The ideal dinghy painter is......

[PetiteFleur]

Marlow Nelson - not sure if you can still get it easily - polypropylene so floats, hairy so easy to grip & hold, I've used a 12mm diameter length for about 20 yrs on my dinghy and have only just replaced it this season with a length of blue polypropylene - not so nice but it cost me nothing. Some of the other floating lines are too slippery in my opinion.

 

[yachtorion]

Got to be Turner...

 

[dylanwinter]

Got to be Turner...

arf arf

there is nothing like a good pun

and that was

nothing like a good pun

 

[GHA]

Too short to reach the outboard prop when it falls unnoticed off the bow.

You can't be very different popular round busy dinghy docks...

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

And don't forget the most useful painter accessory, especially when you have following waves...

 

[VicS]

And don't forget the most useful painter accessory, especially when you have following waves...

or rats

 

[Robin]

that is a good point

but then too short for towing properly when the swell is up

Simple, tie a loop in the end of the short painter that will not reach the prop and join another bit on when wanting to tow behind or park it where there is a big tidal range.

 

[dylanwinter]

Simple, tie a loop in the end of the short painter that will not reach the prop and join another bit on when wanting to tow behind or park it where there is a big tidal range.

that is a pretty good idea

 

[Robin]

that is a pretty good idea

Part one learned the hard way in an inflatable which tried to fold itself in half when the painter caught in the prop. Part2 when dinghy left hanging high from the steps in Havre Gosselin, Sark. All decades aago but still relevant. I used to leave a line with a S/S snaphook in the dinghy for use as a stern line or painter extender as circumstances required, although I wouldn't trust the snaphook for towing a rigid dinghy from choice, but then I never tow, carried our inflatable on the foredeck in Europe and now have a RIB in davits..[/SMUG]

 

[Yngmar]

I bought my braided Polypropylene rope here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Braided-p...ing-4-5-6-8-10-12-14-16-18-20mm-/261365531014

Good quality rope and reasonable price - although can't find the breaking strength on this auction, seem to remember it used to be specified there.

 

[bikedaft]

And don't forget the most useful painter accessory, especially when you have following waves...

Please excuse my ignorance, but how do i use that?

I have tried towing stuff off the stern of the dinghy/v long line/rigid rod etc (latter was the best)

 

[PetiteFleur]

Might do, you can get various sizes. I don't use a floating line since I haven't found a black coloured one...that orange would look awful on my set up. The snubber is essential though, both for towing and when alongside .... Powerboat wash, remember? S.

You can get floating black polypropylene rope in various diameters in both braided and 3 strand from various suppliers on eBay - cheap as chips.

 

[Daydream believer]

Any body who uses black rope as yachting rope, for any purpose, must be " a good fe w metres short of a full coil"

Please enlighten me why

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

but how do i use that?

Tie a knot in the painter, about one and a half metres from its attachment to the dinghy.
Thread the painter through the wide end of the funnel and out through the spout.
Tie another knot in the painter so that the funnel is held snugly in place between the two knots.

When you are towing normally, the funnel will be 'sharp end' forward in the direction of movement and will not offer any significant drag. However, in conditions where the dinghy surges forward and tries to overtake the towing boat, the painter will go slack. When this happens, the funnel is then being pulled by the dinghy and it turns so that the wide open end is now facing the direction of movement. It now acts as a brake for the dinghy and prevents it (and the painter) from getting near the prop.

Easier to do than to describe, effective... and also dirt cheap!

 

[bikedaft]

Tie a knot in the painter, about one and a half metres from its attachment to the dinghy.
Thread the painter through the wide end of the funnel and out through the spout.
Tie another knot in the painter so that the funnel is held snugly in place between the two knots.

When you are towing normally, the funnel will be 'sharp end' forward in the direction of movement and will not offer any significant drag. However, in conditions where the dinghy surges forward and tries to overtake the towing boat, the painter will go slack. When this happens, the funnel is then being pulled by the dinghy and it turns so that the wide open end is now facing the direction of movement. It now acts as a brake for the dinghy and prevents it (and the painter) from getting near the prop.

Easier to do than to describe, effective... and also dirt cheap!

that sounds good - thanks! will try it

 

[RichardS]

Tie a knot in the painter, about one and a half metres from its attachment to the dinghy.
Thread the painter through the wide end of the funnel and out through the spout.
Tie another knot in the painter so that the funnel is held snugly in place between the two knots.

When you are towing normally, the funnel will be 'sharp end' forward in the direction of movement and will not offer any significant drag. However, in conditions where the dinghy surges forward and tries to overtake the towing boat, the painter will go slack. When this happens, the funnel is then being pulled by the dinghy and it turns so that the wide open end is now facing the direction of movement. It now acts as a brake for the dinghy and prevents it (and the painter) from getting near the prop.

Easier to do than to describe, effective... and also dirt cheap!

I've never heard that before. Not that I've ever experienced the dinghy overtaking the boat ...... whenever we've got the painter around the prop it's because the boat has been put into reverse.

Still, I've logged the tip down for future reference. :encouragement:

Richard

 

[LittleSister]

Too short to reach the outboard prop when it falls unnoticed off the bow.

You can't be very different popular round busy dinghy docks...

that is a good point

but then too short for towing properly when the swell is up

Simple, tie a loop in the end of the short painter that will not reach the prop and join another bit on when wanting to tow behind or park it where there is a big tidal range.

Or simply have two painters attached to the dinghy, one long, one short. Use the relevant one for the task at hand (or both if you're need a failsafe for any reason).

 

[gregcope]

Why?

Forgive my ignorance but what is that? I assume it is modern (prepared to look stupid) Looks too big to be a shrimper etc...

Looks lovely.

 

[GHA]

Or simply have two painters attached to the dinghy, one long, one short. Use the relevant one for the task at hand (or both if you're need a failsafe for any reason).

I have 2, though the short one never really gets used. Easier just to not drop the long one in the water

 

[Daydream believer]

Forgive my ignorance but what is that?

Well it is certainly not Dylan's dinghy, is it !!