How to tow?

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Tomorrow I am towing my pal's boat to Kirkcudbright from here (Isle of Whithorn) about 12 miles. Towing boat is a Macwester 27, towed boat is a Sadler 29 (damaged sterngear, thus immobile). There is little wind forecast, and the bit that is supposed to be, will be on the nose, hence the tow. My pal has arranged a commercial tow from the bottom of the Kirkcudbright channel up to the Marina.
I am planning to arrange a V of rope, the ends fastened on the P and S winches, and attaching the tow rope with a bowline loop. The V will extend about 10 ft. back from my stern.
Does this sound OK, and how long should the tow rope be?
Any other tips?
Dave
 
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I've not towed at sea, only on the lake. Will your yoke be a bit long, allowing it to go under your stern and foul your own prop if the tow slackens off?
How about a much shorter yoke between your stern cleats.

If it's calm have you considered breast abreast with his boat tethered alongside using suitable fendering. Less chance of fouling your prop then.

We towed a steamboat with another steamboat that way for a couple of miles very comfortably.

Steamboat.jpg
 
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Bowline with a round turn to cut down on chafe. The lenth of line will depend upon the conditions and speed of the tow. The tow line needs to be short-enough that you are in control and long enough that there is little or no "Snatch". generally reconned to be just above the water at is maximum chord.

Chafe is the big issue, second is stress, spread the load over as many strong points as possible, winches and stern cleats, round turn bowline on winch and a round turn at each cleat. The "Bridal" (your "V" rope) rope needs to be quite heavy, 3/4 inch would not be over the top.

Rig a decent bridal on your friends Contessa also. Fore deck cleats then midships and finally winches, again round turn bowline at winches and round turns at each cleat.

Finally, when you get back to your home Harbour you will probably want to rig an "Along-side" tow (Gives more control in close quaters situations). Practise this when you are a mile or so out. your boats stern will need to be aft of the others (by about 1/4 LOD)

Have fun, we quite enjoy this and it is a good exercise in any vessel.

Simes
 
That's fine .... some advise having a sliding ring on the bridle so that tow rope can slide along it to find best angle - sorry - I do not agree. I make an eye in centre of bridle V .... each end then goes to a cleat either side of transom, then to each sheet winch - so that I can back up the cleats by tensioning on the winches.
The tow rope should be as long as you can make it ... I have a 20m job that I use ... by time it's made fast on towed craft and to my V ... I reckon I'm down to about 40 - 50ft ... which gives a nice snatch-resistant catenary to the tow.

Last tow I did was in Stockholm Archipelago ... >

031-August72007_SA018.jpg


032-August72007_SA026.jpg


And I know that Jens on the towed craft was comfortable and able to relax reasonably.

The towed craft should spread tow load as well ... by use of a line that links strong points and the normal foredeck mooring post / cleat ...

Towing strategy ? First do not try to rush the tow ... like fending a boat of from a quay - gentle persuasion is better than all out effort. Boats move with little power in fact. So just take up slack easy and let the boats fall into line ... you will find that they will slowly build up reasonable momentum ... and you just edge the throttle up as you go.
I normally tow at about 5kts and that is not straining systems in average conditions. My fuel consumption rises ( my boat is a Sunrider 25 ... pretty well similar sort of hull tub as the MacW. ) from 1.7lt /hr to 2.5lt /hr with that. No that bad really considering when that was recorded I was towing another boat into wind etc.
Meeting other boats ... my way is to steer clear of trouble, to make good alterations to not embarrass others ... even with signals up - it's not that easy to determine another boat towing - as the towed boat is far enough back - it could be a boat just following behind ! So I keep clear with bold turns and slacking speed, taking care to keep good eye on towed boat ... and informing via low-power VHF person on towed boat EXACTLY what you are doing. It's worth if you expect to enter busy waters - to a) give CG a route and passage plan ... they may decide to give nav warnings over VHF for you ... PLUS keep them informed of your progress ... b) possibly make SECURITE VHF messages yourself - but be sensible - you are not a bunch of Smit Tugs towing an Oil Rig !!

Basically - beware of chafe on ropes - wrap in rags or pipe insulation ... have communications sorted between boats .... have another with you to keep good look-out while you look after towing .... and enjoy the experience !

Post a few photies here once you've done it ... !! ;)
 
A Bridle is a good method. THe length of the towline should be adjustable - especially in a sea - so you're not sat in the bottom of a trough and pulling them up the next wave or them surfing down the previous .... so make sure your friend can shorten/lengthen the line.

If you're concerned about the slack in the bridle then put a fender on the towline near the bridle - this will stop it sinking.

We towed a boat down the little russell this year - it was a Bavaria 44 (lost his forward drive) and used a bridle across our stern, he had one line going to his forward cleat - so not ideal, but worked for the emergency tow - but there was no wind and very little wave motion so it was a doddle.

Oh - don't over stress your engine/gearbox - you're pulling a lot more weight so increase revs slowly and don't run too fast.

Slowing down is an interesting bit - but again, shouldn't be a problem if you do it slowly and let the boat behind slow both of you down - if you need to stop more quickly then he should steer away from your stern.

Lastly - be prepared to drop the tow at any point - from either boat ... just incase!
 
Damaged sterngear?

That was the bit that struck me - I'd have a drogue or similar ready to trail off the towed boat as she may tend to yaw around, given my experience towing keelboats home after racing.

You've a good chance of being OK if the rudder's stuck more or less central though.
 
grumpy_o_g said:
That was the bit that struck me - I'd have a drogue or similar ready to trail off the towed boat as she may tend to yaw around, given my experience towing keelboats home after racing.

You've a good chance of being OK if the rudder's stuck more or less central though.
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Probably my wrong use of sterngear. The rudder is fine. It's the P bracket thats knackered.
Thanks to all so far. Some really usefull stuff here.
Dave
 
islecastle1 said:
Probably my wrong use of sterngear. The rudder is fine. It's the P bracket thats knackered.
Thanks to all so far. Some really usefull stuff here.
Dave
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That's good then - I mena having rudder still operable. I take it someone will be on the towed boat ? The rudder should be set midships - but easy to let go so can be used to steer in event of need.

As another suggests - the alongside tow once you get near to destination is good idea ... or if you cannot do that then use a dinghy and outboard alongside the towed boat ... steer by the boat NOT the dinghy ... have someone in dinghy ready to throttle / reverse etc.

But at a pinch ... I mean this is ABSOLUTELY last option ! Is to lash a fender to stem of towed boat ... and bring her right up against stern of yours ... lead bow line over to hold bow centre ... midship lines to your side stern cleats and take it VERY SLOW and easy !
 
islecastle1 said:
Tomorrow I am towing my pal's boat to Kirkcudbright from here (Isle of Whithorn) about 12 miles. Towing boat is a Macwester 27, towed boat is a Sadler 29 (damaged sterngear, thus immobile). There is little wind forecast, and the bit that is supposed to be, will be on the nose, hence the tow. My pal has arranged a commercial tow from the bottom of the Kirkcudbright channel up to the Marina.
I am planning to arrange a V of rope, the ends fastened on the P and S winches, and attaching the tow rope with a bowline loop. The V will extend about 10 ft. back from my stern.
Does this sound OK, and how long should the tow rope be?
Any other tips?
Dave
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Run out and buy PBO quick, there are 2 or 3 pages devoted to this in this latest issue with lovely piccies too.

I would tend not to tow but to set up as seen by lake sailers first picture, the 'towing' vessel being the one slightly further back alongside the second half of the 'towed' vessel.
It is of course important to fender off but the important thing is to run VERY strong springs betwen boats as these take most of the strain and load. The bow and stern lines need not be very tight, but there to take up any outward movement.
Do not have a midships breastline that is short.
This method gives more steerage as both craft can be steered if required and generally gives better control.
 
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I would be against alongside tow for the major part of the trip ... I assume that part of the trip will be in a seaway ... with waves, swell etc. plus of course the expected headwinds etc. This will cause riding of the two hulls and given the freeboard differences of the two - possible stanchion / guardline damage ... even rubbing strakes ...

Alongside is great if one boat is appreciably smaller than other - so toe-rails etc. are not in conflict - even with fendering - you cannot g'tee no problem.

There is good reason why tugs / commercials tow when at sea / out of quiet areas ... for the very reason of less damage to either craft.

But yes - as said before - once approach to destination - bring towed alongside and have greater combined control.
 
Refueler said:
I would be against alongside tow for the major part of the trip ... I assume that part of the trip will be in a seaway ... with waves, swell etc. plus of course the expected headwinds etc. This will cause riding of the two hulls and given the freeboard differences of the two - possible stanchion / guardline damage ... even rubbing strakes ...

Alongside is great if one boat is appreciably smaller than other - so toe-rails etc. are not in conflict - even with fendering - you cannot g'tee no problem.

There is good reason why tugs / commercials tow when at sea / out of quiet areas ... for the very reason of less damage to either craft.

But yes - as said before - once approach to destination - bring towed alongside and have greater combined control.
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makes good sense.
S.
 
Towing from sheet winches

If you are going to be towing from your sheet winches, check that they are secure for an aft force. Sometimes the fastenings, and support arrangements are really only designed for the normal sheeting arrangement, which usually, but not always, runs forward.
 
once towed in a lumpy sea across Falmouth bay ok by using the other vessels anchor chain, secured on my boat by a double rope arond mast base ,down each side of coach house, little or no snatch had about 20 meters of chain out managed 4 Knots with no problems, smooth tow all the way.
 
As a rule you should try to tow off a point forrard of the rudder stock to facilitate turns - towing off cleats on the stern makes this very difficult.
Be able to easily throw off the tow (from either vessel)
On open water have as long a tow as is feasible and use something for a snubber ( a tyre was suggested previously ). Commercial towage on open water is done fore and aft, not neccessarily to avoid damage when towing abreast but is simply easier all round especially for the helm.
When approaching your destination, shorten up slowly and bring towed vessel alongside such that the towing vessel is aft of the towed by (say) 1/3 of a boatlength. Use tight breast ropes and springs and this will facilitate close quarters manouvers.
I don't think I would ever have the boats tight stem to stern as Refueler suggests(as a last resort) because you only have controll when going slow ahead. lines to your stern cleats will be ineffective if you have to come astern.
 
afterpegassus said:
As a rule you should try to tow off a point forrard of the rudder stock to facilitate turns - towing off cleats on the stern makes this very difficult.
Be able to easily throw off the tow (from either vessel)
On open water have as long a tow as is feasible and use something for a snubber ( a tyre was suggested previously ). Commercial towage on open water is done fore and aft, not neccessarily to avoid damage when towing abreast but is simply easier all round especially for the helm.
When approaching your destination, shorten up slowly and bring towed vessel alongside such that the towing vessel is aft of the towed by (say) 1/3 of a boatlength. Use tight breast ropes and springs and this will facilitate close quarters manouvers.
I don't think I would ever have the boats tight stem to stern as Refueler suggests(as a last resort) because you only have controll when going slow ahead. lines to your stern cleats will be ineffective if you have to come astern.
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The guy I don't think is about to go waterski-ing. The towing point being ahead of rudder is for hard turns ... easy turns as I would expect this guy to do is not a problem. I tow from stern cleats backed up by winches many times.
Reason Tugs have towing points on swivel hooks just aft of midships is to allow them to manouevre tug body to direct their thrust as required. Usually once in a tow situation as OP is doing (he should have finished I reckon or at least be well on his way by time this post is up ....) the tug will have the tow hawser pulled down to the aft bits to control the hook and stop unnecessary movement ...
 
Indeedy - having a (at a guess) 10 ton Bav 44 on my (6 ton Bav 37) stern cleats didn't stop me from altering course at all - but then they were all smooth changes
 
Well, we left IOW at about 8.30 this morning (HW 11.15). I opted for a bridle (my new word) with the apex about 6 feet from the stern. Bridle ends secured round sheet winches and with a simple round turn on the stern cleats. Very little tension here, Tow rope about 40 feet with a loop round the bridle. She towed comfortably at 4 knots plus a knot or so of tide. Very light head wind.
Totally uneventfull trip. Kirkcudbright HM met us with the Harbour launch off the Ross Island just before HW where we handed over the tow. Hopefully uneventfull trip for them up the river.
Many thanks for all replies here. Every day is a school day even for old codgers like me.
Dave
 
islecastle1 said:
Well, we left IOW at about 8.30 this morning (HW 11.15). I opted for a bridle (my new word) with the apex about 6 feet from the stern. Bridle ends secured round sheet winches and with a simple round turn on the stern cleats. Very little tension here, Tow rope about 40 feet with a loop round the bridle. She towed comfortably at 4 knots plus a knot or so of tide. Very light head wind.
Totally uneventfull trip. Kirkcudbright HM met us with the Harbour launch off the Ross Island just before HW where we handed over the tow. Hopefully uneventfull trip for them up the river.
Many thanks for all replies here. Every day is a school day even for old codgers like me.
Dave
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It's really good to get the feedback on such things and to know that outcome thus far has been o.k.
S.
 
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