Towing a large sailboat in the water 100 miles ICW

[Captain Parry]

I need to get a disabled Bristol 32 from west FL private slip to my home harbpr hook about 60 miles away. No motor at this point. Any help would be appreciated greatly.

[zedpassway]

When the USCG towed my boat, they rafted to the starboard side. Towing ropes can be exceedingly dangerous unless the sea is very very calm. I have since added more cleats to both sides of the boat. If you are going to get rafted, which for 100 miles, you may need more connect cleats.

[a64pilot]

100 or 60?
Either way if the motor can't be made to run, strongly suggest an outboard as opposed to towing

[Captain Parry]

Thanks so far. Could not edit title so 60 miles is in the text as Correct.

[Island Time O25]

FWIW, we towed O'day 25 (about 5,500lbs) behind Mariner 36 (18,000lbs) in 1-2 feet seas for about 25 miles without any problems. Did raft up in the mooring field for a mile or two before exiting the harbor, then again a mile before the destination dock float. But this was with a very experienced skipper and a reasonably competent crew of 3. I was really surprised how easy it was in our case. Wouldn't do it on my own though as too many things can go wrong in an instant.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Captain.

[GILow]

+1 for fitting an outboard on a bracket. Too much can go wrong when towing and it will make for tiring work for two skippers at once. With an outboard two skippers will have a relaxing trip. Buy and sell well on the secondhand market and the net cost will be trivial. 15 hp should do it.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Captain Parry

I need to get a disabled Bristol 32 from west FL private slip to my home harbpr hook about 60 miles away. No motor at this point. Any help would be appreciated greatly.

Are you asking for advice or are you asking for someone to actually help you tow your boat?

If the latter, you're talking about at least two days of work, probably more. What's your budget?

[TFM]

1. Do not tow unless with a tug of equal or greater size.
2. Push with anything of sufficient horsepower lashed to a rear quarter, even with your dinghy. If an inflatable, make sure it's kept fully inflated or you will destroy the seams.
3. If your vessel has a sturdy swim platform, jury rig a mount for an outboard and motor unaided.

I tried #1 & #2, did #2 for 60 miles in a waterway and got home OK with a 15 hp outboard pushing a 33' sailboat. Inflatable was toast. Had time and means to fashion a mount on the swim platform but didn't.

[zedpassway]

Sailing is really just slow motor-boating. 50% of the time you end up motoring for many reasons, not the least of which is limited time. IMO, every boat should have mounting for two motors. If they have an inline, then they should have the mounting for an outboard. If they have an outboard, they should have the mounting for a much smaller outboard.

Most motor boats where I live have two motors in the stern: the big one that powers the boat, and a tiny little one to get home on when the big one dies. Since there are lobster pots everywhere where I sail, having an outboard on a motorboat or sail boat makes it som much easier to deal with the pot lines that foul the prop(no matter how careful you are).

[Don C L]

My friend's boat had engine trouble, and no wind, close to coast at 3 am. We called "vessel assist" now UStowboat I guess around here, part of BoatUS. We both had the membership. We called them up, the guy cheerily showed up and towed us 30 miles in under 5 hours and we were going through swells of open water. No problem at all. And no charge. Our boat 30 feet and 10K pounds, his boat was smaller and lighter of course. I was also on a big maxi that needed a tow once too, for 3 days. The main issue there was the chafe in the tow line. That was remedied by using chain through the hawsehole. My point is towing is not so hard, especially if you are in calm water. You might check what a membership in BoatUS can offer for your situation.

[seabreez]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

100 or 60?
Either way if the motor can't be made to run, strongly suggest an outboard as opposed to towing

I have done over 700 tow call and towing a 32 foot boat with a smaller boat is not hard work. Proper lines and many fenders and towing along side is excellent way to do so. You can check the towed vessel all the time. You can tow at hull speed if you want, but slower is better and easier on the fuel bill. Bring along some extra food and drinks and a good partner to share the wheel and all is good to go. Good trip...

[Cadence]

This sounds very similar to a previous post of months ago?

I don't buy the rafting for a long tow. A long pendent to keep the towed vessel well past the stern wave. Set the towed vessels helm amidships and leave it alone or you will be yawing all over the place if being towed by a smaller boat.

In tight quarters rafting is OK.

[sailon46]

Raftefback then a Formosa 35 with a seized Volvo 2 banger from Long Beach city marina to Marina del Rey to a 8 foot inflatable with a 10hp Honda early morn flat seas started the ob and stirred from the Formosa no problem. That's about 35-40 mile track open sea. Got into marina del Rey just in time before the afternoon westerlies kicked in. Can be done easier in the ICW your timing has to be right. If it gets rough drop the hook and wait for the eve calms.
Ernie on the Mary Jane

[lars]

Put a dinghy on he hip and use that to get it out into open water...then just sail it . 60 miles on the gulf coast is not a big deal just look for a nice seabreeze day