Pulling a Kayak behind a sailboat?

[Keith 66]

A couple of years back we had a trip over to the medway, my son & his mate sailed over in a 17ft rowing skiff, based on a Cosine wherry she is very fine lined & her straight keel would indicate poor towing.
With wind into the north they couldnt sail her home so we towed, as we already had a tender we needed to keep them apart, so the spinnaker pole was lashed across the pushpit & the rowing skiff towed of the end on a short painter, We were surprised how well she towed, the short painter kept her bow up & stopped her sheering about, she ran just off the quarter like on rails, no worries at all. Dont think i would do it for a long thrash down the wallet but for a short trip no worries.

 

[[70521]]

Carry the kayak on the side decks. I have a pal who has done this for decades the longest journey to date was Exmouth to Plocton and return last summer on a Westerly Pageant.

 

[Neeves]

a ong thrash down the wallet.

I hate a long thrash down the wallet - Improvise! Look after the pennies ...........

Take care, stay safe, keep smiling

Jonathan

 

[thinwater]

I've towed a kayak a bit. Unless the tow line is high enough to lift the bow to some extent, the bow is likely to root in and cause a roll.

I should add that I ALWAY pull my kayaks on deck. More peace of mind.

On my PDQ I would stack them on top of the davits (the davits are rather low and forward--not difficult). On my F-24 they are on the wing decks. On other boats I have carried them along the stanchions.

The towing was just testing, other than a few times when they were towed rather short distances in protected waters just to avoid loading and unloading.

 

[Poignard]

I remember Percy Blandford designed a folding one for amateur contruction.

We carried a couple of 2-seater folding kayaks on board HMS Gambia in the 1960s. I remember paddling around Grand Harbour, Malta, in one.

There's a folding canoe forum: Also "Yostesque" 4m Foldable canoe plans. - Folding Kayaks Forum

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I remember Percy Blandford designed a folding one for amateur contruction.

We carried a couple of 2-seater folding kayaks on board HMS Gambia in the 1960s. I remember paddling around Grand Harbour, Malta, in one.

There's a folding canoe forum: Also "Yostesque" 4m Foldable canoe plans. - Folding Kayaks Forum

During the 60's, my brother and I had great fun messing around in a wood and canvas kayak - perhaps truer to its origins than modern GRP canoes! And they are pretty sea-worthy; I took one across Loch Long quite happily - that was when the torpedoe range was still operating! Of course, it was very light and easily handled. We didn't even have a spray skirt - if we'd turned it, it would have flooded! But we were immortal in our teens!

 

[SvenH]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Results so far:
Towing with a semi stiff triangle works well. But I did not have serious waves this holiday.

I made it from 2.5 meter long pvc tubing with a piece of sheet through it.
Carabiner in the middle where the tow line goes through, this also connects to the back stay when in port, triangle lifted up.

Towing requires the kayaks rudder to be centered, I'd like to make a fixing-thing for that so it is easily set.
I tried with the rudder up once, which was totally useless.

The mirage drive needs to be fitted, too much water otherwise sprays up. If I do this again, I'll make up some plug to completely seal the hole for the drive.

As far as lifting on deck goes, that may be possible for a kayak, but this hobie is too heavy.