Alongside tow

[Wiggo]

Had the opportunity of practicing an alongside tow a couple of weeks ago, when we found a Faeton Moraga (NOT Duncan) broken down and dragging anchor off Studland. They had lost their main anchor, to add to the fun, and were trying to hold on a small folding grapnel jobbie on a bit of hairy string...

Thought it was overkill to take the big boat, so took the tender (10' rib with a 25hp lump on it).

Interesting experience - you should try it for the practice in case you ever have to do it for real.

Firstly, the cleats are never in the right place. Then, there's nowhere useful to tie warps on the rib, other than the grab handles. Bad move, they looked like they were going to be ripped off the tubes. Thirdly, you can't steer the bugger for love nor money - eventually, I got them to lower the leg, and put the wheel hard over to my side, and we could go in a more or less straight line. Do not expect to be able to make any serious changes of direction.

Got them to deeper water, but they almost immediately started to drag again (it was only then I saw their anchor), so tried to tow them over to our boat so they could tie up off on of our stern cleats. Foolishly, I thought for the 30-40m tow, I could just tow them by the bow. Nope. No steering ability at all. Tried to reverse to aim off at a tangent, and ran over their hairy string, completely fouling the prop. Doh!

Still good experience, and a useful lesson.

And now the question: if we used the F37, obviously we'd have every available fender out, but in a swell, how would you stop the horrible snatch on the cleats? It was enough to keep lifting the rib partially out of the water.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[apollo]

Secret it to ensure that your stern is about 4-6 feet BEHIND theirs, that way you get the kick to steer it properly.

I once managed to tow a 10 ton craft with a Sealine 218 this way.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Wiggo]

I'd be less worried about steering with the 37 moving the Faeton, as we're four times the displacement, but what about the snatch?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[apollo]

We always use full springs from bow to stern X 2 and then just loose lines stern-stern and bow-bow.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[hlb]

Along side towing is for in harbour use and enables you to mauver the boat to say a pontoon. Not realy suitable for waves of any size. Suppose you need plenty of tight springs to stop snatch. I found best way with dinghy is either push tuther boat, or go backwards, else you cant steer, like you said.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[Nauti Fox]

We tried to tow a yacht with our mighty 6hp inflatable,we looked like a daddy long legs caught on a strand of spiders web,went eveywhere exept a straight line.Eventually got it out far enough so his mate could give him a proper tow.
Al.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[miket]

Thames boat handling.

Appollo has made some good points, but hlb is also correct that alongside towing is for restricted, sheltered waters only.

For stern towing, a bridle between the stern cleats combined with a single towing line from his bow to the centre of your bridle, allows you to retain steerage. When you reach harbour and quieter waters you can change from stern to alongside tow ensuring that your stern is well behind that of the towed boat.

Watched the owner of Island Harbour do an alongside tow using the marina dory, about 15 feet, to tow a 35 foot cruiser. Absolute perfection and a joy to watch.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[aswade]

Somewhat relevant article

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.goboatingamerica.com/main/article.asp?id=3261>http://www.goboatingamerica.com/main/article.asp?id=3261</A>



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[powerskipper]

Theres a bit on towing in the RNLI filo fax thingy , it explains how etc

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/>http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/</A>
Julie

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Thames boat handling.

Absolutely. For instance, if towing a boat say into the Hamble to Mercury. I'd take the tow on long line astern up as far as the lifeboat drop station, then grab a buoy to moor to while bringing tow alongside.

I've tried bringing alongside outside the Hamble once, and wouldn't do it again if any tide running, or in rough conditions.

The other thing I do if there was any sort of activity is holler another boat on vhf, preferably a rib, to ride gunshot alongside the tow rope on the way in, as dinghies (and sometimes yachts!!) have a habit of not noticing the tow rope, and tacking between the two boats, especially when entering somewhere like the Hamble where lots of boats are all milling around and being funneled together on busy afternoons

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Solitaire]

While instructing in Poole Harbour the other week, a 6 ton yacht lost its engine in Dolphin Haven and was drifting in the pontoon area. I side towed it onto pontoon with a 4.5 metrere rib with a 40hp O/B. Later, when the Haven refused to let him stay, we then towed from the Haven all the way up to Rockley. The key to side tow is to position the tow boat backward of the boat being towed. As to turning, you will be able to turn in one direction very easily. The key to turning the other way is to go into reverse and turn that way.

Although the tow took some time it was easy and I put the "victim" streiaght onto his mooring. It is surprising the size of boat that can be towed buy a realtively small craft.

As to the snatching on a long tow, this can be minimised by hanging a weight on the tow line.


Ideal solution for side tow, is 2 breast ropes to hold the vessels together and then two springs - one from the bow of the stricken vessel to the stern of the "tug" and then spring from bow of "tug" to stern of the casualty. Both these ropes must be as tight as they can be made - it's these two that do the bulk of the work. In the case of the yach tow, the rib was a "bit" shorter than the yacht so slight adpatations had to be made, but the principal was the same.



<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[Col]

I did an alongside tow recently.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[Solitaire]

So you did! And Mal was extremely grateful! Surprised you did'nt just put Soli on the bathing platform really! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif. Problem turned out to be faulty ignition switch. New one is ready to go on.

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Did an alongside tow from Windsor to Runnymeade a few weeks back. Easy peasy as the towed boat is rather smaller than mine. Locks got thrilling though as low speed steering was essentially non existent.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[boatone]

Wasnt a small green jobbie trying to get back to walton was it?

......steering no probs if u have a bow thruster /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>

 

[Wiggo]

Got that, Julie. So how would you manouevre a boat out from a crowded beach like Studland, with a bit of a swell on?

Very hairy trying to steer with the rib in amongst all the boats, but the swell would make rafting/alongside towing with the 37 a bit of a butt-puckering experience, as the cleats would be protesting a great deal at the snatching. Admittedly, it would probably rip his cleats out before ours, but that's still osmething to be avoided. Very short tow from the bow? Someone in a rib acting as tug to nudge the tow around?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[Wiggo]

....steering no probs if u have a bow thruster

Considering fitting a bilge pump to the tender. Not sure a 10ft rib really warrants a bowthruster, does it? Haydn would never let me live it down, anyway...

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[boatone]

We have real boats on the Thames.........

Oh, and I think you are being less than generous about Haydn's attitude to bow thrusters. I think you will find that he has nothing but respect for them when used in the right circumstances by competent operators.....ask him!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by boatone on 23/09/2004 11:43 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[powerskipper]

you could possibly put a tow line on from the F37 and used the rib as a tug to pull the towed vessel around or act as a break, but very slowly and very carefully.
You did well and as long as no damage done all OK.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/>http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/</A>
Julie