Towing - (another boat)

[UpstNYer]

Re: Towing - (another boat)

Thanks for taking the time to put that together Capn Mike. Great hearing from someone with formal training AND real-world experience under their belt. That post could save lives, limbs and heartache.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Towing - (another boat)

Captn Mike<br />Really enjoyed your post. I taken the Coast Guard Aux and the US Power Squadron classes 3 times each. I like to take one about every 5 years, entire family has been at least one time. Great classes if you can still find the long classes. The new short classes they are giving out here not worth much for a experienced boater.<br /><br />I got my first boat when I was 16 and been boating over 40 years. I towed way too many boats over the years.<br /><br />When towing a smaller boat everything is easy and I agree no need for speeds over 5 to 7 MPH. For me it is much harder when boat you are going to tow is more than twice your size and weight. Everyone should put thru bolts on all their cleats and install large backing plates on stern and foward cleats. First time I towed a boat more than twice my size I learned why one must have a towing bridle. I tied to one stern cleat and under power could not stear the boat at all without letting off on the power. Finnally took the tow roap from the cleat and routed around the outboard power head and I could stear some. Got boat to a good public launch just out side the city marina. <br /><br />Now both my boats have good towing bridales. My bridles hook to the reinforced stern cleats then thru the stern eye on each side to the stern cleat on the other side. Main reason went thru both stern eyes is so pulling point is lower so should I break a tow line better chance of line hitting the back of the boat than my crew. My crew has gotten very good at towing. Seems like we are always the only boat around when someone else has trouble. <br /><br />Gave my bridal a good test and it worked well. We were headed fishing and saw a boat ahead with black smoke pooring out of the back. Had a lady on the bow with life jacket climing over the bow rail getting ready to jump. Approched the boat and call Coast Guard station less than five miles away to inform. They came back with do not get too close. When got close enough to the boat to talk with the lady she said had fire under motor deck and her husband was trying to find it. Moved to where we could talk with man and he said oil everywhere but could not find any fire. Smoke clearing. I am a 21 foot closed bow Aluminum runabout and this was a 28 foot by 10 wide bayliner with a big fly bridge.<br /><br />Decided to try a tow but there was no way they could reach there bow eye. So we came up in front and was able to get a line thru there bow eye. Put a big loop thru it so we could release with out having to get so close. They were about 3 miles from there marina but down stream with about a 3.5 MPH EBB tide. Started tow but could hardly make any head way. angled over out of the main channel and started gaining ground. As we approched the marina called the marina to find directons to to a easy to get to curtesey dock we could tow into. After we got inside shorteded up tow line going dead slow found they had pretty wide channels so decided to take him to his slip. With boat hooks and the help of one of his neibours got them safely into ther slip. Lady would have sold the boat for $20. Guy wanting to thank us and pay us. I always tell them best way to pay us is to go out of your way to help me or someone else that is in trouble.<br /><br />One Thing I have learned is never never use the other boats lines to tow with, use your own that way your know what you are working with. Most boat I have towed only have 1/4 inch ski roaps, or and anchore line. Never let anyone tie tow line to bow rails or go over bow rails to a cleat.<br /><br />In the ocean try and tow boat back far enough that he is on the same part of the wave behind as you are on. Adjust length to match as you go. If boat has a radio make sure useing same channel as you and 1 watt. If no radio establish some singals to use if there is trouble. Assign one of your crew to always watch the boat behind. <br /><br />Last thing is on the water see if you can reach your own bow eye to hook up a tow line to your self. On My boat I could not even come close to reaching. So I made bow towing bridal to hook to my reinforced cleats and also installed a second bow Eye high enough up that I can reach it from the deck. Second bow eye also strongly reinforced with a backing plate. My boat should never need towed as I have kicker back up that I can start with out a battery but the key to saftey on the water is to be prepared for everything.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Towing - (another boat)

Had to get towed last week by the Marine Rescue.<br />I'm 25' Flygridge Cruiser.<br />They had a 36'Cat with 2x250hp 4 strokes.<br />Tied to me by the hitch I would use on the bow to be pulled on to a trailer.<br />They told me to keep the stern drive down, and straight ahead, and not touch a thing.<br />They really got up some speed.<br />Outside the Mariner they "Rafted me" to their side. Put fenders between us and really tied me tightly to them from the bow, centre, and stern.<br />They berthed me perfectly, and as I am in the finger with max lengths of boats not over 25', they, in their 36' had minimum room to move.<br />I certainly learnt a lot from them. They are all retired volunteers and top seamen.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip