Yet Another Way to Carry a Dinghy

[Sadler]

This is hardly revolutionary or new, but I thought I'd post some pictures of a very satisfactory way I've been carrying my dinghy lately. This might be of interest to some of the folks that are looking for a way to carry a dinghy, but don't have room to store it aboard and/or don't want to deflate it.

Using this method, I can leave the dinghy inflated and cruise at high speed. And the boat can be backed and even docked with the dinghy still attached. Plus, the dinghy does not block the view aft when docking or cruising. This way is not really any better than some of the dinghy carriers where the dinghy is cradled on the swim platform, but it is free and requires no hardware on the swim platform. The widely spaced lines (as opposed to a bridle) keep the dinghy from being able to spin or capsize when the wake gets large when planning. I've not run with the motor mounted yet for fear of too much strain on the dinghy transom, but I'll probably give it a try next time. Backing partially into a slip with it mounted this way could be a challenge, but under the right conditions, I suppose it could be done. Then the dinghy could be removed and the boat pulled the rest of the way back into the slip. I usually return to a face dock for drystacking, so it's not a big issue for me. However, sometimes I return and back into a slip, so I may give it a try.

I ran for five or six hours on and off plane with it this way last weekend, docked at a marina without having to pull it in, and really drove the boat like there was nothing there. Since it's pulled up close to the boat, I can almost not see it when looking aft sitting at the helm. Because of that, there is a danger in forgetting it's back there. Other than this, it's been great. Here are some photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Sadlerlv/PullingTheDinghy#slideshow/5341982326470137810

 

[370Dancer]

Leave the motor on, and tilt it up (unless that creates dripping of fuel/oil etc.)
I have done this before as well. Might be a bigger issue in a big sea.

 

[Sadler]

Thanks, I'll try that next time. There's a good bit of twisting torque on the tow rings due to the dinghy being more or less rigidly held, and the motor will add to that. I wonder if there's any possibility the tow rings will be over-stressed.

 

[Skuza]

I have towed ours on a long rope fed trough the tow rings on my Mercury inflatable. It rides about 30ft behind and seems to tow okay once on plane. I have towed it with the motor on and in the up position. Max speed I felt safe was 20knots.
Your method seems okay and crazy at the same time. But honestly whats the worst thing that could happen? It breaks loose and floats off behind in the wake. Only thing is hope you notice when it does break loose and not a mile down leg!

 

[Sadler]

...But honestly whats the worst thing that could happen? It breaks loose and floats off behind in the wake. Only thing is hope you notice when it does break loose and not a mile down leg!

Good point. I won't notice. I'll start using a painter tied to the middle tow ring as a backup.

 

[hobbs]

Sadler,

I have a very similar Zodiac dinghy as you. I really like your idea of towing the dinghy close to the stern. I'm wondering if you can provide more information around your attaching method? "The widely spaced lines (as opposed to a bridle) keep the dinghy from being able to spin or capsize when the wake gets large when planning."

On my boat, I don't have the same stern cleats. But I do have an ski eye. I'm wonder if I use a very very short bridle so that the bow of the dinghy is touching the stern of the boat (bow on top of swim step like in your photo).

Also what is the red line in the middle of the dinghy?

 

[Sadler]

Sadler,

I have a very similar Zodiac dinghy as you. I really like your idea of towing the dinghy close to the stern. I'm wondering if you can provide more information around your attaching method? "The widely spaced lines (as opposed to a bridle) keep the dinghy from being able to spin or capsize when the wake gets large when planning."

On my boat, I don't have the same stern cleats. But I do have an ski eye. I'm wonder if I use a very very short bridle so that the bow of the dinghy is touching the stern of the boat (bow on top of swim step like in your photo).

Also what is the red line in the middle of the dinghy?

Hobbs,

The red line in the middle is actually the bow and stern lines I use to tie the dinghy to a dock; they look like one line because I tie them together to keep them from blowing overboard and fowling my prop. They aren't doing anything in the pictures, but I'll start tying the red bow line to the boat as a backup.

Probably, you're right and if you just pull the bow up on the swim platform and use your bridle you'll be fine since the platform will serve to keep the dinghy from rotating. I'd be careful to keep the tie-down point for the bridle as low as you can get it so the dinghy is pulled down onto the platform and can't lift up and rotate about the attachment point for the bridle.

However, instead of this, I'd consider adding a couple of attachment points well to the outside of your platform or stern and use those so as to make sure the dinghy can't rotate. In the photos I posted, you can see the cleats' spacing is much wider than the dinghy, and the lines are short, pretty much ensuring that the dinghy cannot rotate no matter what. The wake is pretty vicious that close to the stern, and the dinghy tends to fall one way or the other off the wake when getting up on plane. Oh yea--keep the dinghy centered as much as possible to lessen the tendency to fall one way or the other.
On mine, once it's lashed down, it's pretty much a part of the boat and isn't free to do anything but tag along. At least that's the way it seems so far.

 

[tobnpr]

Interesting idea and seems to work for your particular hull
I don't think it would work for twin engine inboards as there's just too much turbulence right off the stern.

 

[Sadler]

I've enlarged the photos in the link in the first post, so they should be easier to see now.

 

[Sadler]

Interesting idea and seems to work for your particular hull
I don't think it would work for twin engine inboards as there's just too much turbulence right off the stern.

You're probably right, but the turbulence is pretty darn strong on my boat. The first time I tried this, I was very convinced the dinghy was going to be swamped or overturned, and I pulled the throttle back several times to "save" the dinghy, but the more I ran with it, the more I realized that the dinghy just could not do anything but bounce around. In my case the turbulence is right under the dinghy, and that may be the key. If on twins, the turbulence builds on either side, it might break over the side of the dinghy and swamp it. But without a motor, even this would be no big deal if done as a careful trial to see if the method might work.

 

[Hampton]

You know what? I'm going to try this.

 

[Sadler]

You know what? I'm going to try this.

Cool. Take some photos if you can.

 

[Y Knot]

Where did you find the motor mount? i've been thinking about getting a dinghy but haven't due to lack of room.

 

[sb in gp]

Interesting idea. I'm wondering if the turbulence and water will prematurely wear the dink out or begin to cause fatigue on the seams which may cause the glue to begin to separate.

 

[Sadler]

Where did you find the motor mount? i've been thinking about getting a dinghy but haven't due to lack of room.

The motor mount came from a local West Marine, but you could probably get one like it for less on line. I just went to West and wandered around looking and needed it that day, otherwise I'd have ordered it from Defender or someone else. It's normally for a kicker motor. People see the mount and ask me how fast that 2 hp will push my boat. Never mind that it doesn't come close to reaching the water. :smt001

 

[Sadler]

Interesting idea. I'm wondering if the turbulence and water will prematurely wear the dink out or begin to cause fatigue on the seams which may cause the glue to begin to separate.

I think it's possible. After the first weekend using it this way, I flipped the dinghy over and looked for signs of what you're talking about and didn't see any, but with time it may start happening. I'm going to keep an eye on it. It probably depends to a certain extent on the dinghy itself. In my case, the dinghy has an inflatable keel, so the underside is pretty smooth without a lot of seams. And the dinghy overall is pretty well made, so maybe it'll survive.

 

[Hampton]

I did it.

I took pictures and video, but I'm at work tonight. Will try to post soon.

Note: You have to secure the dinghy to the boat, in our case, by the bow attachment point on the dinghy. Due to the width of our boat (12'), securing it by the side, towing points pulled them too hard. So, we attached the bow of the dinghy to the handle on the transom locker, then the side attach points to the outer boat stern cleats.

It pulled effortlessly. At slower speeds, the dinghy tried to climb up on the boat due to the wave behind the boat pushing it forward. We left the motor on, in the up position. It still dragged in the water some. When we slowed, the dinghy's stern rose up and was pushed to the side. You have to slow down more cautiously than normal, which we do anyway to avoid swamping ourselves. I pushed the power up quite a bit - no big deal. I think we will make this our new standard for short trips. For longer trips, we'll try it this way with the engine in the cockpit.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sadler]

I did it.

I took pictures and video, but I'm at work tonight. Will try to post soon.

Note: You have to secure the dinghy to the boat, in our case, by the bow attachment point on the dinghy. Due to the width of our boat (12'), securing it by the side, towing points pulled them too hard. So, we attached the bow of the dinghy to the handle on the transom locker, then the side attach points to the outer boat stern cleats.

It pulled effortlessly. At slower speeds, the dinghy tried to climb up on the boat due to the wave behind the boat pushing it forward. We left the motor on, in the up position. It still dragged in the water some. When we slowed, the dinghy's stern rose up and was pushed to the side. You have to slow down more cautiously than normal, which we do anyway to avoid swamping ourselves. I pushed the power up quite a bit - no big deal. I think we will make this our new standard for short trips. For longer trips, we'll try it this way with the engine in the cockpit.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome! Glad it worked out. Looking forward to the pics and video.

I bought some rope and made two lines the right length for attaching the dinghy to the platform this past weekend. Used line that was small enough that when the dinghy is tied on, the cleats will still have room the for dock lines. Braided a metal clip to the end of each of the dinghy lines that will clip onto the dinghy tow rings. I'll braid a loop in the other end of each eventually.

Off topic, but boy do I like the view from your slip. I could sit there and look out all day. Saw it in your canvas mod photos.

 

[Hampton]

Tried to post pics/videos yesterday, but ran out of time with the internet acting up. Will try again, maybe this evening.

Thanks for the dock comments. The nearby houses on base are the ones with the "Million dollar views." Now, I have one of those (views). My entire family and 3 guests spent yesterday evening at the docking grilling, relaxing, and watching a 4' alligator devour a 1' X 1' Grouper head - makes good sport. Sunset was spectacular. After everyone left and I was closing up, moonrise was equally grand.

 

[Hampton]

The only issue can be seen in the last video - slow cruise is a little turbulent.