Boat handling tips

[oakleyb]

I'm planning on removing engine and leg on my Prout for refurbishment this year, obviously not having an engine limits movement thereafter. Fortunately I have access to another yacht to help me move it after but have never towed etc. My guess and current plan is to tie the boat to my cat and go for it

Any tips \ techniques i should use when doing this greatly appreciated

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

current plan is to tie the boat to my cat and go for it

Good luck.

 

[GrahamD]

This depends on how far you want to move it and whether you will want to manoeuvre the engineless boat onto a marina berth etc. If the yacht has enough power then an astern tow will be best especially for longer distance and rougher water. However if close quarter work is required then the yacht is unlikely to be ideal. it would be much better to get a launch or a Rib and set up an "alongside" tow. Make sure that the two boats are arranged so that the towing boat is slightly bow-in rather than parallel and ensure that the prop/rudder of the launch/RIB is behind the line of the transom of the towed boat. Set up good bow and stern lines to ensure little movement between the two boats and set two strong spring lines . Using an alongside tow on a cruising cat it may be more difficult to turn than a monohull, but in general this technique allows for quite precise manoeuvring even if there is a disparity between the two boats. A couple of trial manoeuvres on a day with little wind may be wise! Good luck

 

[snowleopard]

Most certainly not an alongside tow. Once under way you would have steerage but zero low-speed manoeuvrability. I have enough trouble handling my twin-engine cat under one engine. The most flexible arrangement is to rig a fairly short bridle from the bows and attach the tow line to it with a snatch block. That enables you to steer to one side of the towing boat without being pulled back towards them.

 

[mikemacdonald]

If you keep your cat in Portsmouth Harbour you could contact Gosport Boatyard 02392586216.
They are towing boats all the time; they have towed mine, a Prout Snowgoose, several times with no problem.
I think they did an alongside tow with their worklaunch.

 

[mikemacdonald]

If you keep your cat in Portsmouth Harbour you could contact Gosport Boatyard 02392586216.
They are towing boats all the time; they have towed mine, a Prout Snowgoose, several times with no problem.
I think they did an alongside tow with their worklaunch.

PS I had my drive leg off this year, its easy enough but driving the pins out can be a nightmare, lots of plusgas and extractors to take out the main pin, of course all the threads are UNF, I redrilled them to Metric.
Feel free to PM me if you want

 

[Sybarite]

This depends on how far you want to move it and whether you will want to manoeuvre the engineless boat onto a marina berth etc. If the yacht has enough power then an astern tow will be best especially for longer distance and rougher water. However if close quarter work is required then the yacht is unlikely to be ideal. it would be much better to get a launch or a Rib and set up an "alongside" tow. Make sure that the two boats are arranged so that the towing boat is slightly bow-in rather than parallel and ensure that the prop/rudder of the launch/RIB is behind the line of the transom of the towed boat. Set up good bow and stern lines to ensure little movement between the two boats and set two strong spring lines . Using an alongside tow on a cruising cat it may be more difficult to turn than a monohull, but in general this technique allows for quite precise manoeuvring even if there is a disparity between the two boats. A couple of trial manoeuvres on a day with little wind may be wise! Good luck

If a RIB alongside, you may have to ballast the front because it tends to sit up and beg without anybody in it.

 

[Iain C]

Now I have no scientific evidence to support this, however I would be tempted to fender the bejesus out of the relevant areas and try a "pusher" for a laugh. It works on canals all over the world...lines are run to winches to tension everything up and make it one rigid unit, and you will have superb manoeuvrability ( in theory...)

 

[SpottyDog5]

Would it not be worth fitting a outboard bracket ?