I have an Oceanis 390. Aside from NOT towing/bringing the 10' RIB dinghy (which is likely the BEST advice), what technique do you recommend for towing a dinghy 150NM to the Dry Tortugas? Heavy weather SHOULD NOT be a factor--This is our first trip and we will be conservative and choose another destination if weather is not ideal. Specifically, how strong should the weakest link be? What length of line is necessary/smart? Two bridles vs one? Snubbers/shock-ansorbers used? I'd like to keep it cheap, simple, secure, and somewhat redundant, at least for the weaker, more suspect areas. If a block is recommended, what is preferred type? The dinghy has a single attachment point low on centerline--I believe it has a backing plate. It also has 2 lift padeyes at the top of the transom. No other possible tow points exist. All equipment will be removed while towing. Polypropoline line has been recommended since it floats and won't easily be wrapped around the propeller, but it *seems* flimsy. Three-strand has excellent shock-absorbing capabilty...Some say keep it close, some say keep it further out...I'm a little confused by it all. BTW, I purchased a towing bridle for the dinghy. It's rated to over 3 or 4 thousand pounds... Thanks, Clay
Towing a Dinghy
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If you have to tow it..........
If you have to tow it - regardless of how you attach a line or bridle - try playing with the length so that you can get the dink to "surf" your wake. Find the sweet spot. In my experience on monohull charter boats, this results in a noticable decrease in the drag. Not advisable with hard dinks - they can surf so well they can run into your stern and do some damage.
Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44
If you have to tow it - regardless of how you attach a line or bridle - try playing with the length so that you can get the dink to "surf" your wake. Find the sweet spot. In my experience on monohull charter boats, this results in a noticable decrease in the drag. Not advisable with hard dinks - they can surf so well they can run into your stern and do some damage.
Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44towing a dink
You probably won't have any trouble. On my Oceanis 40, I hoist the dink on an arch mounted davit, but a friend of mine tows his RIB all the time on a fairly short nylon line, with the outboard tilted up. Keeping it close doesn't let the towline get under the boat and into the prop, even while backing down. You may want to use a second line with some slack as a redundant line. I'm sure there are any number of engineers who could make up an alarm with a twisted pair of wires, and a battery powered squawk box.
You probably won't have any trouble. On my Oceanis 40, I hoist the dink on an arch mounted davit, but a friend of mine tows his RIB all the time on a fairly short nylon line, with the outboard tilted up. Keeping it close doesn't let the towline get under the boat and into the prop, even while backing down. You may want to use a second line with some slack as a redundant line. I'm sure there are any number of engineers who could make up an alarm with a twisted pair of wires, and a battery powered squawk box.
towing
I have a hunter 430 and on short hops between in the san jauns and gulf islands I tow. I use a long primary painter which is attached to a bridle which in turn is attached to the 2 tow rings on either side of the dinghy. the lenght I tow at varies with weight of the dinghy and speed. if I have the engine on I usually set the painter to have the dink ride the front of the second wave of the wake. sometimes the 3rd. without the weight of the engine my RIB is too squirly to sit on the front of a wave and I have to put it on the back of one. without the engine I sometimes tow really close to the boat as well. when the engine is on i have a tether from the engine to the handholds on the dink so all will not be lost if the engine breaks loose. I also have a back up painter that is shackled to a hoist point in the bow of the dink and clipped onto another point on the stern. I just use a 1/4 poly line for the backup. the excess I coil over a lifeline. if the primary breaks, the safety line would grow taugh and hit the lifeline hopefully allerting me to the problem.
I have a hunter 430 and on short hops between in the san jauns and gulf islands I tow. I use a long primary painter which is attached to a bridle which in turn is attached to the 2 tow rings on either side of the dinghy. the lenght I tow at varies with weight of the dinghy and speed. if I have the engine on I usually set the painter to have the dink ride the front of the second wave of the wake. sometimes the 3rd. without the weight of the engine my RIB is too squirly to sit on the front of a wave and I have to put it on the back of one. without the engine I sometimes tow really close to the boat as well. when the engine is on i have a tether from the engine to the handholds on the dink so all will not be lost if the engine breaks loose. I also have a back up painter that is shackled to a hoist point in the bow of the dink and clipped onto another point on the stern. I just use a 1/4 poly line for the backup. the excess I coil over a lifeline. if the primary breaks, the safety line would grow taugh and hit the lifeline hopefully allerting me to the problem.
Engine on Transom
Clay, Contrary to others on this thread, I do not like to leave my 5hp Honda outboard on while towing, especially if there is some chop. I find, even with the engine in the tilt position, the bouncing engine seems to put too much strain on the transom of the dink. Others have no problem towing in more benign waters and I do not normally either. Seems to me the last time I was sailing around the Tortugas it was rough as hell and I would not want to be towing anything there. The 390 has a couple of well-placed padeyes on the foredeck for lashing the dink and I often lash to the toerail as well. Have a great trip, Peter
Clay, Contrary to others on this thread, I do not like to leave my 5hp Honda outboard on while towing, especially if there is some chop. I find, even with the engine in the tilt position, the bouncing engine seems to put too much strain on the transom of the dink. Others have no problem towing in more benign waters and I do not normally either. Seems to me the last time I was sailing around the Tortugas it was rough as hell and I would not want to be towing anything there. The 390 has a couple of well-placed padeyes on the foredeck for lashing the dink and I often lash to the toerail as well. Have a great trip, Peter
Watch Those Inflatable Dink Tow-Rings
Watch Those Inflatable Dink Tow-Rings!! The tow rings on many dinks are only attached to a PVC/hypalon patch which is then glued on to the dink and not really strongly attached. At least on many Zodiac models they should not be relied on when towing. I had one once let go and after a while I suddenly noticed the dink being dragged semi-sideways through the water and only attached by one ring.
Watch Those Inflatable Dink Tow-Rings!! The tow rings on many dinks are only attached to a PVC/hypalon patch which is then glued on to the dink and not really strongly attached. At least on many Zodiac models they should not be relied on when towing. I had one once let go and after a while I suddenly noticed the dink being dragged semi-sideways through the water and only attached by one ring.
Thanks for Many Good Responses
Thanks for the inputs. I'm not sure how well it would work to lash it down on the foredeck. We've got a sweeping 155% genoa that might give us a problem. I guess I could furl it for each and every tack...On ours, it won't lay flat though. Also, we have to prop it up at an angle. So I think we'll try towing for our first trip. After we return, hopefully we won't need to post a message saying we're looking for a new dinghy! I just purchased a new line specifically made for towing dinghies. I asked for 60'--hopefully thats enough. It floats too. I'll look at doubling the line for redundancy as well as just Sounds like we'll have to experiment before we find a groove. We'll start close, then let some out and try to find the sweet spot. I'm assuming that will change continually with the conditions. I'm expecting to lose a half knot, possibly a whole knot. We'll see... Again, thanks for everyone's help!
Thanks for the inputs. I'm not sure how well it would work to lash it down on the foredeck. We've got a sweeping 155% genoa that might give us a problem. I guess I could furl it for each and every tack...On ours, it won't lay flat though. Also, we have to prop it up at an angle. So I think we'll try towing for our first trip. After we return, hopefully we won't need to post a message saying we're looking for a new dinghy! I just purchased a new line specifically made for towing dinghies. I asked for 60'--hopefully thats enough. It floats too. I'll look at doubling the line for redundancy as well as just Sounds like we'll have to experiment before we find a groove. We'll start close, then let some out and try to find the sweet spot. I'm assuming that will change continually with the conditions. I'm expecting to lose a half knot, possibly a whole knot. We'll see... Again, thanks for everyone's help!
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