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Old 15-03-2010, 09:08   #1
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Size of Line For Towing Dingy?

I need to tow a 8', 100lb dingy behind my sailboat for a thousand miles or so (no room on cabin top).

The dingy tows easily but I'm sure to encounter some rough weather along the way, so I want to make sure the tow line doesn't part.

On the other hand, I want to minimize the width of the line to minimize drag.

Additionally, I want a line thick enough to handle, in case I need to let line out or haul line in, to adjust for an easy tow.

What's a good compromise size? I'm thinking 3/8", with about 3000 lbs breaking strength.

TIA: John
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Old 15-03-2010, 09:26   #2
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you might consider (2) seperate lines if it stays behind for a long time. One tight, the other slightly slack and ties to a seperate location. If one chaffs or has an issue and parts you havent lost your 'taxi'. your decision sounds reasonable.
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Old 15-03-2010, 12:04   #3
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Not a bad idea!
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Old 15-03-2010, 12:21   #4
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I would recommend good chafe protection, inspected often.

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Old 15-03-2010, 12:27   #5
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We have a light painter for tying up and then use one of our dock lines for towing. 1" 8 plait, haven't lost the dinghy yet.
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Old 15-03-2010, 12:36   #6
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I've never had good luck towing the dingy over long hauls except in calm condtions. But I'm very intriged by this comment "On the other hand, I want to minimize the width of the line to minimize drag." Am I mising something here? I'm not trying to be a smart azz really, but you're wanting to tow a 100lb dingy and the diameter of the line is a concern? How so?
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Old 16-03-2010, 06:34   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tellie View Post
I've never had good luck towing the dingy over long hauls except in calm condtions. But I'm very intriged by this comment "On the other hand, I want to minimize the width of the line to minimize drag." Am I mising something here? I'm not trying to be a smart azz really, but you're wanting to tow a 100lb dingy and the diameter of the line is a concern? How so?
So, we are talking about a hard, flat-bottom Atkin-designed dingy that was designed to row and sail. Thus, the dingy itself has very little resistance.

On the other hand, when I'm towing a dingy even 5 or 10 miles off shore, sometimes you need to let a lot of line out to position the dingy in the right place, relative to the waves.

With more than a few feet of line out, the line is in the water, of course.

I don't have any science to prove this, but if you think about it, if the tow line is very short, it is not in the water and presents 0lbs of towing 'friction'. All the friction comes from the dingy.

But as you let more and more line out, the line dips into the water and starts to add its own friction.

At some length of line, the friction of the line must be greater than the friction of the dingy.

This is why people talk about towing lines behind them in storms, as a kind of sea anchor.

So, I can't say exactly how much friction 50 or 100' of towing line ads up to, but it's not 0.

Now... would you notice a difference between 3/8" and 1" line? I'm not sure, but my gut says you would see a difference if you dragged 200' of 1/4" line, vs. 200' of 5" line, so...

Obviously, I had too much time to think about this, yesterday! Time to get back to reality-based sailing!

-- John
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Old 16-03-2010, 10:21   #8
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You might seriously consider a floating line (polypropylene) to keep the painter out of the prop when motoring. If you're going offshore investing in a good snug cover for the dink is a good idea to keep it from swamping from spray, waves, etc. Along that thought, if your dinghy has a daggerboard you need to seal off the daggerboard trunk to keep water from splashing up.
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