Towing a Dinghy with Outboard On

[Mike B]

Clint Eastwood

Capt Kermie, forgive me if I misquote, but I believe it was Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry that said "A man has to know his limitations". I do everything I can to ensure a safe and uneventful trip every time out. It's all based on knowledge of conditions, the boat, the crew, and of course my experience. Would I tow the dink in a manner or conditions that I thought would cause me to lose it? Not intentionally that's for sure. So the bottom line is I have a pretty good feel for my "limitations" and trust my instincts. So far they haven't failed me. That's why I tow my dink when I can and leave it behind when I should. And what if some day I find that I'm wrong? I call my insurance agent

 

[caguy]

How does having a bridle keep the dinghy from

flipping over? It seems counter intuitive when both lines come to one point. Having two lines running parallel from the side D rings to corresponding sides of the sailboat makes more sense. Also having the motor attached and lifted out of the water would seem to make it even more top heavy and unstable. I am curious because I just got mine and will use it soon.Another question does it have to be registered with CA numbers in Calif.Thanks, Frank

 

[Stu Jackson]

If it has a motor it needs to be registered

in CA.Bridles don't do anything if you think of the "flipping in a side wind" scenario. Single or multiple points of connection at either or both ends of the dink or the boat doing the towing will simply not help in that case. All that multiple points of connection do is stop the towed vessel from wandering from side to side as it being towed.

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

"Make My Day"

Did I use five or all six, well did I punk?I met him at the 'Hog's Breath Inn' in Carmel in 1981.He owned it at the time, three of us divers + two cutie ladys late on a week-night. He took out the trash, then bought us all drinks, didn't talk much, wore an old T-shirt, real stand-up guy.I never tow a dink with an engine on it, that kind of laziness will cost you. I have used all kinds...over the years and years, FRP, wood, et al I use a 10ft Achilles with wooden floorboards, the 9.9 Tohautsu is on the rail bracket.Use a harness with TWO attachment lines to the mother ship. If it does flip, it will tow upside down no problemo, and it is a liferaft that will NOT sink when swamped, does not scratch gel-coat, and is light enough to throw round hither & yon. I do oft use the main halyard to raise/lower the Engine, usually need a second for this, & need to push out due to wrong angle of attack, but it isn't a Freight Train either hey?The nose can come up on the transom, but you'll oft get soot if you motor.I don't even cross the bay without a dink nowdays.They raft up nicely to tug a disabled yacht into port+Good luck swabs...;-)

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

"Make My Day"

Did I use five or all six, well did I punk?I met him at the 'Hog's Breath Inn' in Carmel in 1981.He owned it at the time, three of us divers + two cutie ladys late on a week-night. He took out the trash, then bought us all drinks, didn't talk much, wore an old T-shirt, real stand-up guy.I never tow a dink with an engine on it, that kind of laziness will cost you. I have used all kinds...over the years and years, FRP, wood, et al I use a 10ft Achilles with wooden floorboards, the 9.9 Tohautsu is on the rail bracket.Use a harness with TWO attachment lines to the mother ship. If it does flip, it will tow upside down no problemo, and it is a liferaft that will NOT sink when swamped, does not scratch gel-coat, and is light enough to throw round hither & yon. I do oft use the main halyard to raise/lower the Engine, usually need a second for this, & need to push out due to wrong angle of attack, but it isn't a Freight Train either hey?The nose can come up on the transom, but you'll oft get soot if you motor.I don't even cross the bay without a dink nowdays.They raft up nicely to tug a disabled yacht into port+Good luck swabs...;-)

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Well, Capt. Kermie,

Seeing as how your post seemed to mostly be questioning my lack of proper judgment, consider that the conditions we were experiencing was local, limited to the mouth of Hole in the Wall. The wind abated in a hundred meters. When you get more time on the water you will learn that such conditions are not mentioned on a Coast Guard/Environment Canada digital continuous broadcast. That's what SEAMANSHIP is for.

 

[Chris Burti]

My experience says take it off.

I've towed or hauled soft and hard dinghies for decades and formerly did so regularly with the engine on the transom. I liked the way it seemed to settle the dingy when towing. We were motoring through the ICW going out to Cape Lookout for a week in the early 90's. Negotiated the Hoboken bridge (drawbridge back then) between the Pamlico and Neuse Rivers while in the company of several other sailboats, power yachts and a tug and barge in confined quarters. Had the Zodiac inflatable snugged right up on the transom with a line from each towing d-ring to each aft cleat respectively and an old Johnson 6.5 locked on its transom.Just as soon as we cleared through the bridge, while negotiating a substantial wake and in otherwise mild conditions (if somewhat hectic circumstances) a land breeze puffed across the channel...the next thing I know, the dink flies up and lands upside down with its knickers in knot in the twisted bridle and Johnnie is committing suicide on saltwater.We started resuscitation measures immediately and got him running again but he locked up a couple of years later and I am certain the dunking contributed his premature demise.I won't lie and tell you that I have never towed with the engine on the dinghy since then...but it has been rare...and never without some trepidation.

 

[Brian M H23]

Ballast?

I don't tow a dinghy, so this is just an out-there thought. but what if you were to put a heavy steel plate in the floor of the dingy? Sure, it makes it even harder to get it on board..but that's why we're figuring out how to tow it in all conditions anyway!

 

[Stu Jackson]

And how would that help?

It appears that the dynamics of the dinghy wouldn't change at all, similar to posts #25 and 26. It would still flip over is side winds and waves, which is what one is attempting to avoid plus you'd lose the steel plate, too.

 

[Bffatcat]

Towing Dinghies

I stopped towing dinghys about 30 years ago. I was down wind in the hog island channel coming into the cape cod canal on a typical smokey Southwest buzzards bay afternoon when a huge wave broke in my avon dinghy and filled it to the gunwales. The dinghy was snugged right up tight against the transom. It didnt sink but it was to heavy to lift and bail. It slowed the boat downso there was almost no foreward progress. Faced with the choice of either letting it go or bailing I decided to bail, much to the objection of my wife the only other crew on board. I dropped my transom ladder in the dinghyand climbed in over the stern with a bucket and bailed it. That was the last time I towed a dinghy. Now I leave it deflated and tied on deck. Towing with an outboard is OUT. I cant remember the last time I saw anyone do that. Just asking for trouble. If your gonna tow a dinghy you have to tie it to the transom up high so any water will spill outBob

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Judgement Day

Fred wrote:"Seeing as how your post seemed to mostly be questioning my lack of proper judgment,"Well Fred, I was not really pointing the finger at you only, others have expressed their experiences also. It was just that your experience sounded more colorfull, your description sounded pretty wild to say the least. And Yes, I do have much seamanship to aquire, but time will take care of that and hopefully expand my "Limitations".You say:"In the Puget Sound/Canada area, forget about wind during most of the Summer."I beg to differ, perhaps in the Puget Sound where it is more protected, but I mostly sail out of Point Roberts right out into the Georgia Strait and with the exception of our dismal 2007 season the 03-06 seasons as I remember were pretty windy. Certainly we get our share of light winds, but we also get our equal share of strong winds. I am home grown here and even during all my land lubber days I still have memories of it always being windy, especially when hanging out at the beaches. I am right on the 49th.I have no choice with towing because there are no reasonable alternatives. If my dinghy ever flips it will be an expensive experience. Also can't see the need for big hp on a dinghy,if I can't lift it then it is too big/heavy. Still looking for the 9.8 Nissan 2-stroke @ 58# to replace my heavy honda 5hp @ 60#.What's with the big 25hp powerboat dinghies that require a crane to lift??? Nice toys anyway.

 

[ED]

this is an interesting post!

I think i like the naked picture the best!!Thanks Fred!

 

[Maine Sail]

Have davits...

We have davits but mostly just tow the RIB with the motor on as long as it's below 15 knots. I've towed dinks with motors on for a lot of my life and only once had one flip. I do mix it up though if were trying to make speed and do throw it on the motor mount too. The one dinghy that flipped though was not even during a towing incident and it was one of those super light air floors. It flipped in a micro burst while we were anchored. I flipped it back over, rinsed the motor with fresh water, removed and replaced the plugs, sprayed the carb and drained the float bowl then liberally sprayed the engine with Boeshield and fired her up. You can't do that with a four stroke! I have had many two stroked go in the drink over 30+ years and they always fire right up after a good cleaning and drying out..Think about it if your in rough seas towing your dinghy and it flips you've in many cases lost it anyway regardless of if the motor was on it. In rough weather I put it on deck or in the davits. One trick I have to prevent surfing of the dinghy in rough seas, if I have not put it on deck or in davits, is to deploy my Davis Pelican wheels to create enough drag as to prevent the dinghy from surfing...

 

[Mike B]

The need for speed

Capt Kermie as far as having bigger motors on dinks, I had a 5hp on my dink but it couldn't get out of it's own way. It wasn't an issue until some fool in a power boat thought he'd be cute and see how close he could get while we crossed the river we stay on. Since we use the dink to go play in the river more than we tow it, a 8hp made it's way onto the transom. I now have the power to get up on plane in a hurry if need be, but pay the price in that it's too heavy to be lifting on and off when I want it along on a trip. Since I don't want to add a lift to the boat I choose to tow the dink with the motor on. Generally a safe move on the Chesapeake. One I'm willing to take a risk on.BTW sorry if the "Limitations" comment offended you, it was meant to be humerous.Mike

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Pt. Roberts.

Never been there. It's kinda out of the way. Even the early creators of this country and Canada didn't know it existed. They drew the border right through it for Gods' sake! Dumb. Why we never gave it to Canada is bazaar. There must be an accounting up there in a museum. Maybe google knows!But as the intrepid adventurer, we tried to clear Customs at Pt. Roberts this summer. We were holed-up at the West Vancouver Yacht Club for two days waiting for a 'southerly' to ease. Forgetaboutit! Last summer sucked. We broad reached back to the Gulf Islands and took the scenic route home.As for that large engine, I've said this here once or twice. The dingy served as our life raft for our trip to the Eastern Caribbean, Trinidad and back. At sea, it was ready to launch. Even a knife was kept in the cockpit for emergency cutting of the davit lines. Because this thing does over 30MPH, we were never more than 3 or 4 hours from shore. And we could run circles around a ship, firing flares at their bridge to get attention if they're otherwise occupied. We never had to do that, of course, but in each cruising armada that we joined, our dingy became the default taxi for community grocery-getting or fuel retrieval. And to this day, this setup compliments the mother ship. As long as momma boat has fuel, she can stay in remote anchorages. When we need supplies we take the dingy. This summer that meant a trip from the end of Pendrell Sound to Refuge Cove. With shopping, two hours round trip. Why should the mega-yacht tenders have all the fun? And Ed, you're welcome. My pleasure.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Too Late Now

First of all, Mike - Papillon, no offense was ever taken, just took advantage of an opportunity to quote limitations, I certainly know mine and really strive to extend them in my sailing life.Point Roberts, Fred:Yes, I used to wonder about that oddity myself some years back, why did they put the border right through it. I always thought it was more bother to maintain by USA than it was worth. Try telling that to the Americans that reside there though, it is their little piece of paradise.The Marina was excavated right out of the land, back in the early 1980's, probably by some rich American investor. They dug a huge hole, put in the pilings, plumbing, electrical, put breakwaters in place and then opened the gates and let the ocean in. This was possibe because it was American territory, no way Canadian goverment would allow that, too many tree huggers. At any rate it is now a prosperous little community what with the marina bringing in a cash flow (new money - not recycled). As a Canadian I really benefit from the border customs as it creates a gated community and keeps criminal activity out, an extra line of defense so to speak. The land is gated and so is the marina, nice touch. As they say in real estate "Location, Location, Location" and Point Roberts has it for us that use it,(mostly Canadians along with a few locals)right smack in the middle of the Georgia Strait within easy proximity to both the Gulf Islands and San Juans, what more could we ask for? I live just north of the border so it is a short 15 minute drive from home to marina including the drive-thru border with Nexus.This is really quite a nice little marina and we have you Americans to thank for it. We don't want it back now, no way we could maintain it as well as it is now. Take the border away and major development would come in, no one on either side wants that, it is a remote place surrounded my big cities, a paradise in the middle of metropolis so to speak. Check it out some day as a customs clearance point, they have a big grocery outlet a short walk up the street and a few restaurants in the area. It is quaint and remote, surrounded by water and only accessable by land thru Canada, geographically speaking, it is a bit of an oddity.Understand the big HP now.