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donw_s11 · 28-02-2009, 17:01

On the cover of the March 09 issue of Cruising World there is a picture of an inflatable Dink being towed on a short line behind a monohull.

Question1: How many of you tow your inflatable when passagemaking?

Question2: How long of a line do you tow it on?

Question3: What problems have you run into towing the dink?

Question4: What are the advantages--Why do you do it?

TIA,

Don W.

**Hudson Force** · 28-02-2009, 17:24

I have towed an inflatable in the past. During one line squal that lasted for about twenty minutes my dinghy was spinning airborne on the painter. 'tossed out the oars and the floor boards. I have a strong pair of davits now, but without the davits I'd have it secured on deck. No more towing for me except inland protected short hops. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

**skipmac** · 28-02-2009, 17:26

Tried it once, moderate conditions but a wave a little bigger than the others broke into the dink, swamped it, snapped the painter, dink gone. Won't try it again. Don't recommend it.

Might work with a glass or wood dink but still wouldn't do it again.

sv-Mystique · 28-02-2009, 18:54

Never tow a dink on passages - protected waters maybe - passages never!

jackdale · 28-02-2009, 19:05

Dink on deck.

Jack

annk · 28-02-2009, 19:07

Never.Never.Never!

Celestialsailor · 28-02-2009, 20:06

I tried it a few times until I had to turn back and loose mileage while trying to scan the horizon for it. Luckily I found it. I was single handing and it was a chore steering the boat and trying to boat pole the painter line.

senormechanico · 28-02-2009, 20:48

Nope. Strap it on deck (deflated) to through bolted eyes backed up with metal plates inside the coach roof. Use good webbing tie downs, strong enough to hold it through green water!

Steve B.

**Wotname** · 28-02-2009, 22:45

No, never ever ever after losing one! Stowing on deck etc (anyway) is safer than towing.

endoftheroad · 01-03-2009, 04:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Nope. Strap it on deck (deflated) to through bolted eyes backed up with metal plates inside the coach roof. Use good webbing tie downs, strong enough to hold it through green water!

Steve B.

why do you recommend "deflated"?

senormechanico · 01-03-2009, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

why do you recommend "deflated"?

Less windage, less likely to be in the way if you have to go fwd / around it.

At least those were our reasons with a 10' RIB on a cutter rigged 35' boat.

We also had a liferaft in a canister strapped on deck just forward of the dodger with a dedicated knife in a sheath stowed next to it.

Your mileage may vary...

Steve B.

endoftheroad · 01-03-2009, 09:25

thanks

but if you didn't have a canister liferaft then you would have managed around the dink with it inflated?

Cheechako · 01-03-2009, 09:34

Towing to move from point a to point b inland is usually ok. Passage... no way. I towed one in Mexico once on a 30 mile trip to the next anchorage, ended up with 16 foot seas in the channel I had to cross and the dink kept trying to pass the mother ship when we were surfing down the waves. Other times it would ram the windvane on the back of the boat. Once it broached and filled with water, as the painter tensioned up we all ducked!, remarkably the boat popped vertical out of the water and threw all the water out of it! had to turn into the 16 footers and drag it on deck. Lesson learned, even on a 30 mile trip....