I am new to towing an inflatable dinghy. Can you tow one with the engine in place? Can you sail under reasonable conditions with one under tow or do you risk capsizing the dinghy? I see that taking the engine on/off is a major pain as well as hauling the dinghy onto the deck.
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Bob Peters
tow dinghy, not engine
Behind my 336, I tow a 8.5' inflatable, but I take the 3.3hp 28lb Merc off and put it on stern rail. Dealing with the engine is a pain but for long stretches where sea conditions can change, I just feel it is safer. Plus, if left on, and even with engine in up position on dinghy's stern, prop would still catch the water and spin; over long distances, this is a lot of turning for a small tender engine and may result in premature wear.
Behind my 336, I tow a 8.5' inflatable, but I take the 3.3hp 28lb Merc off and put it on stern rail. Dealing with the engine is a pain but for long stretches where sea conditions can change, I just feel it is safer. Plus, if left on, and even with engine in up position on dinghy's stern, prop would still catch the water and spin; over long distances, this is a lot of turning for a small tender engine and may result in premature wear.
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David
tow
When underway we always remove the engine from the dinghy. It tows better and the inflatable instructions recommend removal.
When underway we always remove the engine from the dinghy. It tows better and the inflatable instructions recommend removal.
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Roy Mosteller
Lost A Dinghy
A friend of mine was towing inflatable dinghy with engine at sea off San Diego. He went through a large swell and the dinghy bow dipped into the swell swamping it. The weight broke the tow line and possibly ruptured the inflatable. Before he could react the dingy sank and was not recovered. Moral - I would never tow my dinghy with an engine still on it.
A friend of mine was towing inflatable dinghy with engine at sea off San Diego. He went through a large swell and the dinghy bow dipped into the swell swamping it. The weight broke the tow line and possibly ruptured the inflatable. Before he could react the dingy sank and was not recovered. Moral - I would never tow my dinghy with an engine still on it.
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steven f.
right on the nose
is how I'd sum up the other responses. I've towed a dink up and down the coast for years and have found that the motor makes a differance. Now if I'm just towing for a short distance in-shore than no big deal, I assume we are talking about longer distances off shore right? Besides, If everything goes to hell while I'm towing than I would like the option to cut the painter and save my big boat rather than worry about the motor also.
is how I'd sum up the other responses. I've towed a dink up and down the coast for years and have found that the motor makes a differance. Now if I'm just towing for a short distance in-shore than no big deal, I assume we are talking about longer distances off shore right? Besides, If everything goes to hell while I'm towing than I would like the option to cut the painter and save my big boat rather than worry about the motor also.
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Mickey Goodman
Towing an inflatable
I lost a 8.6" West Marine inflatable when attempting to sail to Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island. I was still in Narragansett Bay and the wind was blowing about 25 knots. I did not have the motor on but made my own harness mistakenly using brass snap hooks rather than stainless steel. I was addressing the sailing and did not watch the dink and when I finally turned to look the dink was gone. Moral use stainless, ocassionally look to see it is riding properly when the weather changes and KEEP THE MOTOR OFF! My only saving grace. I did purchase a "Motor Mate" which I use to lower the motor to the dink. It works quite well and is a much safer means of moving the motor.
I lost a 8.6" West Marine inflatable when attempting to sail to Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island. I was still in Narragansett Bay and the wind was blowing about 25 knots. I did not have the motor on but made my own harness mistakenly using brass snap hooks rather than stainless steel. I was addressing the sailing and did not watch the dink and when I finally turned to look the dink was gone. Moral use stainless, ocassionally look to see it is riding properly when the weather changes and KEEP THE MOTOR OFF! My only saving grace. I did purchase a "Motor Mate" which I use to lower the motor to the dink. It works quite well and is a much safer means of moving the motor.
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Bob Bass
No Motor = OK
I towed our 11.5' RIB across the Gulf Stream twice without the engine. Got into a 70 mph white squall in the dark. Didn't have time to worry about the dinghy during the excitement, but after it was over, the dinghy was upright and not even full of water. I used a Y harness that (from rear forward) went from two D bolts on the stern (pointing inward) to a single ring just in front of the front seat. The floating tow line attached to the ring after going through a D ring glued to the top of the front tube. This way, the force was on the transome and the bow always pointed forward. When in the islands or the Keys, we towed it with the engine on with no problems. We now tow an 18-foot power center console catamaran with a 70 hp four-cycle. Needless to say, we don't remove the motor for towing, but watch our weather window more closely.
I towed our 11.5' RIB across the Gulf Stream twice without the engine. Got into a 70 mph white squall in the dark. Didn't have time to worry about the dinghy during the excitement, but after it was over, the dinghy was upright and not even full of water. I used a Y harness that (from rear forward) went from two D bolts on the stern (pointing inward) to a single ring just in front of the front seat. The floating tow line attached to the ring after going through a D ring glued to the top of the front tube. This way, the force was on the transome and the bow always pointed forward. When in the islands or the Keys, we towed it with the engine on with no problems. We now tow an 18-foot power center console catamaran with a 70 hp four-cycle. Needless to say, we don't remove the motor for towing, but watch our weather window more closely.
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