WARNING - DINGY TOW LINE

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

Huh?

Originally Posted by patprice

He wantok, wok belong yu emi sitorong tru

Dialect got you? He's throwing in some Malay so I can understand the confusion.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Tetepare

Dialect got you? He's throwing in some Malay so I can understand the confusion.

Hmm, clear as mud.

[jatesvich]

Originally Posted by Dave22q

I'm with the cheap poly line. It is very susceptible to UV but is cheep enough to replace regularly (at least every 6 months if in the sun). I also join with those who urge never backing without shortening the tow line and possibly moving it to a midships cleat I also prefer the easy to splice 3 strand.

BTW, Black polypropylene lasts much longer than yellow in sunlight.

[rwidman]

I don't think it's the line that was defective or not suited for the application, I think it was "operator error" in that it was allowed to float while the boat was backing.

Adding a metal thimble to the end didn't help. Nylon might have been better if floating was a concern.

[01kiwijohn]

Same experience. I dove over and cut it off the prop.Changed to a floating, braided poly-pro, from West Marine, and it has done the job for the past 5 years; and we've also forgotten to shorten it up a couple of times too.

[J Clark H356]

I also use the braided poly-pro from West Marine and have used it for about 7 years without a problem. I have some brass snap shackles attached at points along the line and set for the proper tow distance behind the boat. I also have some at a short distance and before I go into a docking situation or a situation where I may have to back up, i pull it in and clip the shackle to my stern stanchion. I have a long line that extends to my bow and is clipped at the end to my bow stanchion. Using the hooks, I can easily deal with a towed dinghy in just about any configuration from bow to short off the stern to the proper cruising towing distance.

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!

[JPA Cate]

Only need to do it once and you will remember to shorten the line next time!

Boy, you got that right.

Ann

[dan swift]

Are you saying you left a long tow line when backing down and it went into the prop?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, jatesvich.

[Kenomac]

We’ve been using the same New England Ropes line to fasten and tow our dinghy for eight years without a problem. So I’m thinking operator error is the issue... not the line.

Another issue... one needs to be able to dive under the boat via scuba or snorkel to cut or untangle lines instead of relying on others.

[Tetepare]

Oh for God's sake- the tow line is ALWAYS short except when under way. It's short at anchor. It's short when going into harbor and docking.

I suppose if we used floating sheets and halyards we wouldn't have to worry about those in the prop either.

[J Clark H356]

Maybe next time you should shorten it some more!

[patprice]

And while we are on this subject, hands up those that have failed to wind in their fish trolling line. Do'nt ask me why I mention this.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by rwidman

I don't think it's the line that was defective or not suited for the application, I think it was "operator error" in that it was allowed to float while the boat was backing.

Adding a metal thimble to the end didn't help. Nylon might have been better if floating was a concern.

Perhaps I am a little thick, but how on earth would the addition of a metal thimble to the end in anyway affect the outcome? One end is attached to the dinghy, the other to the towing vessel or in the towing vessel if line shortened, therefore no influence on the outcome.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

......... Another issue... one needs to be able to dive under the boat via scuba or snorkel to cut or untangle lines instead of relying on others.

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