Towing guidelines?

[Angrywasp]

I got the pleasure of being towed back to the dock yesterday after running out of gas on the river and while sitting in my boat I came up with a few questions. When being towed should you have your drive or O/B up or down? If down should you turn it with the towing vessel or leave it amidships?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Towing guidelines?

On a deep vee hull, I don't think drive position matters but on a flat bottom it would be better to leave it down act as a keel and keep the hull from wandering too much.

Anytime you are towed, the boat will wander a bit though.

Now in my state, the towing vessel operator assumes responsibility for all persons in the towed boat. While under tow, all persons in the boat under tow MUST WEAR a PFD.

Towing must be done at slow speed and with a suitable line. Ski rope or tubing rope is not sufficient for anything larger than a very light tin boat.

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: Towing guidelines?

I had an experience once, Me and the wife were out on jet skis 2 summers ago. One of them died... Both were 05 sea too rxp supercharged. 215 hp. Really quick. Top speed at about 73 depending on the water conditions. Anyways, yeah. Had to tow one of the jet skis with the other one. And a very short rope. And you know how they shoot a good amount of water from behind them!! yep, right in the face. Could only go about 10 mph. ugghhh... Bad day!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Towing guidelines?

Over the years I have towed dozens and been towed myself a few times. Definitely keep it down... it will reduce sway and make it easier for the towing boat to control yours.... Generally leave it straight but I have used it to help maneuver the boat.... You do not need to follow the towing boat as you would in a towed car but I have had the towed boat steer toward a dock slightly so the towing boat stopped pulling, the towed boat could drift toward the dock...

 

[NYBo]

Re: Towing guidelines?

A side-tow is often the easiest and safest way to go, especially if towing a boat larger than yours.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Not sure if this is reveling or not When we rented a houseboat on Lake Powell this summer and towed the 20' fiberglass open bow boat behind us we were told to keep the motor tilted all the way up. Doing this, the boat stayed right in the middle of our wake nicely.

Of course there was nobody in the towed boat and we were only doing 7.8 mph on the gps.

Although, I can see Smoke's point if you want to start directing yourself in a different path than the boat doing the towing.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Towing guidelines?

Yes keep the drive down, even though you aren't under power you still need to steer.

I towed a pontoon last year and as soon as we got hooked up and underway the people on the toon cracked a beer and we having a nice conversation while I towed them, I finally stopped and told them that someone needs to drive the boat or we are done.

Of coarse when I got them back tyo thier dock they jumped off and secured the boat and acted like I wasn't even there, didn't even say thanks.

I also towed a guy that filled my 6 gallon tank for me so most are very appriciative, best to go over what is expected of them before you start the tow.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Towing guidelines?

Of coarse when I got them back tyo thier dock they jumped off and secured the boat and acted like I wasn't even there, didn't even say thanks.

I was on a date night with the wife... it was a bit windy that day but we gave it a go. Saw an overturned jetski... decided we had to help. They said they had been floating for an hour. We got all their gear rounded up seat, shoes, etc... and took about 45 min to tow them back. The wind was pushing me away from the dock into the mud... so i scuffed up my prop and yeah, not even a thanks. Whats with people?

 

[shrew]

Re: Towing guidelines?

The one and only time I was towed by BoatUS, he instructed me to leave the drive down, and to actively steer to keep my boat tracking in a straight line behind the tow boat. I don't think that an I/O vs. Outboard has any bearing on this. I'd suspect that even with an inboard, though the running gear is fixed, you'd still want to try to actively keep the towed boat inline behind the boat that this towing.

 

[Angrywasp]

Re: Towing guidelines?

Thanks for all the info everyone. Hopefully I won't have this situation arise again but if I do (or if I can return the favor) I'll know what to do now.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Towing guidelines?

In Canada it is a criminal offence to not assit another boat. (Not that that seems to matter much)
I've never accepted anything after a tow but I sure appreciate the offers. I've always offered when I've been towed. For me, I would agree with 5150. I'd rather the gut boat being towed had some control.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing guidelines?

I've towed/been towed small boats many times, and find it is usually not necessary to leave the motor down (and increase drag) but it can be, with cross winds, uneven loads, etc. A lot depends on the shape of the hull. The most important thing is to have a bridle with some slippage on the tow boat so that the towed boat can track straight. The longer the line, usually the better FOR TRACKING except in a cross wind, but a long line compromised the tow boat controlling the towed boat. Once I get near the dock, I shorten the tow line and cleat it to a stern cleat, so I don't have to worry about the line getting in my prop.

Once I was being towed when my motor wouldn't start; I fiddled with it and got it started while under way. My friend operating my tow boat wasn't paying attention, so I drove up next to him and waved. he about fainted!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Towing guidelines?

I had an experience once, Me and the wife were out on jet skis 2 summers ago. One of them died... Both were 05 sea too rxp supercharged. 215 hp. Really quick. Top speed at about 73 depending on the water conditions. Anyways, yeah. Had to tow one of the jet skis with the other one. And a very short rope. And you know how they shoot a good amount of water from behind them!! yep, right in the face. Could only go about 10 mph. ugghhh... Bad day!

You aren't supposed to tow jet skis much above idle speed or you stand the change of filling the engine full of water. Just an FYI.

 

[oops!]

Re: Towing guidelines?

And you know how they shoot a good amount of water from behind them!! yep, right in the face. Could only go about 10 mph. ugghhh... Bad day!

lol

btw.....10 mph is fast for a tow

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: Towing guidelines?

You aren't supposed to tow jet skis much above idle speed or you stand the change of filling the engine full of water. Just an FYI.

Good to know next time! Once we got to above 10 it would shoot water in the face or towee. hehehe. But the engine was shot on that one anyways so no more harm i guess. It was bought from a cousin that rode the heck outta it. They knew it wouldn't last too long.