Towing kayaks.
- Thread starter Karyon
- Start date
They tow behind the boat. Sorry it's April fools day and I just had to say it!!!
We used to tow ours behind our Hunter on our lake in Colorado. They tow just fine, make sure the painter is secured well on both ends. Watch for other boaters (we have to watch the jet skiers since they like to cut close to the boat) but otherwise not a big deal. If you have more than 1 tie them end to end, if you back out of the slip make sure the painter doesn't foul the prop.
Have fun
We used to tow ours behind our Hunter on our lake in Colorado. They tow just fine, make sure the painter is secured well on both ends. Watch for other boaters (we have to watch the jet skiers since they like to cut close to the boat) but otherwise not a big deal. If you have more than 1 tie them end to end, if you back out of the slip make sure the painter doesn't foul the prop.
Have fun
Just consider worst case scenario, then decide if it's worth the risk.
If they flip and/or fill with water is there even an attachment point on a plastic kayak that would take that pressure? What are the chances you'd get the tow line in your prop sooner or later?
Most of us who value our dinghies do not tow them, EVER!
If they flip and/or fill with water is there even an attachment point on a plastic kayak that would take that pressure? What are the chances you'd get the tow line in your prop sooner or later?
Most of us who value our dinghies do not tow them, EVER!
Anything I tow is on a special tow bridle with bridle float and floating poly pro tow line. And still I have managed to pull a swamped kayak in two. Once making the crossing between Bequia and St. Vincent we towed a RIB with 15 hp motor. As we surfed the 20 ft swells the dink would come careening down the wave, thump the stern and then go screaming wildly behind the crest as we climbed out. At one point it lifted into the air, did a full barrel roll and landed on her bottom. It was an insane amateur move, or as they say, School of Hard Knocks. The dink survived and I won't be doing that again.
We tow a tandem sit on top kayak. Bridle is set up thru the drain holes. Most fittings on a kayak aren't strong enough for a serious load. A standard kayak filled with water is not something I want attached to the stern of my boat. Hence the sit-on-top. They are self-bailing.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,746
Towing a kayak seems a futile task. So many things can go wrong. Put it on the foredeck one side or other tied to the lifeline stanchons or a padeye. Face down so it drains. I have even seen holders that put the kayak on the outside of the lifelines. Appeared to work for the owner.
1+ I towed many kayaks many miles, but all were sit on top types. I would not consider towing a sit IN type yak.
I used yellow polypropylene line, and replaced it once a year. no problems.
I towed the three kayaks in the picture many miles at Lake Powell. The year before I did not have the covers to keep the water out of the smaller ones and they would eventually fill up.. and I would have to stop and bail them out.
I used to tow ours on a rig similar to the photo above and it worked well.... until it didn't. We were running downwind in a 15-20 knot wind and seas building to 3 feet. 3 feet is large enough for the kayaks to surf down and when they did, they'd slip sideways and eventually, one rolled and became a pretty hefty sea anchor! It took a ton of work and a detour to tuck into the lee of an island to get the kayak upright. I would never have done that out on the open water of Lake Superior, but I figured inside the islands where we sail it would be alright. WRONG!