Towing a tender

[NGM]

I am about to order a purpose made Y shaped bridle for the odd occasion when I need to tow the tender. Any opinions on the length i.e. how far the tender should ideally sit behind the boat when towing. The boat will be new to me so I don't have a perspective on the wake and where best the tender should sit, that said, I only plan to tow when it's either too choppy to recover the tender or we are moving to the next bay so likely 8-10 knts.

 

[BruceK]

So many different variables at play here. If you are planning on towing at displacement speed the tow line can be as short as possible before it starts trying to lift the tender bow up as the line tensions, your stern cleats being significantly higher. Remember your displacement speed my excede the tender's and the line will go quite tight. If you can secure the bow of the tender so it rests atop the swimplatform even better. If you go planing speed prepare to lose your tender if you ever drag it through a wave at speed. The longer the line the better but always at least long enough that the tender cannot cross the wake even in a turn for should it do so it wont climb back and will eventually flip.

This is based on my experience when I had a small 23 foot cuddy speed boat and the family aboard that prevented me from inflating it on the boat. Towing a tender is always risky in anything but ideal conditions and then slowly and never with the OB still on.

YMMV

 

[BruceK]

I forgot to add, if it's choppy tow the tender with the transom bung out. If the tender gets too much water in the drag and weight can cause you to tear the D rings out or other damage and it wont ride over the swell as lightly with the rope being too taut.

 

[NGM]

Thanks Bruce

 

[mm42]

Don’t forget it is there, I was on one commercial boat when the skipper went astern as we anchored forgetting the tender was streamed out aft, very soon the painter was wrapped around the props.

 

[BruceK]

A few lengths of pipe insulation around the painter I am led to believe solves that problem. My painter floats so not really had that issue

 

[Rocksteadee]

2x wave period

 

[Hurricane]

We bought our Novurania tender with the aim of towing it between anchorages.
Works but it is a PIA so we have found a way to get it quickly on and off the bathing platform.

In my experience, tenders appear to be really heavy when being towed so be very careful.
I made a very cheap floating tow rope but I was always worried about it in the water (ropes etc) when the mother ship is manoeuvring.
So, IMO much better if you can find another technique.

That said, I have seen lots of tenders being towed.
I remember one Fairline 55 towing at full planing speed with a very long line (about 100m).

Good luck.

 

[NGM]

We bought our Novurania tender with the aim of towing it between anchorages.
Works but it is a PIA so we have found a way to get it quickly on and off the bathing platform.

In my experience, tenders appear to be really heavy when being towed so be very careful.
I made a very cheap floating tow rope but I was always worried about it in the water (ropes etc) when the mother ship is manoeuvring.
So, IMO much better if you can find another technique.

That said, I have seen lots of tenders being towed.
I remember one Fairline 55 towing at full planing speed with a very long line (about 100m).

Good luck.

thanks Mike

my intention was only to tow when there is too much chop to comfortably use the platform and then just for the shortest time possible until I find a calmer spot. Thought it would be quicker and easier to get a pre-made Y bridle. Speed only likely to be 6-8 knts so I was thinking 10-12m behind would suffice.

 

[Bouba]

I don’t tow much, hardly at all, but I find along side to be the most comfortable. Hang a fender almost touching the water and it will stay between the boat and tender