What Can U Tow behind a 480 Sedan Bridge?

hansen64

hansen64

Member
Apr 4, 2009
84
Lighthouse Point, FL
Boat Info
48 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cat 3196s
Just curious what the size & towing limitations are behind a 480 Sedan Bridge with 3196 Cats. Please post what you've towed (longer distance and/or in blue water). If you have pictures of the bridle & tow set-up, please post. Trying to figure out the realistic size limitations, effect on fuel/speed performance, proper tow distance behind the boat, etc. in both calm and rougher seas. Maybe a 13' - 17' whaler or more, etc.. Opinions please....
 
I tow a 13.5 foot Novurania w/ a 50 HP Yamaha. A whaler would weigh more and not be as considerate to your sides and swim platform as an inflatable. We see more and more boats towing in the PNW every year from inflatables to 21 foot runabouts to larger center consoles. Each boat has it's unique towing characteristics. Generally speaking, it's a matter of trial and error. We lost a knot or two off of cruise and had to re-prop to get rated rpm from our 370 hp Volvo's. We usually tow w/ the engine down as it prevents the side to side motion you get if you cruise around 20 knots. We lock the steering wheel (with plastic bungies) and use a bridle from the stern cleats (around 20 feet) w/ a 40 foot line attached to a bridle on the dink. The further back the better but you should be be at least beyond the first "whale tail". We just ordered an additional 20 foot line and will try an engine up tow this weekend in an attempt to reduce the drag of the engine. We've towed in all kinds of water including tidal rapids w/o any problems. The dink is always back there and it sure is nice to have a large fast dink once we drop the hook. Oh, use floating line. I got mine here, 5/8' grey http://www.mooringlines.com/tow_lines.htm
 
I a 44 Searay Sedan Bridge with Cat engines and a Tiera 43 with Volvo's and IPS the same boats????? How does this help?
 
it seems like it could tow a small barge but I'll defer to those who have firsthand experience.

I can say a fellow 480 boater has towed a 21' center console several times before incl for 3-4 hours during a very nasty storm once. alot of repeated strain/slack on the line but he could have pulled it all day it seemed. he used a fairly large diameter nylon rope (not a typical ski line, more built for towing), 60' or so length, that "Y'd" to both of his stern cleats. I think the line even had a rubber damper woven into it. Even though he had the larger style cleats, I doubt he (nor would I) want to make it a routine thing though.
 
I would always use shock absorbers to release the strain on your towing line....In fact, I would add a weight to the middle of the line so the line is always skimming the water
 
hansen64 said:
Dan,
Do you know the total weight of your 13.5' dinghy with the 50HP motor? Great site for the tow lines. Thanks.
-mike
Click to expand...

The motor weighs in at 238 lbs and the boat at 475 lbs. I would figure 800 to be on the safe side.
 
ImpulseIII said:
I a 44 Searay Sedan Bridge with Cat engines and a Tiera 43 with Volvo's and IPS the same boats????? How does this help?
Click to expand...

I used to tow a smaller inflatable with both my 400EC and my 410EC. The princples are the same assuming you are running a planing hull and towing above hull speed. Keep in mind that most manufacturers (including Sea Ray) prop their boats from the factory right on the edge. Towing a dink or for that matter mounting one on davits or the swim platform will often result in the boat not reaching rated rpm, especially when you're talking 800 lbs or more.
 
It wasn't a Sea Ray, but a few years ago a paid delivery Captain left Destin FL at 6 pm to deliver a 50' Post convertible to the Bahamas for the owner. He was towing a $250K 29' Intrepid (Rolls Royce quality custom center console for those who aren't familiar with Intrepids) for the owner to fish the So Fla flats with. Somewhere off Cape San Blas, in the wee hours, the tow line parted and he lost the Intrepid. All the crew was asleep below and they didn't discover the missing Intrepid until someone looked behind them the next morning.

Wouldn't you love to make that phone call...........!

BTW, the Intrepid was recovered somewhere in the Big Bend area about 4 months later when the winter winds deposited it on a sand bar. The boat was in tact and unharmed but covered with bird poop.

Moral of the story, if there is one: Use a main tow line as well as a safety line.
 
fwebster said:
.... All the crew was asleep below and they didn't discover the missing Intrepid until someone looked behind them the next morning............

Moral of the story, if there is one: Use a main tow line as well as a safety line.
Click to expand...

And periodically look back to make sure you didn't loose it. :grin:
 
I'd recommend a hard look at whether beefing up the bow eye with something more substantial might be in order. They're designed for trailer tie downs, and towing at displacement speeds.

I know someone that was towing his 15' center console behind his Trojan 10M on a trip back from the Bahamas and the bow eye ripped out...
 
tobnpr said:
I'd recommend a hard look at whether beefing up the bow eye with something more substantial might be in order. They're designed for trailer tie downs, and towing at displacement speeds.

I know someone that was towing his 15' center console behind his Trojan 10M on a trip back from the Bahamas and the bow eye ripped out...
Click to expand...

I did that with my 330DA towing a 10' RIB.
 
How fast do you guys two these things? I tried last year to tow a 12' zodiac with a 40 hp Yamaha on it. I wobbled allover the place no matter what length line I put on it. I cruise around 27 mph but it did it at any speed on plane.
 
Last edited:
Dquint said:
How fast do you guys two these things? I tried last year to tow a 12' zodiac with a 40 hp Yamaha on it. I wobbled allover the place no matter what length line I put on it. I cruise around 27 mph but it did it at any speed on plane.
Click to expand...

I towed a Zodiac 380 w/ a 40 HP Honda at speeds from 16-24 knots. One way to stop your side to side movement is to lower the dinghy engine. Of course you have to center and lock the steering wheel or the dink will pull to one side or the other. I marked my steering wheel to make centering it easier. I experimented with different trim levels on the motor and found that higher worked better than lower. The only problem is that there is an increase in drag.

Another way is to install towing rings on either side of the bow of the dinghy and then make a bridle (V shaped) back to your tow line. The bridle dampens the side to side movement. You can tow with the motor up (decreased drag) but the dink seems to get airborne easier. We have towing eyes on the Novurania and will lower the motor if we expect big water. We don't slow down and every time we look back the dink is still there. We use a 5/8 inch tow and bridle line, heavy duty hardware, and reinforced towing eyes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,187
Messages
1,428,224
Members
61,099
Latest member
Lorenzo512
Back
Top