WARNING - DINGY TOW LINE

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by rwidman

That would be nice but not everyone is capable of doing that, especially in some sea conditions.

Then call a diver... if you can find one and afford one.

[james247]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

The "dingy tow line" manufactured by New England Ropes is a bad choice for towing your dingy.

I bought 30' of this stuff in Maine this spring:
7/16" (11mm) Tow Line Yellow with Blue Fleck

High visibility floating line perfect for towing your dinghy.

MANUFACTURER: New England Ropes
MFR PART #: 2383-14-00001

I paid a local rigger $105 to splice in a stainless steel eye.

Attachment 158591

Guess what? The very first time I used it in an anchorage, the damned stuff was sucked into my propeller where it fouled badly. Had to get a diver to clear it.

Attachment 158592

A boat anchored nearby later told me they had the same stuff on their dingy and had also found that it didn't float as it should, and was a danger to be sucked into their prop.

New England Ropes should not be selling this stuff as good for a dingy tow line. It most certainly isn't.

BEWARE!

I went back to the 3-strand yellow poly line I'd used for many years without problem.

Bill

I don't think you can blame the line. Shorten up your dingy painter before you manoeuvre. Ramming your dingy in reverse should only have to happen once. Then you have learned to shorten up before you start the engine.

[shufti]

Originally Posted by J Clark H356

I switched to the floating braided poly-pro from West Marine after I backed over my non-floating line. Only need to do it once and you will remember to shorten the line next time!

You got that right. My lesson was learnt in the Hinchinbrook Channel first afternoon of a 10-day bareboat hire with the missus. For those that don;t know Hinchinbrook - right in the heart of croc country (not to mention the sharks). Was the most nerve wracking swim I've ever done.