Towing an old lady

tidclacy

tidclacy

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Hoping to cruise the East Coast this year from Burnham on Crouch (Been sailing to distant waters for the last few years)

My boat is a Jeanneau 32.2 and I wish to tow my old sailing dinghie, a clinker Lymington Scow, to explore all the creeks and waterways.

The reason for my post is I am seeking advice on the best way to tow this old lady behind my cruiser. Any hints or tips to keep her safe would be welcome, as well as any experience of similar.

Thanks in anticipation
 
I too would be interested to read any advice, experiences. I have a 14' Lune Pilot that I plan to tow up to the Walton Backwaters to play Swallows and Amazons this summer. It has a ballasted keel and no centre plate. Very heavy.

I was thinking of a pair of U Bolts on either bow a bit like the rings inflatables use to keep her straight and spread the load, clipped to a bridle and a snubber. Plus of course a BIG BOW FENDER to protect Rose's posterior.
 
Done that a few times when the kids insisted on taking their dinghies on holiday. It can be a tricky problem.
A few tips; 1/ take everything out and stow on main yacht. 2/ don't rely on the towing ring, better to make a strop around the centreboard case or thwart then sieze that to the stem. The snatch can be violent if any sort of waves. 3/ If it's breezy, tow a small bucket to stop the scow overtaking or shunting you. This helps to stop the shearing a bit too. 4/ Be prepared to lose a lot of speed on passage. 5/ Take lots of fenders to strap the scow alongside at night, it will bash at some point. Alternatively, anchor it off away from the yacht and collect next day.
No doubt you will want to re-enact the circumnavigation of the Red Sea.
 
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I think Dan was watching me during my one and only attempt at towing, I did everything wrong in that list. Luckily it was only my rubber dinghy but we got caught out when the weather turned, heading up river on an incoming tide and wind blowing offshore resulted in the dinghy ramming the stern on the way down a wave and trying to tuck under as we went over the top, never again, I'd rather have the lack of space taken up by the tender than go through that again. What Dan says is bloody good advice
 
Nothing to be scared of in this, it was standard practice for cruising as recently as the 60s and the advent ofvwalk ashore marinas. You're off to a good start having a relatively heavy tender, which won't blow around, or even take off like inflatables do. If she's a bit delicate, take care with how you secure her painter to her, but traditional boats are often equipped with purpose built strong points for just this purpose. Our 14' sailing dinghy has both a Samson post appearing through the foredeck and a towing/lifting ring in her stem.

Her keel will help with directional stability and, for those that have a traditional centre plate, it's worth lowering a bit so the aft end is in the water, even more so if it's a steel one. Once clear of moorings, it's worth paying out a fairly long painter, particularly when at sea. As much as a whole wavelength is good.

Unless it's guarenteed fair weather, take the mast down, so she rolls less. Make sure she has enough bouyancy to float if she's swamped. Lastly, heed Dan's advice about stowing all the dinghy gear on the mother ship.

After a few miles, it's all too easy to forget you're towing, so remember to look aft and check all is OK from time to time.

Peter.
 
I've towed my heavy GRP smacks boat behind my Mk1 Crabber a few times, and not found it pleasant. I have a very long rope, with a medium sized snubber, always tow with the dinghy mast down (has the effect of less weight forward), & still be prepared to get scared as it tries to crash into your stern.

Steve/Rhoda Rose - why not bring the Lune Pilot into the Backwaters for the Old Gaffers Swallows and Amazons weekend?
 
We often tow our 8' grp dinghy, as said remove all loose gear - I tuck the oars diagonally under the centre thwart - they are a snug fit and also tie the rowlocks inboard. Use a LONG floating painter(no chance of it getting wrapped around your prop) . On one of my first trips many years ago with the same dinghy and our Halcyon 23 we had it on a short painter and coming into Felixstowe Ferry with a F5 up our stern the dinghy did try and overtake us and landed on the rudder stock, ending up with a hole in it's bow! I now have a bow, corner and several side fenders permanently attached.
 
Long painter - snubber if you have one, or an angel for taking out snatch. Hard part with a heavy boat is the towing point. Try and spread the load if you can. A "Y" formed from a cross bridle has worked for me in the past.
 
If towing your dinghy at night, the only suggestion I have is to put a little light in it so you know whether it is still behind you. I f you are using a long tow line it can be hard to see the dinghy often on a cloudy night. I used to tow a dinghy from the Solent to the East Coast twice a year for two years and with the chop from a wind over tide I used to make sure the painter allowed the dinghy to be at least two wave crest behind.
 
The Swallows & Amazons weekend this year is 25/26th June. Held in the Walton Backwaters, organised by the East Coast section of the Old Gaffers Association and hosted by the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club. Perhaps too early for full details, but usually race for open gaff/lug sailed or classic wooden dinghies on Saturday, afternoon childrens fun event, dinner at club, cruise in company somewhere remote in the Backwaters on the Sunday. Fuller details closer to the event on the EC OGA's website.

YouTube video of the 2015 race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9XShVfqsGs
 
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