Towing RIB dinghy

[msu1966]

Looking for suggestions on the best way to tow my 8 ft. RIB dinghy on my 2013 R 27. I plan to be in the ICW in the FL panhandle for several weeks and mostly at anchor except to go to marinas as needed for pumpout & supplies. I have the Weaver davit system however would like to know if anyone has used either of these towing methods:
1. Secured the dinghy bow to the stern/swim platform with the dinghy stern in the water while underway.
2. Rigged a tow line /harness to pull the dinghy about 12-15 ft. behind the boat with a floatable tow line.

Thanks in advance,
Ken

 

[scross]

Ken, you may want to check your insurance policy to see if they cover the dinghy while being towed. Some companies don’t cover towing a dinghy. Mine, Travelers Yacht Insurance, does not.

 

[sgeary]

Ken
We have towed our dinghy for 20 or 30 miles on several trips with no problems.
We rigged a bridle line attached to both stern cleats and attached the dinghy tow line to that. This spreads the tow load between two cleats and minimizes the dinghy pulling your stern to either side.
I recommend extending the dinghy painter well beyond 10-15 feet--perhaps as much as 100 feet. You want the tow distance such that the dinghy and the boat are riding the same part of the waves. This keeps the tow line taut and prevents the dinghy from wandering when the tow line has slack.
We always towed at less than 10 knots boatspeed. I don't have experience with towing at higher speeds.
I also recommend a separate bridle for the dinghy that allows you to pull the dinghy from its transom. We added a couple of padeyes to the dinghy transom for this purpose. The bridle then comes forward on each side and then through the lifting eye on the front of the dinghy before being hooked to the tow line.
You wind up with a dinghy bridle, hooked to a tow line that you adjust the length, and a tow bridle to attach the tow line to at the stern of the tow boat.
I see a lot of dinghies being towed with their outboards in place, but we always removed ours and stowed it on the main boat.
Finally, bring your dinghy up close--nearly touching the stern of your boat--before you enter a harbor or anchorage. Then if you have to maneuver or backup slowly, you can ignore the dinghy. It is essentially a big fender.

 

[ALICE J]

I have a Highfield RIB 310 and before that a 310 Avon RIB, that I have towed behind my R27 for over thousands of miles, across the Gulf Stream, through the Bahamas, and the ICW. I snug it up close to my swim platform with two lines. a bridle to one side of the transom, and one line from the towing hook. This keeps the dinghy centered. I generally tow between 6 and 7 knots. For any long distance or choppy seas, I take the motor off the dinghy. I had the motor jump off the transom because Doll Fins applied an upward force that popped the motor off, but the motor was saved by a safety line connecting the motor to the dinghy. But I did have to drain the carburetor 😳 . If the seas are big, I will stow the dinghy on board. I found that long towing lines become a hassle went coming into a dock or anchorage and had occasions where the dinghy tried to pass my R27 :roll: . Always remember if you think you should place your dinghy on board, DO IT !!! Don't second-guess yourself. I also tie the dinghy with two separate lines to two separate areas in my boat even at anchor because long ago a knot came untied :shock: and I had to chase after my errant dinghy with her mother ship.