Towing with a floating rope

thejonesey

thejonesey

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We are planning to tow our Avon 4m RIB behind the main boat this summer. Ideally I would like to put it on a two line set up to each stern clean and tow up to 10 knots approx. Would floating line be up to the job? If so are there any recommendations for rope and set up?
Having had a couple aborted attempts I want to get it right this year!
 
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Towing dinghys usually ends in disaster, even behind a yacht at 5/6kt they get a beating 10 kts is asking for bother imho
Lifting onboard is the safest option
 
At 10kts the Avon is likely to be planing, and skating all over the place up and down the waves.

A floating rope is not going to have any different towing characteristics from ordinary rope, when under tension clear of the water.

Not sure that you will be able to lift a 4m RIB fully on board, so one option is to hoist the nose onto the swim platform leaving the stern in the water.
 
No chance of lifting her onto the platform as she is too big and heavy. Yes, a Searider with a 50 on the back. Actually it this quite well once set on the right side of the wave. My question was more about strength of line as I have not used floating rope before. I have found 12mm that looks up to the job.
 
Yep she's probably about 250kg all up. Great little boats, I've had one for years. They are heavy to tow, especially initially with the flooding hull but they track well due to the deep vee and can be towed at reasonable speed. The flooding hull perhaps makes it less wayward when stationary / mooring. I would be more worried about wear on the towing points / rope and aft cleats long term - also you must continually be looking aft to check that its still there.

I have towed ours up to say 5/6 knots. Biggest issue was managing mooring / locks and the RIB running into the back of the boat. Have seen RIBS springing leaks from the towing point at the bow due to them hitting bathing platforms when the mothership stops or hits reverse.
 
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Re stopping the tender from bashing the swim platform, could something like this be feasible on your boat for holding the tender off when it wants to surge forwards?

https://www.defender.com/product.js...whips-8-feet&path=-1|2276155|2276168&id=30092

Re towing tenders, I suppose that size is relative - I have seen quite a few large motor yachts in the Caribbean towing their larger tenders because they are too large to carry on board - and these are tenders that might be 25' - 30' long. They even tow them across oceans...… the main modification that they have is an extra massive towing eye bolted on to the stem.
 
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