Highfield RIB "skates"

[Acadia426]

When towing a Highfield FIB, does anyone have issues with it "skating," ie., sailing back and forth in transit?

I took out my new Highfield 410 for the first time. I towed it, without the outboard attached, behind my sailboat.

It only has one painter connecting point, and I tried the painter from different points on the sailboat. I also experimented with different painter lengths during the journey.

What has been you experience and suggestions?

Thanks.

[Jim Cate]

Not a Highfield,but very similar:

We use two painters for towing, one lead to each quarter of the yacht. This helps a lot! for towing downwind we also use a two element series drogue on a bridle from the stern of the dink. This too helps with the yawing, but more importantly keeps the dinkk from surfing into the stern of the yacht and then getting sideways with the slack in the painters. Works a treat!

Jim

[Nicholson58]

We rarely tow in the Caribbean. Wind and waves often too high. The 9.5 Caribe swings given certain painter lengths. I can make it stop with a long painter or choke it up very short. I like the suggestion of two painters to opposite corners of the transom.

[grahamb]

Adding a lower towing eye sometimes helps......it tends to raise the bow....and decrease the waterline length......still utilise the upper towing eye for a safety line...….

[a64pilot]

I towed for a short while. I found it best to have two lines and snug the dinghy right up to the big boat, get the bow high.
I was surprised how noisy it was and by how much it slowed us down under sail.