topped rocky levees and few trees. The ride, however, is smooth and well protected from wind. About halfway up the curving river, Cory came up from down below, looked astern and said “Dinghy’s gone!” We turned Aquavite around to try to find Aquatender. Less than a few minutes later a large ski boat came racing up the river around a bend, towing our dinghy. They’d seen us lose it (who tied the knot, Stu?) and said they’d honked at us, but I guess we couldn’t hear them over our own engine. Nice folks, very helpful.
Haven't towed since, which means I'm due for another cruise, soon!
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