2018 Ranger 29S - towing a dinghy

[Burlington]

RE: Towing a dinghy behind the 29.

Where should you tie off the two ropes? Two choices. #1 - two stern cleats on the stern boat hull or #2 - two stern cleets on the swim platform
(This set-up would work better). Will the two stern cleats on the swim platform hold and be enough to pull a 9’ dinghy c/w 9.9?










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[Trisailor]

We tow our 10'6" achilles center console dinghy w a honda 20 hp motor from the stern quarter cleats on our R27. The two cleats on the swim step are probably okay in flat water, but we are towing in the open ocean. I initially tried the tie down rings for the trailer on the stern, but the angle put too much downward pressure on the swim step. I use two 25 ft 1/2 inch nylon mooring lines in a V to the dinghy bow ring that puts the dinghy back in a nice position just aft the larger stern wave. Using the cleats on the stern quarters makes it easy to adjust the position of the dinghy while underway. When going slow, docking or mooring or anchoring it also lets you put the dinghy off either quarter or centered on the swim step so the chance of running over the dinghy painter is lessened. It gets real exciting when that happens in a crowded anchorage and you have no propulsion. I personally didn't like the weight and lack of view when the original dinghy was tilted up on the swim step. It was too much weight that far aft on the swim step. The last trip back from Catalina to San Diego was in a 3-4 ft following sea at night cruising at 10 - 12 kts. The dinghy followed with an occasional yaw about 5 ft to either side of the center of the wake. We couldn't even feel it there, I kept having to go out on the back deck to check on Mr. Towed's wild ride.

 

[scross]

You might want to confirm that your insurance coverage includes towing a dinghy. Our policy does not cover the dinghy while it’s being towed.

 

[Burlington]

Thankyou
Some excellent advise. Very helpful!

 

[ALICE J]

I tow my Avon 310 with a 10 hp from the port cockpit cleat and have placed a large chock on the corner of the cockpit gunwale to take the chafe. I tow with two separate lines tied to two separate places on the R27 (two separate cleats), both on the port side, tied to two separate places on the dinghy (one on the tow ring, the other to the life lines) I have used West Marine floating tow line to reduce prop entanglement, but generally pull the dinghy close to the boat when maneuvering at docks. I am able to adjust the lines depending on conditions from the safety of my cockpit. BE sure to securely tie you dinghy motor to the the aft transom of the dinghy. I have a "whale tail" on my motor to help lift the dinghy on plane quicker, and have found on two occasions the motor clamps came loose and the motor was lifted nearly off the transom, but thankfully for the safety line on the motor to the transom I did not lose the motor. I have tried towing with the motor raised and lowered, and find that in the lowered position it's less of a strain on the dinghy transom. If the conditions are lumpy I will place the motor on the motor mount on the back of my R27. As additional advantage of towing the dinghy, it acts like a drogue in a following sea, keeping the stern of the Ranger square to the waves.