Towing Question - not by car but by boat.

[pau1gray]

It was explained on my last course that I did that in order to spread the load then the towing line should be spread over a number of cleats in order to share the load.
Question is should the line be made fast at each cleat or just wrapped around the cleats and made fast at the forward point?

It's not a troll - I was just sitting here wondering which is the recommended action?

 

[sarabande]

you should attach the towing lines / bridles separately and individually.

If you just loop one line around cleats, the varying load will ensure that the line stretches and becomes loose, and the whole carefully crafted shebang will drift gradually astern and at the wrong angle.

 

[fisherman]

I think you should spread the load by looping round several cleats that are in line, fast to the last one, same as you taking a turn when you hang on to the end of something. A bridle should have the tow running on it, shackle or thimble, so the load does not jump from one side to the other in a sea.
If i tow a fishing boat it's either power on and get the tow out straight , or tow off his anchor chain, or hang a heavy weight in the tow. He won't have deck mounted cleats, however.

 

[Refueler]

Best is to have single hawser come to a bridle or Y astern. The Bridle then comes on board as two lines. You make fast to the strongest cleats you have aft each side. If you can then take the lines left or another line fwd to a second set of cleats and put tension on to support the first cleats - that's good.

Ships have special brackets on foredecks for single line mooring / towing usually in form of Smit Brackets. But these are specially braced and fitted. It is not unusual for extra lines to rigged to add support to such single points in event of long tow.

One aspect that is advised. If the tow is to be for a long period - have a heavy hawser or chain that creates a catenary effect to the tow line and keep it long. This then provides shock absorbing and buffer to ease the load.

The towed boat should have the load spread as much as possible and having towed various boats - I usually set the tow line to come onto bow mooring point. Then set a bridle to run back to winches or aft cleats similar to towing idea - to tension up and carry load from that fwd mooring post.

I am against a running shackle on a bridle as when tried the shackle veered to one side, bridle collapsed and then shocked back to other side. I prefer to fix the hawser to centre of bridle.

 

[chanelyacht]

If you're thinking you may be towing often, it's worth having a bridle made up to suit the boat which can attach to appropriate hard points. Then, and this is the key, invest in a decent pulley block and quick release shackle, to which yoo attach the towing line. Keeping a small loop of chain is handy too, a couple of wraps will allow you to shorten the line as required.
The absolute essential to me (and we tow most days) is NEVER to have the casualty vessel attached to yours unless via a quick release. You'd be amazed the number of times other boats will try and come between you and your tow, and obviously if you're towing a vessel because it's got problems, you need to get rid pretty quickly if things worsen.
Lastly, educate your crew about recoil danger areas should the line break. I've seen tows carried out with four people watching off the stern, and the consequences don't bear thinking about.

 

[Kipper]

A lot depends on the size and type of boat you are towing and for how far.
I have just done the RYA safety boat course and we covered a number odf different methods. For towing small boats we looped a rope around a bridle whilst one crew member help the rope. this allows a simple method of control whilst all the strain is taken on the bridal.

Have a look on the RYA web it might have some ideas.

Gary

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're thinking you may be towing often, it's worth having a bridle made up to suit the boat which can attach to appropriate hard points. Then, and this is the key, invest in a decent pulley block and quick release shackle, to which yoo attach the towing line. Keeping a small loop of chain is handy too, a couple of wraps will allow you to shorten the line as required.
The absolute essential to me (and we tow most days) is NEVER to have the casualty vessel attached to yours unless via a quick release. You'd be amazed the number of times other boats will try and come between you and your tow, and obviously if you're towing a vessel because it's got problems, you need to get rid pretty quickly if things worsen.
Lastly, educate your crew about recoil danger areas should the line break. I've seen tows carried out with four people watching off the stern, and the consequences don't bear thinking about.

[/ QUOTE ]

Appreciate the reply you made. I have 2 friends who lost fingers and other parts on ships, have watched bulwarks ripped of by breaking lines from tugs, towed many boats over quite a few years.

Points taken and noted. I have systems and lines on my boat as I have powerful engine and able to give service. No real need to change what has been proven in my use.