Hire boats

[Guest]

Just relating a couple of related incidents that we saw at Dartmouth a couple of weekends ago (easter). Coming down to the castle on a little river Jaunt on Saturday witnessed two of those little dinky forward cabin outboard hireboat jobs with mum and dad and the kids get into trouble. First boat was being towed in the direction of the lower ferry from out in the mouth by a yacht, and then 5 minutes later we were passed by a second one which then promptly conked out by the castle. This was then towed in by a group of lads in a Windy who rather frighteningly circled them whilst passing the line, got connected up without stopping, and then spun the boat like a top and proceeded up river. Gave me a heart attack watching it! For those of us who have never towed before, anyone with expertise care to comment on how it should be done? Considering how few boats were out to see two break down/run out of fuel/whatever in such a short time was surprising.

 

[Guest]

Re: towing

I did this once to er help a sailboat cheat in an informal race, ahem. Needs lots and lots of lines, preferably floaty ones, all bowlined together, so towed boat several boat lengths astern. Towed boat needs knife able to slash the line if needed, and know waterski signal for faster slower to towing boat. Towing boat should set up cradle between two strongest rear cleats, and have floaty lines at their end to stay clear of props. Of course, we didn't do any of this. There is not much hope in hell of getting the yachct behing to plane, unless it is a dinghy.