towing a small aluminum boat

[steriosm88]

I'd like to be able to tow a 12 foot aluminum behind my 17 foot aluminum bow rider when we do lake camping. It's going to be my water trailer for all the crap we bring with us when we do week long fishing trips. I was wondering what kind of eye ring or what not I'd need for this? Can I just drill a hole in the transom up near the corner where it's the strongest and use that for the tow rope?

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

Transoms aren't designed for pulling. Continuous pulling could cause irrepairable damage. Why not rig up in the same fashion as if you were pulling a skier. This would also keep the bow up on the small boat, allowing it to track better.

 

[Dick Sorensen]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

It can be done and done safely if you take the stresses you're putting on the 'pulling' boat into consideration. The very best way would be for you to bring the 12 footer alongside the 17 footer ..... the 12 footer securely lashed to the pulling boat.....then proceed at a comfortable speed.... the stresses created by 'towing' the boat are huge. Why not just get another motor and put it on the 12 footer....no more problem and you've got a back-up!

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

when you tow a boat useing a long line then when your near other boats bring the boat close for docking, tie it up beside you.
Just set it up 2 eye hooks and back them up with plywood.
the transom should be fine if its strong enough for your engine.

 

[bowman316]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

i towed a 12 ft aluminum v-hull boay with my 16 ft runabout.
i could not even get on plane with the 12 fter going sideways, and nearly capsizing. i only did it once, easier to just not bring it.

i would try towing it to the side, right beside the big boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

set up a tow sling, tow eye each side of transom, with sling run between them. you have to adjust the tow line length, for the conditions, do not expect to move fast when towing. could be best just to make 2 trips with the bigger boat.

 

[bowman316]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

yea, why can't you get on plane when towing, i had enough power to do it, but the tow boat almost flipped.
The boat just didn't like it, but u could put a motor on the boat, and it would go that fast.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

It depends how and where the boat being towed hits your wake. If its constantly colliding with the wake from the bigger boat, then it's bound to jump all over the place. You need to tow that boat on a long line directly behind and you still may not be able to get up to a good cruising speed. I took a 12' V hull one time out to a camp site with my old 19' trihull, it was easiest to just put the second boat up front across the bow rail and secure it. Most 12 boats don't weigh much more than a big passenger so weight shouldn't be an issue. If carrying it on board, you do want to make sure it's secured well. The last thing you need is the wind to catch the boat and send it flying back at you.

We used to go camping up north years ago, we would take three or four boats. One was almost always towed along to carry extra supplies. We weren't trying to get any of the boats on plane though. The boat towing only had a 5 or 6 hp motor, and it did just fine pulling us and the towed boat upstream.

You want to keep the bow high, the speed down, and maybe even put some ballast or weight in the boat being towed if it wants to dart side to side.
If you think about it, a small boat was never designed to run empty, most need some sort of weight to keep them tracking straight. The more pronounced the keel and chines are, the better it will track.

You may have to experiment to find out what works for your situation if you planning a long ride like that.
The transom should be fine for a pull like that, but a ski pole would be better.
The biggest concern is keeping the tow line away from your prop when slowing down or turning.

 

[bowman316]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

So you think it is better to get the boat being towed at least 100 ft behind the tow boat?

Or would closer in the wake give it a smoother ride?

I might try keeping the small boat in the water, and tieing it to a bow cleat, and having it run along side my boat.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

Going fast is plain crazy. And lashing alongside is only good for short, very slow, trips. I have done this exact thing when island camping with the family, and a typical rowboat tied at the bow eye (usually down quite low on the bow) will allow the bow to rise and you can go at fast plowing speeds - say 10mph or a bit less. Keep the towed boat 20-30 ft behind, no more. 100 is really too far back. If you have to go so far that you want to go faster, come up with another plan. Boats are designed to be pushed, so when you try to pull one fast it will go all over the place, and entually turn an flip all your junk into the lake. if you want good fun try towing a canoe with a motor boat...lesson in physics.

 

[bowman316]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

now canoes ARE designed to be pushed, pushed my the river current.

 

[QC]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

I have towed a 14 footer on plane . . . Needs to be stern weighted to keep the bow up and pretty far back in the wake.

 

[arks]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

It can be done but you've got to figure out many things- weight distribution, harness style, towline length, speed, etc.
To tow safely and properly it will take some dedicated real-world testing.

Experience has taught me to start slowly and only make ONE change between tests. If the change doesn't improve the tow, go back to the previous setup and try something else.
There can be a lot of trial-and-error, but once you get it right it's really nice.

Here's my SeaDoo behind our Silverton. This setup took about a month of testing before we got it just right, but now she tows beautifully. We can run like this at any speed and in most conditions. So far it's been 3 years and we haven't submarined it.

There are some "rules" I discovered about towing:
- a towing bridle or harness is absolutely necessary. Design is dependent on a lot of factors.
- use good quality floating poly towline of sufficient strength.
- All towline anchor points must be able to withstand a LOT of force.
- the towed boats' bow eye needs to be low to promote planing.
- ALWAYS enlist a crewmember to constantly watch the tow and report any trouble. The captain must concentrate on running the boat.
- the towed boat should stay tight against the harness until throttling up.
- let line out as the boat speed increases so the towed boat runs just behind the tow boats' wake junction (as in the picture). That's the "sweet spot".
- try to take waves/wakes head-on if possible when towing.

Bottom line- there's a lot to consider when towing another boat. Just be careful.

 

[bowman316]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

i actually have towed a jet ski on plane before, that is easy, i had my buddy on his jet ski steering, which prob did nothing. but it just got right up on plane, and the ski responded fine.

I just hooked up a 60 ft waterski line to the bow eye of the jet ski.

 

[David Greer]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

You can tow your 12' just fine and if it hurts your transome you need a new boat, unless you load it with pig iron. You have to have a bridle of some kind to keep the towed boat in the center of your track, and have it loaded evenly. Put your bulky light stuff in it, such as tubes, and if you put anything heavy in it like water or gas, have it low and centered. Maybe one tank will help ballast but keep your coolers, etc. on your boat. Tie everyhting in like you were whitewater canoeing. If you're loaded properly you might be able to get on a plane but be careful and take baby steps. have a look-out AND a rear-view mirror. remember that if you stop suddenly the towed boat won't.

Use a long line hooked to your stern eyes but when you start away from the dock, have it cleated tight on the stern cleat. Once you are underway, have someone pay out the line so it stays taught and out of your prop.

side by side towing is a bad idea unless you have a really heavy load and a long time to get there--but good to know about in an emergency. Keep everyone's fingers clear! (My rule when approaching a dock is "hands in your lap." I've been boating with little ones and newbies a long time and it is the best command.)

 

[steriosm88]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

That's some great info guys. We just got back from a week trip up in Algonquin and I towed in a 14 foot deep and wide with all our crap in it. We had it back about 80 feet hooked to two rings I'd put in on either side of the main motor. Didn't try to get up on plane so everything worked out great. Thanks guys

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

Interesting points here ; good reading material.

Just curious if anyone has tried this with a 60' Houseboat and 20' bowrider behind it. Thats what we are looking at doing next summer for a week. I am guessing that it won't be as bad since the houseboat won't be planing.

Thanks everyone!

 

[bowman316]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

Yea, that should be fine, houseboats don't go that fast.

I hear around people in the mountain west doing that all the time.
Camping for a week on those dammed up rivers.

 

[David Greer]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

I went on a trip once where we towed a 27' CC behind a 64' Hatteras.

If you can tow it, do so only in the long stretches on open water. Anywhere near land, noarrow spots, etc. have one of your crew drive the other boat and meet you, or at least tie up along side.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: towing a small aluminum boat

If you can tow it, do so only in the long stretches on open water. Anywhere near land, noarrow spots, etc. have one of your crew drive the other boat and meet you, or at least tie up along side.

Thats kind of what my plan was. Not worth beating anything up over.