Towing a dingy

[WayneS]

Having managed to have one tender destroy itself by surfing into our stern in the middle of Poole bay, I am a bit concerned now that we are looking to buy the kids a topper which will be towed wherever we go.

Some time ago I'm sure that I read an article that gave a number of great gizmos that could be attached to the dingy or painter that would not cause too much drag, but at the same time, stop the dingy from surfing up.

Anybody got some ideas on this.

Cheers

Wayne

 

[dickh]

You can try a very long painter with floating rope, so it can't get caught around the prop, or fit a largish funnel about 1/3rd of the way from the dinghy - with the tapered part facing forward, so if it drags in the water there is little resistance, but if the dinghy decides to surf and overtake you the funnel stops it. You might have to experiment with length of painter and position, you might also need a weight or a short length of sinking line so the funnel goes below the surface. I've done this in the past and it does work(again after having my dinghy climb over the transom and being holed)

 

[Twister_Ken]

There\'s a hole in my bucket, dear Lisa, dear Lisa

Low tech solution, tow an old (but sturdy) bucket with a few holes punched in the bottom.

 

[graham]

Re: Anyone ever tried this idea??

This idea may be a nonstarter as I have never seen it in use but has anyone done any experiments with a rigid towbar such as a spinnaker pole ?

I imagine you would need a swivelling eye on the bow of the tender and stern of the boat to allow movement in all directions.

Personally I think that the flat shape of a topper will make it a nightmare to tow. Possibly a small skeg at the back will help keep it in a straight line but the flat underwater shape will allow it to surf easily down a following sea.Hopefully this can be overcome by some of the other suggestions people have made.

 

[Guest]

To stop the problem and minimise drag most people tow tenders by lifting the bow and tying the painter of the tender off on a stong point as low and near the centreline of the stern as possible.
The 1 or 2 inches of painter in line act as an articulation point
allowing turning but with minimal surge.
To stop any damage, of tender or stern fitting feed the painter through a block of sponge (firm furnature type).

 

[Guest]

Could get kids to sail dinghy instead of towing it everywhere!