Towing at speed

Thornton69

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2014
1,148
Northern BC
Boat Info
1981 245 SDC
2021 Solar 420
Engines
'97 5.7 Bravo 2
'20 Merc 25 EFI Jet
Have a 14' inflatable jet boat that I am looking to set up to tow at around 22 knts. Weighs under 300 lbs without the motor. Planning to pack that on the deck. Curious if others have towed at similar speeds and what they have found works best for doing so?
 
22 knots I think is way too fast to tow something that light. One good wave with a cross wing and it'll be upside down!
 
22 knots I think is way too fast to tow something that light. One good wave with a cross wing and it'll be upside down!
Thanks for the response. Input is why I thought I would ask. Have you towed at higher speeds?
We would likely not be towing at 22 knts in cross winds or chop more than a foot or two. The air time had crossed my mind though and is why the o/b and fuel tank would be packed on the main boat. These are probably the toughest inflatables built with HD PVC, additional top tubes and reinforced transoms. I am pretty sure they could handle it as long as they didn't turn into a Dipsy Diver while upside down.
I was thinking of adding anchor points in both rear main tubes just below the the splash rails and running a bit of a bridal through the front D rings to a single point for the main towing points?
Will attach a couple pics to show what I am working with.
IMG_4257.JPG ESEN6435.JPG
 
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I've only ever done this with fiberglass skiffs. Adjust so it's on the backside of your second stern wake. Depending on the shape of your inflatable's hull bottom, you MAY need to devise some type of rudder system since you don't have a normal OB that you can use as such to keep it tracking straight. It's looks like bow eye is low enough - you know the construction better than any of us, but it would probably be good to spread the load back to the D-rings. And, obviously, some type of bridle system from the big boat, attached to the stern eyes, and adjustable - or trial and error with different boat speeds.

FYI, if that thing turns turtle, bad things will happen VERY quickly. Something will give way, likely before you can react. Whether it's the tow rope or something on the little boat or big boat... remains to be seen ;)
 
Thanks guys. Guess I was really hoping for an "it's a piece of cake".
Our 245 has a pretty robust custom aluminum arch and swim platform as well on it. A cousin of mine suggested setting up a removable frame tied into the both of them that we could run it up on for transporting on the water. It would only be for travelling on the water and not for trailering. The whole boat package is well under 500 lbs with 190 of that being the outboard. Perhaps that is a smarter avenue to look down.
 
Thought…
About a month ago i took my inflatable down river to the bar, had a brain fart and didn’t leave enough slack when i tied to pier. Tide went out and the part of the zodiac that line was attached to literally pulled off when the tension got too much.
Was on nose, exact same lift handles you have in back by transom. Good samaritan swam out and got it as it was drifting away.
My point is if it did that from tide going out tension, imagine the tension on those points at that speed.
 
Thought…
About a month ago i took my inflatable down river to the bar, had a brain fart and didn’t leave enough slack when i tied to pier. Tide went out and the part of the zodiac that line was attached to literally pulled off when the tension got too much.
Was on nose, exact same lift handles you have in back by transom. Good samaritan swam out and got it as it was drifting away.
My point is if it did that from tide going out tension, imagine the tension on those points at that speed.
Thanks. Have owned several PVC inflatables 8-14' over the past 30 years. Never towed any though. Most were heavily abused drifting rivers and even chewed up by bears on a couple occasions. Have gotten pretty good at repairing them. Was planning to add and reinforce a couple heavy D rings midship and run the lines through the existing front/side ones for towing. The lift handles aren't really meant for anchor points. This one actually came with a spare handle in the uptime kit. Do you not have D rings for anchor points on yours?
 
When towing with the motor/gas tanks removed, tie one of the dinghy's inflatable fenders to about a 20' line and tow it behind the dink. It will help to keep the dink in line.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
 
Figuring this out is going to be on my winter to do's along with a repower. May look at doing a mockup with 2x4's or something to see if a rear frame to carry it on the 245 may be a more practical option for me. It has handled a fair bit more weight than this boat in the rear upper and lower decks without difficulty.
Was going to add a collapsible hoist to the swim platform for swinging the outboard on and off. Packing the boat would eliminate the need for that as well.
 
:):):):);)
Thanks. Have owned several PVC inflatables 8-14' over the past 30 years. Never towed any though. Most were heavily abused drifting rivers and even chewed up by bears on a couple occasions. Have gotten pretty good at repairing them. Was planning to add and reinforce a couple heavy D rings midship and run the lines through the existing front/side ones for towing. The lift handles aren't really meant for anchor points. This one actually came with a spare handle in the uptime kit. Do you not have D rings for anchor points on yours?
I do now.
 
You're always good for great tips, GFC!
 
The problem with towing a dingy fast is not necessarily the dingy but the wake your mainship makes as it vee's of the back of the boat and crests. The line to the dingy will catch this crest and drag the dingy and line out of center until the dingy is surfing the trailing wake. Once there it will flip the dingy.

The best set up is a bridal off the back upper cleats and using a yellow float line about 125 feet long with another bridal to eye rings on either side of the dingy bow. Have the dingy ride just the forward side of the roller wake. Almost but not quite down hill.
On my 44 Sedan Bridge I could not run over 15 mph or the cresting wake would take over the line and drag the dingy 450lbs far to one side.

Just go slow and enjoy the ride.
Mark
 
The problem with towing a dingy fast is not necessarily the dingy but the wake your mainship makes as it vee's of the back of the boat and crests. The line to the dingy will catch this crest and drag the dingy and line out of center until the dingy is surfing the trailing wake. Once there it will flip the dingy.

The best set up is a bridal off the back upper cleats and using a yellow float line about 125 feet long with another bridal to eye rings on either side of the dingy bow. Have the dingy ride just the forward side of the roller wake. Almost but not quite down hill.
On my 44 Sedan Bridge I could not run over 15 mph or the cresting wake would take over the line and drag the dingy 450lbs far to one side.

Just go slow and enjoy the ride.
Mark
Thanks.
I have a kicker and large cooler on the swim platform that will likely interfere with using the lower cleats. My initial thought was to use the center of the arch as the tow point. At least try it there first and see how much load was needed to pull it. Was hoping that height would keep the tow line out of my wake and give a slight lift to the bow of the towed boat. I remember reading a discussion before on where the best position was for the towed boat to be in relation to the wake but wasn't able to find it when searching.
The purpose of this boat is not as a tender. I have an 8' that rides on the roof under the arch when needing one of those. Our plan with this one is to run some of the wild rivers along our coastline for fishing and exploration. Stay on the main ship for a base camp.
Here's a pic of the arch and swim platform. They were built heavy and should be able to distribute the load well. I could probably even set it up with a breakaway of some kind on the arch to protect it in the event the being towed did flip. Maybe it's just a crazy idea. Wouldn't be my first.
IMG_alum work.jpg
 
I had a 30' Regal years ago and use to tow a jet ski with it. I originally towed it long and one fine day it flipped on the calmest of days. I then researched towing and found a company that made a bracket that connected the ski to the swim platform with basically threaded snap rings (2 about a foot apart on the front of the ski). After I made that change and towing it tight, it was a breeze. Cruised at 30mph with it like that. I can guarantee you WILL flip your dinghy towing it, maybe not right out of the gate put at some point if you plan on cruising past 6-10mph you will.

This may give you some ideas: https://magicmarinetow.com/pages/pictures-1
 
I had a 30' Regal years ago and use to tow a jet ski with it. I originally towed it long and one fine day it flipped on the calmest of days. I then researched towing and found a company that made a bracket that connected the ski to the swim platform with basically threaded snap rings (2 about a foot apart on the front of the ski). After I made that change and towing it tight, it was a breeze. Cruised at 30mph with it like that. I can guarantee you WILL flip your dinghy towing it, maybe not right out of the gate put at some point if you plan on cruising past 6-10mph you will.

This may give you some ideas: https://magicmarinetow.com/pages/pictures-1
Thanks for sharing.
It does get my little wheel turning. I bet I could whip up a bracket specific to my little jet boat that attaches to all 3 front D rings with generous hinging in 4 directions and limited amount in the other 2 from a single point off the swim platform. It does have a bit of a V at the front so wide banking turns should not cause any real stress to it. It would sure simplify everything for me. Would be able to leave the motor on as well. Going to have to take a close look at my wake during slower take-offs and cruise speeds.
IMG_4345.JPG
 
... Going to have to take a close look at my wake during slower take-offs and cruise speeds.

For me, the ski was between center and outside of platform and when stopped floated with a little weight on the connection. When at speed the bow of the ski was out of the water and some weight was on the platform. I did have to slow down a lot slower then without the ski attached. And the ski also could not fill up with water like a dinghy can, so that might be an issue as well depending on the wake.
 
I have towed a 10’ inflatable with an air floor with the nose of the dinghy on the swim platform and tied to the tow hook on a 24’ Sundeck….just went short distances but it planed fine with the 6hp trimmed out of the water
 
My wake extends a considerable distance behind the boat at a 3200 rpm cruise. I'm thinking it's maybe 50 feet or more. Anything towed at that speed, would likely be out of control.

View attachment 111834
I'm thinking something more along the lines of what they use for a tow bar set up on vehicles. Maybe 6-8' off of the swim platform. The little jet boat does have a spray cover for the bow and is also self bailing. Thinking it just has to be far enough back to allow the bow of the main boat to bounce somewhat without loading up the swim platform or pushing the bow of the towed boat down.
 

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