Towing Rigs

boatbum

boatbum

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So I have started looking at tow rigs. I have to admit some of the prices look like they are going to be astronomical given the prices I have seen for various brands or line composition.
I'm wondering at our level just what is required to get the job done reliably.
We are pulling a dink at 750 - 1000 lbs at 8-9 knots. In an emergency, I am thinking with the tow the best we could make would be 15 knots.

Any input on the line product type and what it would be like to weave the ends myself? I've never done double braid but have done very well with the regular 3 stranded anchor lines etc..
 
I'd use Spectra or Plazma line as your main tow line and painter coming off the tender. Then a bridle made of nylon line. The tow line should be 100 - 150 feet long. The bridle lines 30 - 50 feet each. Where the bridle lines and tow line come together use soft Deema anti- chafe Chinese handcuff line protectors instead of metal thimbles. At the end of the tow line I'd use a high quality quick release hook. On the tow line end of painter I'd use a SS thimble. On the end of the painter that attaches to the reinforced tow eye on your tender I'd use a SS shackle with a rotating pin to reduce wear. On the bridle ends that attach to your cleats I'd slice on eyes with chafe protection on them after adjusting them to the correct length. I would also keep an eye on where the bridle line may rub on any fair lead after the cleat in case you have to add some more chafe protection.

With a rig like that I towed a 24' inflatable with a 250hp OB on it from Ft. Lauderdale to the West coast of Costa Rica and back with no issues.

I should add that the painter line coming off the tender was in the form of a bridle with two reinforced tow points low on the hull to the right and left under the bow.
 
Hello Dan,
You may not remember but we met a few times at RYB over the years. We have towed various inflatables over 500 miles each year with the last few being over 19'. The latest one we are towing is 24' with twin 150 outboards and we have had very good results with our homemade bridle on all of the larger ones. It has a V on each end with a main line of 5/16" Amsteel and the V on the towed boat end being the same amsteel. The towed boat ends have two 4" asymmetric snap hooks and the V on the towed oat side is made of 5/8" three strand NE ropes with chafe guard of tygon tiding for the cleat hawspipe guides. We tow on the back side of the second wave which for us is about 85' at speeds from 15 to 18 knots. I think you will find towing an inflatable quite easy once you have a bridle you are happy with Maybe I can post a pic or two as well.
 
I regularly towed a 12 foot RIB with console and 35 Merc at 18 knots using a V harness.
Use floating line to minimize the chance of backing over the tow line with your props.

summercruise061.jpg
 
I buy cheap pool-noodles and cut them in sections about a foot long, then thread them on the dinghy painter. It keeps the painter on the surface and out of the prop.
 
Thanks everyone. The only thing that scares me about doing my own rig is fashioning the eyes on double braid. Never been there. Smitty is that Double Braid?

Gary I like the KISS approach and you actually have a double line to the RIB.

I know they used yellow poly on the charters we've been on and seen but I am going with something better than that for sure.
 
Great to see some real experience in these answers.

Does the tow need to be positioned any special point on the wake?

Bill uses some nylon for elasticity I expect.

Should outboards be towed up or down??
 
"Smitty is that Double Braid?"

My wife does all the rope work and I have just got a quote from her here:

"Amsteel is a 12 strand single braid, it is very simple to splice. I did the splice and then used a length of strand from some leftover to lock stitch the splice. Much easier than 3 strand but you need the fids"

She also supplied instructions on how to do it....but I don't know how to attach pdf's on this site.
 
"Does the tow need to be positioned any special point on the wake?
Should outboards be towed up or down??"

We tow on the back side of the 2nd wake for best results of tracking and protection. The outboards on all of the larger inflatables tow much better up with less resistance and better tracking.

Hope this helps

 
Gary how far back is the tow from the transom? It looks like midway between the 1st and 2nd wave.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Great to see some real experience in these answers.

Does the tow need to be positioned any special point on the wake?

Bill uses some nylon for elasticity I expect.

Should outboards be towed up or down??

Click to expand...


The position the tow is based on the form of your wake and how the tender reacts to being towed. But in most cases you want it riding on the backside of say your third or fourth stern wave. A small tender could be towed closer.

Yes I do use the nylon for strain relief.

I most cases you run with the engines up. But some boats will track better with the lower unit just slightly in the water to act like a rudder or tracking skeg.
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

I know they used yellow poly on the charters we've been on and seen but I am going with something better than that for sure.

Click to expand...


Go with Plasma or Spectra type line. You can find it pretty cheap on eBay at times.

Super strong, east to splice and it floats.
 
Dan, it's been a few years but the nice people at ROPE in Ft. Lauderdale quoted me about 500 bucks for a custom towing rig specific to my boat and tender. You could try Miami Cordage as well, likewise good people.
I didn't go forward because the work hooking all that up was no easier than using my davit to bring the Whaler up to the boat deck. While my davit was getting rebuilt, I towed the Whaler many times with just a big hank of
polypropylene centered with a line off one of my aft cleats.
 
I second ROPE Inc.. While I have made up my own tow set ups, I have used them many times and they do great work.

In fact they are even now refurbishing the towing set up for the next tender I will be towing soon. An Intrepid 377 cutty with triple 300hp Evinrude E Tecs. :-)
 
Dan, it is on the forward slope of the second wave. I like it there and the V harness does not allow wander.

Double Braid MFP Braid - 3/8" Diameter - YELLOW with ORANGE TRACERS. High visibility in the water. Ideal for tow lines, heaving lines and water rescue lines. Made with 100% multi-filament polypropylene, it floats in the water and is very flexible and extra strong. Tensile strength 2,575 pounds or 1,170 KGS. Order by the foot

I got 150 feet for $75 and attatched a snap hook in the middle to go on the towing ring on the bow. I tie off the ends to the two stern cleats so it is easy to adjust the length of the tow
 

I modeled this harness after the Towdster. I use 1/2" poly line and adjust the length as needed- tight against the harness at idle speed, longer on plane. Works well at all speeds and I can even back into my slip with the Seadoo attached.
 
George you are probably glad you are not towing a Whaler. From what I gather their hull makes them a difficult tow because of whipping.
 
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