Towing a Kayak??

[LazyCruiser]

Hi,
So now I'm trying to figure out how best to tow something that I can then go to shore on. Has anyone ever tried to tow a kayak? I have a 14' and I was wondering it that would tow well if I left the cockpit cover on to hopefully keep the water out.

What about a jon-boat, bad idea?
I'm just trying to get away from an expensive inflatable that won't get used much and probably has a big drag on the tow boat?

thanks for any info!

 

[rbh]

Re: Towing a Kayak??

How about strapping across the stern or the sides of your boat when you are underway?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing a Kayak??

If you have a 24' boat, put the kayak in or on it. That's what I usually do with a canoe in a 19" but it depends on the rest of the gear/passengers.
I've towed canoes and a 17' kayak. The important, no crucial, thing is to rig a harness so that it tracks in the center of your boat. The longer the line, the better, to a point.
When you get on a plane, an empty canoe will rise up to about a 30 degree angle, possible get airborne. It's crazy to see but I don't think it's going to hurt an empty aluminum canoe.
A 12' jon will tow nicely and give you a good spare boat. Don't know about inflatables under speed. I've seen a jet ski towed on a plane behind a 28' (est).

 

[shrew]

Re: Towing a Kayak??

Personally, I wouldn't tow anything on plane. Canoe, kayak, dink or inflatable of any kind. I know a boating couple who ties their rib on a bridle very close to the transom and runs on plane, but admits it gets very squirelly. I have another friend who takes his inflatable and ties the bow down to his transom, with the bow sticking into his cockpit, so only the aft portion of the tubes drag in the water just behind the swim platform. He says he notices it's impact on boat performance.

Towing at speeds will potentially put a lot of force on teh tow line and parting the line could be a reality. I'd be concerned about a kayak or canoe capsizing and becoming a giant drogue or sea anchor. i'd also be concerned about a canoe or kayak having a much lower amount of drag. I would expect each time you come off of plane, the canoe/kayak would continue to glide into the back of the tow boat.

Consider a smaller inflatable roll-up dinghy (Zodiac RU-52/RU-62). It can be stored in a car, shed, or down below when you're ready to use it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing a Kayak??

Shrew everything you say is true and needs to be accounted for. Especially about the canoe/yak suddenly swamping like an anchor tossed overboard. You almost want to have a light line that will snap (and not hurt anyone) than a big one. And you have to haul it in close to navigate, and be mindful at stops.

However, when an empty towed vessel is on a plane, its drag is reduced; in the case of a canoe/yak or even 12' jon, to almost nothing.

Lots of people do it; it's not for everyone.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Towing a Kayak??

i'd also be concerned about a canoe or kayak having a much lower amount of drag. I would expect each time you come off of plane, the canoe/kayak would continue to glide into the back of the tow boat.

Absolutely. I have tried towing my 11' kayak and have also tried putting it in the cockpit. It towed okay at idle, though as noted above, slammed into the swim platform every time I slowed or stopped. In the cockpit it is a PITA! I'm considering rigging up a rack across the swim platform.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Towing a Kayak??

bad idea?

Yes....

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing a Kayak??

A 12' jon will tow nicely and give you a good spare boat. Don't know about inflatables under speed. I've seen a jet ski towed on a plane behind a 28' (est).

towing a jetski on plane is a REALLY easy way to either sink the jetski or flood the engine. If its on plane, its fast enough to force water into the cooling intake. I know seadoo specifies that you should clamp off the water intake hoses for towing at any speed above idle.

 

[arks]

Re: Towing a Kayak??

With ANY boat-to-boat towing, a constant 'dinghy watch' is very important. If a towing mishap were to occur things could get real bad, really quick. When towing a small boat I always assign someone to maintain watch on it until we slow to idle.

Towing another boat is not something I'd recommend for a novice boater to attempt.
Too many things could go wrong.

towing a jetski on plane is a REALLY easy way to either sink the jetski or flood the engine. If its on plane, its fast enough to force water into the cooling intake. I know seadoo specifies that you should clamp off the water intake hoses for towing at any speed above idle.

That's true- if the boat operator doesn't know what needs to be done. I've towed a SeaDoo GTI on plane a number of times without any problem. To prevent water reversion I added a PVC ball valve to the water intake. I've also made up a towing harness to keep the painter centered in the wake and prevent the PWC from contacting the swim platform when slowing.
I modeled the harness after the Towdster and it works very well.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing a Kayak??

I don't know what this guy was doing or if he was doing it right. I saw him coming across some open water from a distance and thought, "that's a mighty big boat for pulling a tube" but you see people in 24+ doing it. Then I thought "he's giving that child along ride" When our paths got closer I saw it was a jet ski. We ended up going in the same direction a while, so I'd say he went 6 miles or so, and where he was headed, at least another 6 miles.
Sounds like he either knew what he was doing, or didn't. Like most boaters out there, so you never know who to copy and who to avoid!
I was on a boat trip once, where we towed a 27' CC behind a 64' Hatteras, from Miami to Key Largo, so we could have a "small boat" for excursions. Don't think we got up on a plane....

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Towing a Kayak??

The wife has asked about bringing the kayak to the cove spots. I don't know how I would tow without adding a bow hook-up to the kayak. I've been leaning to carrying the kayak onboard; which sounds like a pain.