Towing a rigid tender

[capnsensible]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

You're not still using sails are you? An engine is so much easier ...

Incidentally, I never have to pump up, assemble, deflate, dismantle, stow or unstow my dinghy. It's just there whenever I need it. Why make things more difficult than they need to be, eh?

It would be a dull world if we were all the same.

However, you will never convince me that towing a dinghy is anything other than bonkers.

On our Carib cruises, I simply used to lift it onto the foredeck and waste 20 seconds of my life.......

 

[prv]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

On our Carib cruises, I simply used to lift it onto the foredeck and waste 20 seconds of my life.......

Which is great if you have room.

Pete

 

[capnsensible]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Moody 33's are awesome.

 

[mainsail1]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

However, you will never convince me that towing a dinghy is anything other than bonkers.

+1. It slows you down and the dinghy always seems to end up in some kind of trouble!

 

[Hadenough]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Moody 33's are awesome.

Awesome? I always thought you were an adult.

 

[dylanwinter]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

We have towed our 9ft Bobbin dinghy behind us for the last 10 years or so. Mainly south coast. We have never had more than a litre or so of water inside it and the only time I've had it bash the stern was when I forgot to lengthen the tow rope whilst crossing a bouncy Chichester bar. It rows and sails very well and a 2HP outboard is plenty. Two part mast + boom stow alongside the guard rails.

that looks bloomin perfect

 

[dunedin]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Need to think carefully about how going to use it on the West Coast. Very often just landing on beach or rocky shore. Need to be able to lift easily.

Personally would never swap from inflatable to rigid. Inflatable floor helps rowing. Or if you prefer get a mini RIB type, but again too deep and heavy for landinh

 

[rich]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Our Fairy duckling is a joy to tow,built for the job,not a drop of water in it even after 7 hours.

 

[Gwylan]

Look for a Portabote - they fold, stow on the foredeck and tow well.

We converted this season, great fun and much more comfortable than inflated

 

[JumbleDuck]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

However, you will never convince me that towing a dinghy is anything other than bonkers.

On our Carib cruises, I simply used to lift it onto the foredeck and waste 20 seconds of my life.......

Would do that if you were shifting anchorage location by a hundred yards?

 

[davidaprice]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

I've noticed that my 17' sailing dinghy (Still 525: http://www.jolleskola.se/Still525.htm) is a real pain to tow: the sharp underside of the bow catches the water and she slices off sideways. If towed without care she will adopt a completely stable orientation dragging along angled at about 45 degrees to the direction of travel. The solution turns out to be to adjust the tow rope length so that she is sitting on the back of one of the waves in our wake with her troublesome bow in the air; the faster we go and the bigger the wake, the better.

I wonder if this is true also for much smaller dinghies: do many dinghies designed for sailing have a bow shape unsuitable for towing?

 

[aquaplane]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Moody 33's are awesome.

So what do you suggest for someone with a Centaur who can't plonk a tender on the foredeck? Get a Moody 33? Not a viable option I think.

 

[capnsensible]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

So what do you suggest for someone with a Centaur who can't plonk a tender on the foredeck? Get a Moody 33? Not a viable option I think.

Let some air out. Put it on coachroof. Use 12v electric pump to inflate.

Every problem has a solution.

 

[capnsensible]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Would do that if you were shifting anchorage location by a hundred yards?

Of course.

 

[Serin]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Mostly because Im the Principal of my own sailing school and spend every working day showing people how to make sailing easier.....

:encouragement::encouragement::encouragement:

Whether you are making it more enjoyable is another matter.......

 

[Serin]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

+1. It slows you down and the dinghy always seems to end up in some kind of trouble!

It certainly does that - quite a lot, in fact, in the case of our dinghy. That's why we use it when pottering. Sometimes speed isn't really of the essence. In fact, for me, that's one of the great things about life in a sailing boat. It slows you down.

As far as getting into trouble is concerned - well, I don't know what you might be doing to get the dinghy into trouble. Mine is as good as gold.

 

[capnsensible]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Whether you are making it more enjoyable is another matter.......

That's the whole point........ and it works.

 

[snowleopard]

what about an old Mirror dinghy

I built a rigid tender based on a Mirror. I didn't put in the side tanks or the forward stowage compartment so it can take 4 of us and a week's gear. Unlike the flimsy Mirror with its 6mm ply, mine has a kevlar skin and is tough as old boots and I wouldn't want to take a Mirror anywhere it's going to get bashed about. The stow/tow issue isn't a problem for me as I hoist it on davits between the hulls.

If I had to tow it I would put an eyebolt right at the bottom of the stem to keep the bows well up and allow it to plane. An Elvstrom bailer would also help to keep it dry but observe how it rides first so you can put the bailer where the water gathers.

 

[snowleopard]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

I've noticed that my 17' sailing dinghy (Still 525: http://www.jolleskola.se/Still525.htm) is a real pain to tow: the sharp underside of the bow catches the water and she slices off sideways. If towed without care she will adopt a completely stable orientation dragging along angled at about 45 degrees to the direction of travel. The solution turns out to be to adjust the tow rope length so that she is sitting on the back of one of the waves in our wake with her troublesome bow in the air; the faster we go and the bigger the wake, the better.

I wonder if this is true also for much smaller dinghies: do many dinghies designed for sailing have a bow shape unsuitable for towing?

The critical factor for towing is a bit of lateral resistance aft. As I said above, mine is like a Mirror but it doesn't have the skeg and it slides about all over the place - when I don't have the wheelbarrow wheel in the stern.

I recently tried to tow our Drascombe with the rudder shipped but not lashed - totally uncontrollable.

Another way of adding stability is to tow something behind the dinghy to provide a bit of drag, e.g. a knotted rope. A bit of experimentation would soon sort out an ideal configuration.

Last year I was moored up in a strong wind and the boat started sailing to and fro. As soon as I ran an engine, at tickover in reverse, all became calm.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Re: Rigid small dinghies, not without problems

Let some air out. Put it on coachroof. Use 12v electric pump to inflate.

That sounds like a lot of unnecessary complication, old chap.