Towing a rigid dinghy

How about: increased windage; weight concentrated right aft; obstructs rearward vision; looks b----y awful.

+1, on any boat / ship short of a square rigger !

I once saw an Anderson 22 with davits; I'm not a violent person but would cheerfully have gone alongside and given the owner a slap just on the principles of trim & taste, if I hadn't been on a hurry for the tide. :) :encouragement:
 
I notice in the old yottie books that what we call tenders used to be called "lifeboats".

I suppose they became tenders when someone invented the liferaft. Anyone know who invented the first one ?

Inflatables are brilliant in their own right but I do enjoy rowing the hard variety.

Is rowing the only human activity where you generate power whilst facing in the opposite direction ?
 
I notice in the old yottie books that what we call tenders used to be called "lifeboats".

I suppose they became tenders when someone invented the liferaft. Anyone know who invented the first one ?

Inflatables are brilliant in their own right but I do enjoy rowing the hard variety.

Is rowing the only human activity where you generate power whilst facing in the opposite direction ?

What books were they then please ?

I've heard of ' ship's boats ' being towed - particularly by sailing warships going into battle - but not lifeboats, unless this is a confusion of a similar practice ?
 
Figure skaters seem to spend most of their time going backwards with their bums sticking out.

Good thinking.

On thinking about it, surprised that those leading marine innovators , KTL Industries, have not come up with a solution. I visualize a wire frame that goes over your head with a scaled down caravan towing mirror so you don't have to keep looking backwards. I'd buy it. Could also amplify
my favorite Smooth Radio station .
 
What books were they then please ?

I've heard of ' ship's boats ' being towed - particularly by sailing warships going into battle - but not lifeboats, unless this is a confusion of a similar practice ?

I can't remember. Possibly somewhere within McMullen , Francis Cooke , Griffiths, Slocum. They are the only old books that I have.
 
Live and don't learn

I could have done with a ready-to-use dinghy a few weeks ago.

I had to leave a marina berth in a to make way for its permanent user and there was a current from astern and a breeze from the port side. This, combined with prop kick to port soon had me sideways on to the sterns of some adjacent boats.

I should have run a kedge out astern and I did think of doing so, but being in a bit of a hurry and not wanting to spend time getting the inflatable out, I took a risk, and paid the inevitable price. Fortunately no damage, apart from a red face. :o

If I'd had a rigid dinghy handy I could have sculled out with the kedge in a few minutes and everything would have been alright.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Re: Live and don't learn

We've just started towing our inflatable about the place, rather than packing it away. It tows really nicely too (as long as the outboard is off), which is probably down to its air deck and inflatable keel. Much easier to get up the beach than a clinker.
 
Top