Towing????

[Enterprise6]

Hello everybody

We had our first outing of the season on Sunday, up to the islands at Cliveden for lunch and back down to Windsor Race Course what a lovely day.

On the way back we were flagged down by a chap whom had broken down and asked if we could tow him back to Bray, which we did and for which he was thankful.

Having never towed anyone before we were on a steep learning curve but seemed to cope okay managing to get under Maidenhead road bridge okay and negotiating Bray lock, although I wasnt expecting him to let go the tow so quickly when we got to Bray so may be he had a different experience from his perspective

Apart from the experience we learnt a couple of things, firstly we need to keep some longer ropes aboard (the tow was a bit on the short side), and to take a bit of time to work out how to set up a better bridal arrangment both for towing and being towed should the need arise in the future.

One thing though has since crossed my mind, by towing did we break any bylaw or some such thing, the lock keeper didnt mention anything so Im guessing not but it would be comforting to know.

 

[boatone]

Not aware of any by laws etc but you may have been in breach of your insurance. I recently rang my insurers to check the position before I offered to tow a friend a few miles upriver and was told my policy did not cover that, nor could I pay a single premium to provide cover for the specific one off event. Assisting someone with an emergency was ok but I suspect that would not include a longer distance tow once they were safe.

As for the logistics of the tow, how big was the other boat compared to yourself? Generally better on the river to raft the two boats together so you effectively drive the two boats as one rather than use rope and bridle.

 

[CX54WEK]

We have found if it is a shorter boat it is better to tie them alongside as far forward as possible thus giving the prop of the tow boat a clear run of water. If it is a bigger boat rig up a bridle to spread the load on the cleats of the tow boat and tow behind on a longish line.

 

[Enterprise6]

Thanks for the replys, good point about insurance!! didnt cross my mind I will check for future reference.

We did think about tieing alongside but would not have got through the bridge at Maidenhead and neither myself or the other skipper were confident enough in resetting the tow firstly to get through and then once through.

We are 30ft and the boat we were towing I would guess was 35ish

 

[No Regrets]

Try to avoid towing.

If you need to stop in a hurry, the following boat will ride over your stern and sink you!!

Always raft...

 

[DogsBody]

Have towed several boats on the Thames before (and been towed) and never thought to stop and ask the insurance company first. I thought there was some maritime rule about giving assistance to other vessels in need?

Usually best to rig them alongside though, as others have said, although not always possible, so just don't try and stop suddenly!

 

[byron]

I thought there was some maritime rule about giving assistance to other vessels in need?

I have never been certain how Maritime Law affects vessels on inland waterways. However at sea it is a crime to ignore another vessel in distress.

 

[CJL]

Sorry but that's wrong.
As a general rule towing astern on a bridle is best for medium to long distances as there isn't the potential for the boats to damage each other as they rub alongside. It also allows you to maintain a higher speed and travel safely through rougher water. You will also find it easier to enter locks! The downside that has been posted is that boats can run in the back of you but careful boat handling, travelling at an appropriate speed and reading the "river" ahead will reduce the risk significantly.

For short distances and in confined spaces tow alongside instead, making sure the stern of boat doing the towing (the tug) is well aft of the towed boat.

This is the RYA method and also by far the best based on my experience!

CJL

View attachment 31137

 

[No Regrets]

Towing a snotty little yacht like that isn't an issue.

Towing five tonnes of cruiser up the Thames isn't something I would like to do, unless the boat was rafted up alongside.

A tug went down just over a year ago when the crane it was towing ran up the back of it and sunk it immediately.

Towed boats don't have brakes. Go figure!!

 

[CJL]

Towing a snotty little yacht like that isn't an issue.
Towing five tonnes of cruiser up the Thames isn't something I would like to do, unless the boat was rafted up alongside.
A tug went down just over a year ago when the crane it was towing ran up the back of it and sunk it immediately.
Towed boats don't have brakes. Go figure!!

If you look carefully at the picture you will see I was towing ten 420 dinghies at the that point, considerably more trouble and hassle than a 5 tonne "plastic fantastic" I can assure you!

The scenario you describe is in response to poor boat handling - ie they were going to fast or failed to anticipate a problem. These issues could easily be removed from the scenario and allow safe and careful towing astern.

CJL

 

[No Regrets]

Ten of those might scratch my stern. No risk though. A steel cruiser would cause major damage to the old GRP!!

 

[boatone]

Re insurance issues, there is a difference between assisting a boat in distress and towing it to a place of safety, and engaging in towing for the specific purpose of moving a boat from A to B.
When I made the enquiry of my insurers they consulted the brokers at Lloyds before advising me that my intention to tow anther boat from A to B was not covered by my policy and it was not possible to provide a short term extension to the policy with, or without, any additional premium. It was inferred that the towed boats insurance might also not cover being towed unless the towing vessel was a professional service with the relevant insurance cover.