Iliade
Well-Known Member
Just in case anyone else is ever tempted to do so...
I towed my Jeanneau Newmatic 360, one of the ubiquitous orange safety boats, on the summer cruise. Never again!
Despite appearances, it is too wet for comfortable use in any sort of large ripples. It was ok for wet suited people being dragged about behind on a surfboard but dreadful for the morning shopping run except within very sheltered waters.
The shape of the coaming at the bow has a lot to do with this, forming a very effective water scoop. Consequently, when being towed in larger waves and swell on a long line it shears about crazily, surfing past the mother ship and eventually dipping the bows under and duck diving. Because mine has a 1" hole inside the stbd. front corner it is not sensible to tow with the bung removed as the inner hull will eventually fill with water, which it does most successfully when the boat duck dives...
If on a short line it doesn't dive, but instead rams the mothership. Twice, both times at night, I had to winch the bows up the pushpit to recover the semi-submerged boat, empty the water out, then pad the transom with all of my fenders to prevent further sinking of either the dinghy or Sevenem. All this fun has cost me a boarding ladder and a slightly misshapen pushpit.
Unfortunately it is too big to get on deck but does behave a little better with the motor fitted and down, but that is not sensible for longer passages lest the whole lot goes down.
So, what recommendations does the forum have for a tender which can transport four people in safety in a seaway, tow a wakeboarder with just a 20hp 2T Mariner military motor (very light) and sit on the deck of a Centaur? I have a Wetline inflatable of about 3m but it cannot handle the hp and also is very wet in waves.
I do have fond memories of my Avon S250 being all that I desire, but this may just be the fog of time. Not to mention that four adult sized people have to fit onboard.
I towed my Jeanneau Newmatic 360, one of the ubiquitous orange safety boats, on the summer cruise. Never again!
Despite appearances, it is too wet for comfortable use in any sort of large ripples. It was ok for wet suited people being dragged about behind on a surfboard but dreadful for the morning shopping run except within very sheltered waters.
The shape of the coaming at the bow has a lot to do with this, forming a very effective water scoop. Consequently, when being towed in larger waves and swell on a long line it shears about crazily, surfing past the mother ship and eventually dipping the bows under and duck diving. Because mine has a 1" hole inside the stbd. front corner it is not sensible to tow with the bung removed as the inner hull will eventually fill with water, which it does most successfully when the boat duck dives...
If on a short line it doesn't dive, but instead rams the mothership. Twice, both times at night, I had to winch the bows up the pushpit to recover the semi-submerged boat, empty the water out, then pad the transom with all of my fenders to prevent further sinking of either the dinghy or Sevenem. All this fun has cost me a boarding ladder and a slightly misshapen pushpit.
Unfortunately it is too big to get on deck but does behave a little better with the motor fitted and down, but that is not sensible for longer passages lest the whole lot goes down.
So, what recommendations does the forum have for a tender which can transport four people in safety in a seaway, tow a wakeboarder with just a 20hp 2T Mariner military motor (very light) and sit on the deck of a Centaur? I have a Wetline inflatable of about 3m but it cannot handle the hp and also is very wet in waves.
I do have fond memories of my Avon S250 being all that I desire, but this may just be the fog of time. Not to mention that four adult sized people have to fit onboard.
