How do you avoid wrapping the dinghy painter around your prop? Have you learned the hard way, or did you get it right the first time? But perhaps a better question is, what's the best method of towing a dinghy? Do you use a long painter, a short one, a bridle or a single line, and what kind of line has worked best for you? Share your tow travails here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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bill walton
bridle
I sewed a 'Y' shaped bridle from tubular nylon. Each leg of the Upper part of the Y has a loop wrapped in leather that fastens to the stern cleats. The upper legs have a piece of 5/8 polypro line inside for flotation. The bottom part has a small float and a carabiner for attaching to our inflatable. Sems to work ok so far.
I sewed a 'Y' shaped bridle from tubular nylon. Each leg of the Upper part of the Y has a loop wrapped in leather that fastens to the stern cleats. The upper legs have a piece of 5/8 polypro line inside for flotation. The bottom part has a small float and a carabiner for attaching to our inflatable. Sems to work ok so far.
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MERRILL RAY MASSE (H37C PERSISTENCE)
Use a heavy stiff line
I now use an old, I mean old and stiff three strand, 1/2 inch nylon dock line as my painter. This line will not droop down, if it's stiff enough, and get caught in the prop. It is about 12 or so feet long. I have strong metal terminations on each end. Heavy S/S snap hooks with swivels would be good. I just added my input to the "have you ever wrapped your dingy painter around your prop shaft ? " poll. My input was "yes". worse yet, it came undone with relative ease. But, I believe that in the process, the painter was nicked and subsequently parted. The dingy came free never to be seen by me again. That painter was new light (about 1/4 in.) nylon. When I anchored for the night on that occasion, the dingy came close to the boat (as usual) and the painter drooped down. In the morning when I pulled the anchor and prepared to leave anchorage is when the loss of the dingy was set up. I now use the stiff, heavy nylon painter. Not as much strech as new nylon, but not as much droop, either. Merrill
I now use an old, I mean old and stiff three strand, 1/2 inch nylon dock line as my painter. This line will not droop down, if it's stiff enough, and get caught in the prop. It is about 12 or so feet long. I have strong metal terminations on each end. Heavy S/S snap hooks with swivels would be good. I just added my input to the "have you ever wrapped your dingy painter around your prop shaft ? " poll. My input was "yes". worse yet, it came undone with relative ease. But, I believe that in the process, the painter was nicked and subsequently parted. The dingy came free never to be seen by me again. That painter was new light (about 1/4 in.) nylon. When I anchored for the night on that occasion, the dingy came close to the boat (as usual) and the painter drooped down. In the morning when I pulled the anchor and prepared to leave anchorage is when the loss of the dingy was set up. I now use the stiff, heavy nylon painter. Not as much strech as new nylon, but not as much droop, either. Merrill
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Rick Webb
Ski Bridle
I use a water ski bridle it has a float at the end to keep it away from the prop and I use the polypropelene (sp?) line that floats to tow it with.
I use a water ski bridle it has a float at the end to keep it away from the prop and I use the polypropelene (sp?) line that floats to tow it with.
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Fritz Merizon
Lessons learned...
Regardless of the type of painter used, I suggest shortening length to only a few feet whenever you are backing down, anchoring, motoring in the marina, etc... This is a lesson all the charter companies preach prior to departure. I give the job to one of my kids and it makes them feel a real part of the process.
Regardless of the type of painter used, I suggest shortening length to only a few feet whenever you are backing down, anchoring, motoring in the marina, etc... This is a lesson all the charter companies preach prior to departure. I give the job to one of my kids and it makes them feel a real part of the process.
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Bob Brooks
polypropelene and a rubber baseball
I use a 25'section of 3/8" polypropelene (yellow) line with one of those white soft rubber baseballs on the end. I forced some coat hanger wire through the middle of the ball, made a loop and pulled some 1/8" braided nylon back through. Leaving a loop of about 4 inches at the top, the remainder goes through a stainless steel washer with an "overhand knot" on the end. With a small loop spliced on each end of the poly this is a very usefull line to have on board. It tows the dinghy, the poly floats, it can be trailed behind our 33 Hunter as a safety line (ball attached). And, it can serve as a "heaver" with "monkey's fist".
I use a 25'section of 3/8" polypropelene (yellow) line with one of those white soft rubber baseballs on the end. I forced some coat hanger wire through the middle of the ball, made a loop and pulled some 1/8" braided nylon back through. Leaving a loop of about 4 inches at the top, the remainder goes through a stainless steel washer with an "overhand knot" on the end. With a small loop spliced on each end of the poly this is a very usefull line to have on board. It tows the dinghy, the poly floats, it can be trailed behind our 33 Hunter as a safety line (ball attached). And, it can serve as a "heaver" with "monkey's fist".
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Rich Stidger
Poly line is abrasive
I use a Y-bridle with the top of the Y attached to the two towing eyes on the dinghy. This spreads the towing load to more than just one point on my inflatable. I eye-spliced the lines directly onto the dinghy and tied a loop at the center of the Y where a single line goes to one of my stern cleats. I slid an egg-shaped swimming pool line float onto the single line at the center of the Y and kept the overall length short enough so that it was not possible to get sucked into the prop. One caution: I once used poly line for this setup and because the poly becomes hard and abrasive after several seasons in the sun, I wore a hole in the dinghy tube where the line from the towing eye rubbed on the side of the dinghy. I now use nylon line, 1/2" in size and it does not abraid the dinghy. Rich
I use a Y-bridle with the top of the Y attached to the two towing eyes on the dinghy. This spreads the towing load to more than just one point on my inflatable. I eye-spliced the lines directly onto the dinghy and tied a loop at the center of the Y where a single line goes to one of my stern cleats. I slid an egg-shaped swimming pool line float onto the single line at the center of the Y and kept the overall length short enough so that it was not possible to get sucked into the prop. One caution: I once used poly line for this setup and because the poly becomes hard and abrasive after several seasons in the sun, I wore a hole in the dinghy tube where the line from the towing eye rubbed on the side of the dinghy. I now use nylon line, 1/2" in size and it does not abraid the dinghy. Rich
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Dinghy towing
If we're just out for a short jaunt, we'll tow the dinghy on a single line tied securely. If it's a little longer of a jaunt (more than a couple hours), we'll double up on the painters. If it's an all day venture or are out for a "real" sail, we'll bring the dink aboard. It just sorta depends on whether we deflate or not. LaDonna
If we're just out for a short jaunt, we'll tow the dinghy on a single line tied securely. If it's a little longer of a jaunt (more than a couple hours), we'll double up on the painters. If it's an all day venture or are out for a "real" sail, we'll bring the dink aboard. It just sorta depends on whether we deflate or not. LaDonna
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Mac Lindsay
Dinghy painter
On my 8ft hard dinghy I use poly break a line for the main length with 4 ft of 1/2 inch nylon for a snubber. The poly keeps the nylon from sinking very far and the nylon takes the strain from the dinghy jerking against the painter when going through boat wakes etc.. In all case's, when manoeuvring in close quarters shorten the painter. Mac Lindsay, 1984 H31
On my 8ft hard dinghy I use poly break a line for the main length with 4 ft of 1/2 inch nylon for a snubber. The poly keeps the nylon from sinking very far and the nylon takes the strain from the dinghy jerking against the painter when going through boat wakes etc.. In all case's, when manoeuvring in close quarters shorten the painter. Mac Lindsay, 1984 H31
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Royce
Dinghy
I have a light Sevelour(sp) dinghy and I have to tie it bow out of the water up on the stern to keep it from sailing out of the water and flipping. I'm sure in light winds it would do ok on a longer painter, but as I found out when the wind picks up it gets crazy. It does fine though when I tie it with the bow out of the water and up on the stern, also producing less drag.
I have a light Sevelour(sp) dinghy and I have to tie it bow out of the water up on the stern to keep it from sailing out of the water and flipping. I'm sure in light winds it would do ok on a longer painter, but as I found out when the wind picks up it gets crazy. It does fine though when I tie it with the bow out of the water and up on the stern, also producing less drag.
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Frank Walker
Fleels So Good
We pull the nose of the dingy up to the removable seat and use a throwable cushion for wear protection. Tie the inflatable to the stern rails. If it gets noisy a little liquid soap on the cushion will bring back the peace and quiet. We take the motor off and perch it on the stern rail. This reduces the drag to nothing. We have used this technique in some pretty heavy seas. Frank If it is rough you get a free back massage.
We pull the nose of the dingy up to the removable seat and use a throwable cushion for wear protection. Tie the inflatable to the stern rails. If it gets noisy a little liquid soap on the cushion will bring back the peace and quiet. We take the motor off and perch it on the stern rail. This reduces the drag to nothing. We have used this technique in some pretty heavy seas. Frank If it is rough you get a free back massage.
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Eric Lorgus
Just put it in the dinghy garage
The Hunter 54 is an unusual boat in many ways, and one of those ways is its dinghy garage, which opens to the swim platform on the sugar scoop transom. I suppose you could tow a dinghy from a H54, but why bother? Just open the door, and slide her into the garage. Eric Lorgus s/v Impulse 83H54
The Hunter 54 is an unusual boat in many ways, and one of those ways is its dinghy garage, which opens to the swim platform on the sugar scoop transom. I suppose you could tow a dinghy from a H54, but why bother? Just open the door, and slide her into the garage. Eric Lorgus s/v Impulse 83H54
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Roger Mummah
Dingy Towing Florida to Bahamas and Back
We have a bridle made of 1/2" 3 strand nylon dock/anchor line that is tied to the "d" rings on either side of our dinghy's bow. The bridle is tied such that it forms a "ski rope" type "Y". At the "Y" we have a small streamlined float. We bring the single line through a middle stern rail and then cleat it off to one of the stern cleats. We tow the dinghy close behind the boat and the float prevents the painter from getting near the prop. When at anchor we let out some slack so the dinghy won't ride against the boats hull. If that happens, it squeeks and keeps us awake. Our dinghy is a 10' 2" Zodiac with a 6 HP Yamaha outboard. We learned that we could not tow the dinghy with the outboard on it. It makes too much drag because of the weight in the dinghy's sten. We put the dinghy on the bow for long passages or deep water passages, like crossing the Gulf Stream to/from the Bahamas, crossing the Bahama Banks or headed to/from Nassau. On the shorter hauls island hopping around the Bahamas we towed the empty dinghy. Something we saw but have not tried yet is towning the dinghy bcakwards. If we pull the bow of the dinghy high up on the stern, the pointy stern tubes are in the water. We saw a few people who pulled the stern of the dinghy up on to the stern and the bow rode in the water. The flatter dinghy bow might float better and have less drag the the stern tubes. Of course this assumes a non-rib inflatable dinghy. Ribs and hard dinghys are beyond our experience. Good towing. Roger Mummah, s/v Endless Summer
We have a bridle made of 1/2" 3 strand nylon dock/anchor line that is tied to the "d" rings on either side of our dinghy's bow. The bridle is tied such that it forms a "ski rope" type "Y". At the "Y" we have a small streamlined float. We bring the single line through a middle stern rail and then cleat it off to one of the stern cleats. We tow the dinghy close behind the boat and the float prevents the painter from getting near the prop. When at anchor we let out some slack so the dinghy won't ride against the boats hull. If that happens, it squeeks and keeps us awake. Our dinghy is a 10' 2" Zodiac with a 6 HP Yamaha outboard. We learned that we could not tow the dinghy with the outboard on it. It makes too much drag because of the weight in the dinghy's sten. We put the dinghy on the bow for long passages or deep water passages, like crossing the Gulf Stream to/from the Bahamas, crossing the Bahama Banks or headed to/from Nassau. On the shorter hauls island hopping around the Bahamas we towed the empty dinghy. Something we saw but have not tried yet is towning the dinghy bcakwards. If we pull the bow of the dinghy high up on the stern, the pointy stern tubes are in the water. We saw a few people who pulled the stern of the dinghy up on to the stern and the bow rode in the water. The flatter dinghy bow might float better and have less drag the the stern tubes. Of course this assumes a non-rib inflatable dinghy. Ribs and hard dinghys are beyond our experience. Good towing. Roger Mummah, s/v Endless Summer
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Don H.
Towing Inflatable Dinghy
I have towed a 9.2 foot inflatable dinghy without problem. To spread the towing load, I tie a bridle to the two towing rings on either side of the bow. From the middle of the bridle, I tie one towline about 30 to 40 feet long when sailing in open water. I shorten this to about 10 feet when towing in narrow channels. When making the final approach to the dock (or when backing out of the dock), I tie the bow up tight to the first step of the swim platform of my Hunter Legend 37.5. This avoids running over the dinghy in reverse and prevents the tow line from fouling the prop. When the weather gets rough, as in over 25 knots of wind and three foot seas, I deflate the dinghy, roll it up and store it below.
I have towed a 9.2 foot inflatable dinghy without problem. To spread the towing load, I tie a bridle to the two towing rings on either side of the bow. From the middle of the bridle, I tie one towline about 30 to 40 feet long when sailing in open water. I shorten this to about 10 feet when towing in narrow channels. When making the final approach to the dock (or when backing out of the dock), I tie the bow up tight to the first step of the swim platform of my Hunter Legend 37.5. This avoids running over the dinghy in reverse and prevents the tow line from fouling the prop. When the weather gets rough, as in over 25 knots of wind and three foot seas, I deflate the dinghy, roll it up and store it below.
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Rod Headlee
We Never Tow
We put the dink on deck, in front of the mast, upsidedown. She is a softbottom though, and only weighs 40lbs max. I keep the engine clamped on the stern pulpit. That is kind of a pain, until I get my halyard harness rigged up.
We put the dink on deck, in front of the mast, upsidedown. She is a softbottom though, and only weighs 40lbs max. I keep the engine clamped on the stern pulpit. That is kind of a pain, until I get my halyard harness rigged up.
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Brian Pickton
We don't tow very much...
Nov.22, 2000 In the 8000 miles we've had Sir Percy, our 11 foot hard dinghy, he has been towed once, a grand total of 3 miles, in the Bahia Culebra of Costa Rica. The rest of the time he is stowed inverted on the foredeck, well lashed down, when we're travelling. She Who Must Be Obeyed and I have no trouble hoisting him on deck together - he weighs about 80 pounds. The 6 Hp Evinrude lives more or less permanently on the pushpit since I prefer to row, unless I have a long way to travel with heavy loads, e.g. hauling water. The leakey inflatable got knifed and left for dead on a garbage pile in Panama. Brian Pickton @BeneteauOwners.net Aboard the Legend, Rodney Bay, St.Lucia
Nov.22, 2000 In the 8000 miles we've had Sir Percy, our 11 foot hard dinghy, he has been towed once, a grand total of 3 miles, in the Bahia Culebra of Costa Rica. The rest of the time he is stowed inverted on the foredeck, well lashed down, when we're travelling. She Who Must Be Obeyed and I have no trouble hoisting him on deck together - he weighs about 80 pounds. The 6 Hp Evinrude lives more or less permanently on the pushpit since I prefer to row, unless I have a long way to travel with heavy loads, e.g. hauling water. The leakey inflatable got knifed and left for dead on a garbage pile in Panama. Brian Pickton @BeneteauOwners.net Aboard the Legend, Rodney Bay, St.Lucia
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Mark Johnson
We always tow the dinghy
We "never leave home without it" I've towed the dinghy for years without incident. I always bring it up close when backing down or coming into dock. I have about 25' of 3/8 braided line attached to a poly "Y" bridle. When towing the dinghy I let it out until the dinghy is just forward of the crest of the first wave off the stern of the boat. That first wave kind of just pushes the dinghy. With that method I don't really see any difference in boat speed when towing the inflatable. When the weather gets bad, I pull it up close to the boat.
We "never leave home without it" I've towed the dinghy for years without incident. I always bring it up close when backing down or coming into dock. I have about 25' of 3/8 braided line attached to a poly "Y" bridle. When towing the dinghy I let it out until the dinghy is just forward of the crest of the first wave off the stern of the boat. That first wave kind of just pushes the dinghy. With that method I don't really see any difference in boat speed when towing the inflatable. When the weather gets bad, I pull it up close to the boat.
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Jesse.Smith
Long line
I recently switched to a larger dinghy (9'). I tow it with a long line tied high on the rear stantion. Causes a great deal of drag but I have had no problems with getting it wrapped around the prop. Id be interested in how others tow-mainly to decrease drag.
I recently switched to a larger dinghy (9'). I tow it with a long line tied high on the rear stantion. Causes a great deal of drag but I have had no problems with getting it wrapped around the prop. Id be interested in how others tow-mainly to decrease drag.
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Gary Jensen
Dinghy towing
I sail with a group that usually have their dinghys with them. Everyone does it differently and everyone has their reasons. One deflates and stores it in his lazerette, some tow with a long painter, one guy tows his raft backwards, with the raft's transon raised up out of the water against his transom (minimal drag is his theory). I usually place mine on deck forward of the mast, upside down, facing forward and covered. My theory is minimal wear on the raft, no drag and its always in view.The down side is that on San Francisco Bay the winds are strong and I secure it tightly, making it slow to get in the water.One of the guys that tows had his raft flip over is strong winds and it created suction while upside down. The strong winds made for an awful time correcting that situation.
I sail with a group that usually have their dinghys with them. Everyone does it differently and everyone has their reasons. One deflates and stores it in his lazerette, some tow with a long painter, one guy tows his raft backwards, with the raft's transon raised up out of the water against his transom (minimal drag is his theory). I usually place mine on deck forward of the mast, upside down, facing forward and covered. My theory is minimal wear on the raft, no drag and its always in view.The down side is that on San Francisco Bay the winds are strong and I secure it tightly, making it slow to get in the water.One of the guys that tows had his raft flip over is strong winds and it created suction while upside down. The strong winds made for an awful time correcting that situation.
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Dave
Depends on which boat we're using...
When towing the Avon RIB 3.10 with the Catalina 30, we use a bridle of 1/2" braid running from stern cleat to strern cleat with a ring on it. From there the dingy's painter (twisted nylon) is attached to the ring using a climbing caribeaner on one end going to the diny, looping back to the boat and tied off. Tat way it is very easy to shorten up and the boat rides great. I usually adjust the painter so that the dingy remains on plane as we tow her.... It works great! When towing it behind the Willard 40 Trawler we have to adjust the painter so that the dingy rides on the crest of the stern wake...
When towing the Avon RIB 3.10 with the Catalina 30, we use a bridle of 1/2" braid running from stern cleat to strern cleat with a ring on it. From there the dingy's painter (twisted nylon) is attached to the ring using a climbing caribeaner on one end going to the diny, looping back to the boat and tied off. Tat way it is very easy to shorten up and the boat rides great. I usually adjust the painter so that the dingy remains on plane as we tow her.... It works great! When towing it behind the Willard 40 Trawler we have to adjust the painter so that the dingy rides on the crest of the stern wake...
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