Dinghy towing

Fly'n Family

Fly'n Family

Active Member
Sep 19, 2013
812
TX / CO
Boat Info
2008 Meridian 341
2004 Boston Whaler Sport 130 w/40 hp Merc
Engines
6.2's
Bought the kids a 10.5' Brig inflatable hard bottomed dinghy with a 15 hp last year. They want to take it to a cove we anchor in - about 6 miles away.

I've read on here two it 75' back with a Y connection on the big boat and a Y connection on the dinghy - using ski rope line because it floats.

Do I tow it with the 15 hp engine up or down? Guessing up as much as possible?
Can I safely tow it without doing any damage at faster speeds, or just putt putt all the way?
Is it possible to get the nose and as much as possible on the swim platform, secure it - and just pull it that way at a slow speed?

Any input would be appreciated.
 
I would probably take the motor off... I know someone whose 9.5 is on the bottom of the state channel right now... Hit a wave... Dingy went up when it came back down the motor flew off...
 
I would probably not use ski tow rope to tow the dinghy. It's very stretchy and, while it does float, there are better selections for tow line.

I bought my tow lines from a company called Top Knot at http://www.mooringlines.com/tow_lines.htm The company specializes in tow bridles, tow lines, and will custom make a line to your specs. They also offer the lines in a bazillion colors.

They're great people to work with and I would give them a VERY high recommendation. By way of full disclosure, I have no connection to the company other than as a satisfied customer.
 
Gofirstclass said:
I would probably not use ski tow rope to tow the dinghy. It's very stretchy and, while it does float, there are better selections for tow line.

I bought my tow lines from a company called Top Knot at http://www.mooringlines.com/tow_lines.htm The company specializes in tow bridles, tow lines, and will custom make a line to your specs. They also offer the lines in a bazillion colors.

They're great people to work with and I would give them a VERY high recommendation. By way of full disclosure, I have no connection to the company other than as a satisfied customer.
Click to expand...

Great link, thanks for sharing!
 
I have an 8'6" dinghy with 4hp Suzuki outboard. we tow it roughly 30' back just at the peak of the second roll of wake so the bow rides right at the top of the wave roll. I always take the motor off and stow it on board. I also have the painter with bridle attached at both tow rings on the dinghy, and a bridle that attaches to the stern cleats on the boat. We tow at 8-10 knots with no trouble.
 
I tie my 14' Caribe at 20 knots with the motor part way down to act as a rudder. With the motor up it starts to swerve all over the place.
 
Good advice from those guys. I had Top Knot make me a bridle for the boat. I have two lengths of tow line to attach to that, then there's a 3-point bridle that attaches to the dinghy. It attaches to the bow eye and two bow cleats to spread the load on the dinghy.

I tow with the motor raised but also string out a line behind the dinghy with a fender attached. That much is enough to keep the dinghy in line.
 
HUMPH said:
I tie my 14' Caribe at 20 knots with the motor part way down to act as a rudder. With the motor up it starts to swerve all over the place.
Click to expand...

That's right on. While I don't have a yacht, I have experience towing and without the motor down it is all over the place.

And if your motor comes off its your fault for not mounting it properly.
 
I experimented with towing a 10'6" RIB with a 9.9. It didn't work for me in part because my cruising speed is 22-24 kts. Dead flat seas were fine but when the waves picked up it got squirrelly. I towed using a bridle and I varied my tow line length which was a 75' heavy duty tubing tow rope. My motor is way too heavy to mount and dismount from the RIB. I tried motor up, down and partial. What I figured out it kills 1-2 kts in 1-2 foot waves. 3-4 ft waves I was slowing to 18-19 kts because of the stress of watching the dingy all over. Over 6 feet I was at trawler speed to keep it under control. I went with a davit. More expensive but worth the piece of mind.
 
onthejob said:
I experimented with towing a 10'6" RIB with a 9.9. It didn't work for me in part because my cruising speed is 22-24 kts. Dead flat seas were fine but when the waves picked up it got squirrelly. I towed using a bridle and I varied my tow line length which was a 75' heavy duty tubing tow rope. My motor is way too heavy to mount and dismount from the RIB. I tried motor up, down and partial. What I figured out it kills 1-2 kts in 1-2 foot waves. 3-4 ft waves I was slowing to 18-19 kts because of the stress of watching the dingy all over. Over 6 feet I was at trawler speed to keep it under control. I went with a davit. More expensive but worth the piece of mind.
Click to expand...

i went through the same series of trials. I never found the magic combination. Motor up, motor down, motor off, more line, less line... I spent more time looking over ther stern than the bow. Way too stressful for me.

I have davits now.
 
You guys without davits who are towing should try my suggestion of trailing a dock line behind the dinghy with a fender tied securely to the end of the line. It provides enough drag to keep the dinghy in line, even with the motor raised.
 
The only time I have a squirrely problem is when we have a strong cross wind. It will push the dinghy of center a bit, but really hasn't been too bad. I worry that the wind will flip the dinghy, but it hasn't happened yet. My model (Saturn) has little skegs on the bottom of each tube at the rear, and I'm sure this helps with tracking.
 
Two good points that also went into my decision to go to davits. It added another element I had to deal with when docking the boat because I prefer to back in when I can. When you are towing a dingy it's just one more thing you have to deal with when maneuvering close quarters. Watch the front of the dingy catch air with the fear of the whole thing flipping over was just too stressful. My Zodiac weighs like 90 lbs and my motor weighs about the same so it's stern heavy when empty.
 
Ugghhh.....no way I want to pull the motor off, tow it - put the motor back on for the kids to play in the cove - then pull it off to tow it back, and put it back on at the dock. Not going to happen.

I think I'll try the two Y connections with a rope in the middle, the anchor up, and just go slow.
 
Make the kids drive the dingy 6 miles and meet you there. : )
 
I'll jump in on this conversation! I, too, used the same company that GFC suggested above to do my towing bridle. TopKnot does quality bridles, at a competitive price-Under $200ish for mine which was built to actually PULL my 460 Sundacer should there ever be a problem! LOL! Hope this never happens!

Anyway, I tow with my motor down otherwise I get "porpoising". I have towed at 22k very easily and it will take a little more fuel.

One suggestion I have NOT TO DO!
A few weeks ago I saw an 8'6" RIB with a small 5-10hp motor being towed behind a 38' Powerquest. As he came out of the Slow no wake zone he accelerated very quickly and the dinghy became a KITE!!! It was easily 25-30' in the air until he slowed down, it dropped out of the sky like a brick and the floor boards bounced out! Crazy dumb dude!

IMHO, just get a good tow line and tie the dink off the back correctly. You won't worry if you do it correctly.
 
Im curious if anyone tows their dinghy off of the ski eye on the transom, rather then off of the stern cleats. Our RIB weighs 115 lbs plus another 70 for the motor. Ski eyes have pulled big loaded tubes with three riders so It seems the ski eye may be a safe way to tow?? I also use a heavy duty water toy/tube towing line. They are about 9/16 or 5/8 dia., strong, brightly colored for good visibility and they float.
 
I always tow my center console RIB with the 20hp motor down 75' back on a ski rope and never had a problem. I may try the fender thing but what is the advantage?....... or disadvantage of leaving it down? The one thing I do have is the ability to "lock" the steering wheel with a bungee.
 
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