I have been sailing for two years and a half and just got a dighny to expand my weekends on The Chesapeake Bay. I would like some advice on towing it. Thanks
- Status
put two lines on it.
Lower it back on two lines untill it is riding on the back of a wave. if you pull it on the front it will try to surf down and then veer off to one side. dont tow it if your in a hurry. take the motor off always. put the tow lines on separte cleats. check it often to make sure its not shipping water as you go along. they get real heavy when they fill up. be careful getting in and out and dont stand up if its a flat or round bottom boat. take a life jacket. put a float or two on the tow line so it floats. if you need to back down always shorten it up first. getting the rope out of the prop of the mother ship is a paaain it the transom! have fun.
Lower it back on two lines untill it is riding on the back of a wave. if you pull it on the front it will try to surf down and then veer off to one side. dont tow it if your in a hurry. take the motor off always. put the tow lines on separte cleats. check it often to make sure its not shipping water as you go along. they get real heavy when they fill up. be careful getting in and out and dont stand up if its a flat or round bottom boat. take a life jacket. put a float or two on the tow line so it floats. if you need to back down always shorten it up first. getting the rope out of the prop of the mother ship is a paaain it the transom! have fun.
If it is an inflatable make a towing briddle.
by splicing the ends of about 10ft of 1/2 polypropylene line into two stainless steel carabiners. Fold the line in half to get two equal length legs and tie a knot creating a large loopin the middle. Pass the loop through a plastic float and tie again another knot trapping the float and leaving a smaller loop to tie your line to. The use of polypropylene line is a must as it floats and will help keep it from fouling the propeller of your sailboat. Hook the carabiners to the towing rings on the inflatable. You can splice a third carabiner to a 15 feet length of the same polypropylene line to hook unto the bridle. The bitter end is tied to the boat. An additional safety line is tied to one of the rings on the inflatable and to one of the cleats in your transom. This line is just a backup and will be a little loser than the other. Adjust the length of the line to the sea conditions and always shorten when you go dock or back up the boat. Inflatables usually have a purge valve or plug in the transom which you will want to keep open to let any water that may get in out. Be surprised how quickly they can feel up with rain sometimes. The addition of the dingui will significantly enhance your cruising experience.
by splicing the ends of about 10ft of 1/2 polypropylene line into two stainless steel carabiners. Fold the line in half to get two equal length legs and tie a knot creating a large loopin the middle. Pass the loop through a plastic float and tie again another knot trapping the float and leaving a smaller loop to tie your line to. The use of polypropylene line is a must as it floats and will help keep it from fouling the propeller of your sailboat. Hook the carabiners to the towing rings on the inflatable. You can splice a third carabiner to a 15 feet length of the same polypropylene line to hook unto the bridle. The bitter end is tied to the boat. An additional safety line is tied to one of the rings on the inflatable and to one of the cleats in your transom. This line is just a backup and will be a little loser than the other. Adjust the length of the line to the sea conditions and always shorten when you go dock or back up the boat. Inflatables usually have a purge valve or plug in the transom which you will want to keep open to let any water that may get in out. Be surprised how quickly they can feel up with rain sometimes. The addition of the dingui will significantly enhance your cruising experience.
Wal Mart Bridle
You can buy a towing bridle from Wal-Mart that is used for water toys. It has clips that clip into the side rings of the inflatable and a stainless loop on the front that you can tie your tow line to. All other things said I also agree with. Let your dingy ride on the back side of your stern wave - that keeps the bow up.
You can buy a towing bridle from Wal-Mart that is used for water toys. It has clips that clip into the side rings of the inflatable and a stainless loop on the front that you can tie your tow line to. All other things said I also agree with. Let your dingy ride on the back side of your stern wave - that keeps the bow up.
- Status