Sea doo as Dinghy?

[Hulk723]

I am trying to think of the most practical way to go ashore at a couple places I frequent that I have to anchor out from. Anyone with a smaller Sundancer like mine (24-28') use their sea doo as a pull behind dinghy? What problems might I have? What kind of speeds would be safe to cruise at with it behind me? Is their a more practical way to do a dinghy with a smaller boat?

 

[jmunro123]

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/33402-ever-lost-a-jet-ski-while-towing-behind-your-boat?highlight=lost%20jetski

I have seen it done with out any problems and talked to a few people who have towed them. Just get the cut off for the water intake, long line that floats and bridle. We go slow but you could do 25mph no problem. We have done that speed in a following sea. Our line is to long and I will get it made shorter but it works. You will need to either tie the sea doo to the side of your boat when you come in harbour or have someone drive it when you are close. In our case our son drove it when anchoring.

 

[ardeprint]

Common method of travel. Go at it, but use common sense.
Just a side note.

Some harbours and preserves don't allow PWC. Be careful when you travel to any of these locations.

 

[Hulk723]

jmunro- Thanks for the advice and the link, seems like with the right set up should not be a problem, although we are certainly different power plants and mine may have issues getting up on plane to cruise at 25 with the pwc behind. I just dont see or havn't seen anybody using any dinghies mounted on a small boat like mine, and if they are towing them is there an advantage of towing a dinghy vs towing a pwc?

ardeprint- Thanks I will make sure that the places traveled allow pwc.

 

[Alex F]

.... Is their a more practical way to do a dinghy with a smaller boat?

I had 6.5' Baltik sitting flat on my 240's swim platform with no issues. IMO, it's not a good idea to tow a PWC behind. Some people do it, so it's defenatelly possible.

 

[jmunro123]

I have never towed a dinghy so I can't comment on that. However, one nice think about a jetski is its ablity to handle sea spray. Jet ski's are basically designed to get wet and I would be somewhat concerned about water entering a dinghy. Water in a dinghy would make it heavier and more difficult to tow which would put more strain on the bridle lines that are attached to the dinghy. Depending on the dinghy those lines could pull off the dinghy which would be a problem.

I had the painter line on the jet ski checked to make sure it would not break before we took off and it was well designed to be strong enough to handle rough seas. We towed ours last summer about 350 miles with no problem.

 

[searay40dad]

I've towed jet skis behind an assortment of sea rays. Have always clamped the hose as previously stated, most others I know do the same. Took a 200 mile trip a few years ago with a buddy with 500DA who also towed his but did not clamp the lline. He ingested water, I didn't. He pulled the plugs, turned the engine over and water shot 50 ft in the air. I was towing 20-22 knots with lines off both stern cleats. I probably wouldn't recommend that part or any long distance tows without knowing more about how substantial cleats, backing plates and the glass construction are on a 240DA.