Finding a Tow

[wildshore]

Here's one Im curious about.

My older wooden boat is headed up the east coast this spring, and there are a couple of canals between NC and the Chesapeake ill probably want to navigate instead of going offshore (Ill either be single handing or with an inexperienced crew, most likely the latter). My small trolling motor I use for docking won't cut it through these, and navigating them under sail is 1) tricky in the extreme and 2) illegal. I was contemplating finding someone to give me a tow through these stretches. Ideas?

[S/V Antares]

Get a tender with a 4+HP outboard and tie t on the stern like they do on the Chesapeake skipjacks and motor on up. Or put a OB bracket on the back of the boat if it wll fit.

[wildshore]

Originally Posted by S/V Antares

Get a tender with a 4+HP outboard and tie t on the stern like they do on the Chesapeake skipjacks and motor on up. Or put a OB bracket on the back of the boat if it wll fit.

Actually I was hoping NOT to spend the money on a bigger motor if i so seldom use the thing.

[daddle]

Good for you...opting out of the motor culture. I think part of that culture, like hitchhiking perhaps, is waiting around near the canals for a new friend to happen along.

[motion30]

used outboards are easy to sell Buy a used motor and sell it when you get home Try ebay and craigslist

[Chief Engineer]

Sometimes we sailors are downright pernurious, to the point of endangering others.

Buy/borrow a motor......an outboard bracket will be 4 holes.....it will be cheaper than any tow.

[Philsboat]

Build a yuloh sculling oar.
$10 Yuloh - Cheap introduction to "scientific sculling."

[wildshore]

Originally Posted by Philsboat

Build a yuloh sculling oar.
$10 Yuloh - Cheap introduction to "scientific sculling."

Actually I have a sculling oar. The problem is some of the canals require that you transit under power

[Philsboat]

You have power! Human power,and it starts every time!

Phil

[Jentine]

Join the rest of the boating community and make your passage safer for both you and us. Buy a motor for the safety of all or stay out of the canals and transit offshore.

[Randyonr3]

If you are in control of your boat, there is no law that says you have to have a motor on it... And the sculling oar.. I brought a 35 foot Choy Lee lion up the river from San Francisco, 60 miles by using the oar and riding the floods and anchoring out on the ebbs...durring slack, the oar worked very well and once moving, would propel the boat at 2 to 3 knots... durring a flood tide, we'd be kicking butt..

[skipmac]

Human power unfortunately is prohibitted in some situations and I think justifiably so.

I have been through a number of bridges that require passage under power. Sail is not safe as the winds are not always steady and reliable and many bridges block or alter the wind flow. Bridges also often narrow the waterway accelerating the current under the bridge.

I have seen plenty of boats even with power get in trouble under a bridge. You lose control under a bridge you could block the bridge, damage the bridge, damage the lifting or turning mechanism and block traffic (marine and road if a lift bridge),

Similar concerns in canals.

Bottom line, like it or not, boating with no power or inadequate power can restrict some of the places you can go.