Towing a Dinghy with Outboard On

[G. Bean, s/v Freya]

Airborne Dinks

I have flipped a 10’8” dink twice while transiting San Francisco Bay. Both times were in the summer. I was beam-reaching the Berkeley Flat area the first time and the dink was setup to ride the back of the first standing wave behind us. The waves were mostly abeam of us as we were transiting the “Slot”. The dink rolled up on a wave, caught air underneath it, became airborne, then landed upside down. We were still able to sail at hull speed with all that additional drag! The second time we were experiencing the same conditions, so instead of beam reaching, I set a more windward course towards the City so the dink would ride the waves better. I also cinched up on the tow line so the nose of the dink was up on my swim platform. Again, the dink caught air… Eventually, the transom board is going get pulled off that dink if I flip it too many more times. I have not tried tying the dink to my aft mooring cleats as I’m concerned if I do catch air, one or both D-ring patches would pull out and I’d I really would be in a jam.

 

[G. Bean, s/v Freya]

Airborne Dinks

I have flipped a 10’8” dink twice while transiting San Francisco Bay. Both times were in the summer. I was beam-reaching the Berkeley Flat area the first time and the dink was setup to ride the back of the first standing wave behind us. The waves were mostly abeam of us as we were transiting the “Slot”. The dink rolled up on a wave, caught air underneath it, became airborne, then landed upside down. We were still able to sail at hull speed with all that additional drag! The second time we were experiencing the same conditions, so instead of beam reaching, I set a more windward course towards the City so the dink would ride the waves better. I also cinched up on the tow line so the nose of the dink was up on my swim platform. Again, the dink caught air… Eventually, the transom board is going get pulled off that dink if I flip it too many more times. I have not tried tying the dink to my aft mooring cleats as I’m concerned if I do catch air, one or both D-ring patches would pull out and I’d I really would be in a jam.

 

[G. Bean, s/v Freya]

Airborne Dinks

I have flipped a 10’8” dink twice while transiting San Francisco Bay. Both times were in the summer. I was beam-reaching the Berkeley Flat area the first time and the dink was setup to ride the back of the first standing wave behind us. The waves were mostly abeam of us as we were transiting the “Slot”. The dink rolled up on a wave, caught air underneath it, became airborne, then landed upside down. We were still able to sail at hull speed with all that additional drag! The second time we were experiencing the same conditions, so instead of beam reaching, I set a more windward course towards the City so the dink would ride the waves better. I also cinched up on the tow line so the nose of the dink was up on my swim platform. Again, the dink caught air… Eventually, the transom board is going get pulled off that dink if I flip it too many more times. I have not tried tying the dink to my aft mooring cleats as I’m concerned if I do catch air, one or both D-ring patches would pull out and I’d I really would be in a jam.

 

[G. Bean, s/v Freya]

Airborne Dinks

I have flipped a 10’8” dink twice while transiting San Francisco Bay. Both times were in the summer. I was beam-reaching the Berkeley Flat area the first time and the dink was setup to ride the back of the first standing wave behind us. The waves were mostly abeam of us as we were transiting the “Slot”. The dink rolled up on a wave, caught air underneath it, became airborne, then landed upside down. We were still able to sail at hull speed with all that additional drag! The second time we were experiencing the same conditions, so instead of beam reaching, I set a more windward course towards the City so the dink would ride the waves better. I also cinched up on the tow line so the nose of the dink was up on my swim platform. Again, the dink caught air… Eventually, the transom board is going get pulled off that dink if I flip it too many more times. I have not tried tying the dink to my aft mooring cleats as I’m concerned if I do catch air, one or both D-ring patches would pull out and I’d I really would be in a jam.

 

[Jeff]

I'd rather not have to worry about it

I keep it deflated in the bow storage, with the motor on the stern rail. Nothing to worry about. No constantly looking back, analyzing if it will flip or get the line caught in seaweed or up in the prop if backing or break something etc etc.Also much easier to come into a mooring field.Takes 5 minutes to get it out of storage and onto the deck, 5 minutes to inflate and 3 minutes to put the motor on. Then the same in reverse. Total time, 26 minutes every time I need it, which is about once a month when sailing to remote ports.

 

[Jeff]

I'd rather not have to worry about it

I keep it deflated in the bow storage, with the motor on the stern rail. Nothing to worry about. No constantly looking back, analyzing if it will flip or get the line caught in seaweed or up in the prop if backing or break something etc etc.Also much easier to come into a mooring field.Takes 5 minutes to get it out of storage and onto the deck, 5 minutes to inflate and 3 minutes to put the motor on. Then the same in reverse. Total time, 26 minutes every time I need it, which is about once a month when sailing to remote ports.

 

[Jeff]

I'd rather not have to worry about it

I keep it deflated in the bow storage, with the motor on the stern rail. Nothing to worry about. No constantly looking back, analyzing if it will flip or get the line caught in seaweed or up in the prop if backing or break something etc etc.Also much easier to come into a mooring field.Takes 5 minutes to get it out of storage and onto the deck, 5 minutes to inflate and 3 minutes to put the motor on. Then the same in reverse. Total time, 26 minutes every time I need it, which is about once a month when sailing to remote ports.

 

[Jeff]

I'd rather not have to worry about it

I keep it deflated in the bow storage, with the motor on the stern rail. Nothing to worry about. No constantly looking back, analyzing if it will flip or get the line caught in seaweed or up in the prop if backing or break something etc etc.Also much easier to come into a mooring field.Takes 5 minutes to get it out of storage and onto the deck, 5 minutes to inflate and 3 minutes to put the motor on. Then the same in reverse. Total time, 26 minutes every time I need it, which is about once a month when sailing to remote ports.

 

[RAD]

Nick,

I just got me a couple of kayaks and was wondering about towing till I read Rich's post cause I've been wondering how I'm gonna take them with me next season.Whats your experiance with them?BTW I installed davits years ago and made life so simple plus extra outside storage inside the dink and use the davit to haul the outboard up on deck

 

[RAD]

Nick,

I just got me a couple of kayaks and was wondering about towing till I read Rich's post cause I've been wondering how I'm gonna take them with me next season.Whats your experiance with them?BTW I installed davits years ago and made life so simple plus extra outside storage inside the dink and use the davit to haul the outboard up on deck

 

[RAD]

Nick,

I just got me a couple of kayaks and was wondering about towing till I read Rich's post cause I've been wondering how I'm gonna take them with me next season.Whats your experiance with them?BTW I installed davits years ago and made life so simple plus extra outside storage inside the dink and use the davit to haul the outboard up on deck

 

[RAD]

Nick,

I just got me a couple of kayaks and was wondering about towing till I read Rich's post cause I've been wondering how I'm gonna take them with me next season.Whats your experiance with them?BTW I installed davits years ago and made life so simple plus extra outside storage inside the dink and use the davit to haul the outboard up on deck

 

[higgs]

To each his own

I too have had a dink flip over on me a couple of times. Glad I don't leave the OB on it when I tow as it sits safely on the stern rail. A hoist sure makes the job of getting it aboard a lot easier.

 

[higgs]

To each his own

I too have had a dink flip over on me a couple of times. Glad I don't leave the OB on it when I tow as it sits safely on the stern rail. A hoist sure makes the job of getting it aboard a lot easier.

 

[higgs]

To each his own

I too have had a dink flip over on me a couple of times. Glad I don't leave the OB on it when I tow as it sits safely on the stern rail. A hoist sure makes the job of getting it aboard a lot easier.

 

[higgs]

To each his own

I too have had a dink flip over on me a couple of times. Glad I don't leave the OB on it when I tow as it sits safely on the stern rail. A hoist sure makes the job of getting it aboard a lot easier.

 

[seadaddler]

Rad

Not great results towing the kayak's except for very short trips.In the photo we happen to be out anchored over night close to our slip which at that time had plenty of room to tie up to the dock.Most times I stored them on the deck when traveling and I see that's what most people do,they are very hard to handle being towed like in the photo,if the water is like a lake its OK but get some wakes and they are all over the place,ts really not a good idea.Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Rad

Not great results towing the kayak's except for very short trips.In the photo we happen to be out anchored over night close to our slip which at that time had plenty of room to tie up to the dock.Most times I stored them on the deck when traveling and I see that's what most people do,they are very hard to handle being towed like in the photo,if the water is like a lake its OK but get some wakes and they are all over the place,ts really not a good idea.Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Rad

Not great results towing the kayak's except for very short trips.In the photo we happen to be out anchored over night close to our slip which at that time had plenty of room to tie up to the dock.Most times I stored them on the deck when traveling and I see that's what most people do,they are very hard to handle being towed like in the photo,if the water is like a lake its OK but get some wakes and they are all over the place,ts really not a good idea.Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Rad

Not great results towing the kayak's except for very short trips.In the photo we happen to be out anchored over night close to our slip which at that time had plenty of room to tie up to the dock.Most times I stored them on the deck when traveling and I see that's what most people do,they are very hard to handle being towed like in the photo,if the water is like a lake its OK but get some wakes and they are all over the place,ts really not a good idea.Nick