Towing Inflatable in Blue Water?

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

thanks

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

For us, there wouldn't have been enough side deck space to easily or safely get around, nor would there have been enough space at the mast.

Also, the cutter rig's inner forestay was in the way of the dinghy bow if it had been inflated. See above pic.

Like I said, it might be different on a larger boat.

Steve B.

[Bash]

...is going to be something in the neighborhood of 30 nm per day.

assuming you don't lose the dink.

[donw_s11]

Well, so far it seems this topic has led to a rare occurrence in the boating community--a consensus

So far all checking in give the towing idea a thumbs down, with several lost or almost lost dink experiences to add weight to the opinions.

Don W.

[Wotname]

If you are into records, you could become the first to circumnavigate towing a dink (and not losing it) .

[Caribsailors]

I tow mine, it is attached to the stern and elevated above the water.

This will not work for a RIB, only soft bottomed dinks. I've been to Cuba and back 300+ miles and 15' seas on the way back.

I remove the engine when going off shore.

Cheers

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by donw_s11

Well, so far it seems this topic has led to a rare occurrence in the boating community--a consensus

So far all checking in give the towing idea a thumbs down, with several lost or almost lost dink experiences to add weight to the opinions.

Don W.

Come to think of it, we DID lose our Avon one day while doing a lazy sail

from Puerto Escondido to the North end of Isla Carmen.

We were towing the dink because the weather was calm and the wind was

light and consistent.

We were doing about 5 knots on very flat water with the cruising chute up

when we noticed it seemed even more quiet than it had been.

When we looked behind us, the dink was afloat almost a mile behind us!

That was the LAST time we towed it. Ever.


Steve B.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Caribsailors

I tow mine, it is attached to the stern and elevated above the water.

Well, I think you were lucky. We have been in situations where a dinghy towed like that would not have survived and they were not much worse than what you encountered: 16 to maybe 18' waves on the stern, off the Colombian coast.

When a 16-18' breaker from behind rolls into the dinghy in that configuration, it will be ugly.

cheers,
Nick.

[Caribsailors]

Yes I agree whole heartedly, in a trialing sea it wouldn't last long.

But being the prudent sailors that we all are here, not all configurations work in all conditions, and we make adjustments as conditions advance. Before things go off the bubble

Just sharing my experience.

Cheers