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 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Dinghy Tow?		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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car1260
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts
Initially Posted - 02/27/2006 :  15:12:58  Show Profile
Does anyone know if "Dinghy-Tow" can be successfully installed on a C250? We were sailing downwind with large following seas the last couple of days and realize that towing an inflatable on a painter is not a great idea!! Dinghy Tow looks really cool and would solve the "Where can we put the dinghy?" question once and for all.
Carolyn Thomas
2003 250 WB #667 "Ciao"
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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts
Response Posted - 02/27/2006 :  17:45:50  Show Profile
Carolyn,
That Dinghy Tow looks pretty interesting, I'm curious was well if anyone as any experience with it.
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stewendkos
Navigator

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USA
109 Posts
Response Posted - 03/05/2006 :  13:09:37  Show Profile
My experience with towing any dingy,has been that it must have either a hard or a soft (inflatable)keel or it just won't tow straight.Also you can sometimes adjust the leght of your line to the sea.In big seas ,I keep mine closer to the boat.I'd start there before I invested into anything else.
Steve
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Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts
Response Posted - 03/05/2006 :  20:32:14  Show Profile
A piece of PVC can keep the dinghy from riding up on you with a following sea. Better yet attach PVC covered line to each corner of the stern and the dinghy will be rock solid behind you. The only problem with pulling the dinghy right up against the transom, either lifting the stern or bow of the dinghy out of the water is the fact that our rudders are hung off the transom.
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River Harley
Navigator

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132 Posts
Response Posted - 03/05/2006 :  23:15:10  Show Profile
I've found that a "bridle" type arrangement works well. The tow line runs from the dinghy to 2/3 of the distance to the boat, where a second line is tied of somewhere equadistant to starboard from the original line on the port side of the boat....a kind of Y configuration. Works well for me on Puget Sound.

River Harley
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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts
Response Posted - 03/05/2006 :  23:31:49  Show Profile
From what I've read (haven't tried it) a bridle works best with the bridle on the dingy, then a single line to the boat. The trick is not to fasten the single line tightly to the bridle on the dingy.

The bridle on the dingy is supposed to eliminate a single point load on the dingy, but in real life, with waves and the dingy bouncing around back there, it just alternates the load from one side to the other. Having a single line from the boat that clips onto the bridle and is free to slide will self-center and always distribute the load evenly before it pulls.
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welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts
Response Posted - 03/06/2006 :  09:38:38  Show Profile
I put a bridle on the dinghy and a single line to the boat. I use a ring that slides on the bridle then attach to the single line to the boat. The bridle is short in length, barely clears the bow of the dingy when you pull it over the front and drop the bridle and tow rope on the dingy floor when paddling around.

I then can pull up quickly on the line from the boat and adjust the angle the dingy is pulled (kind of shake the line and slide the ring on the bridle). I also adjust the lengh of the line from the boat to the dinghy depending on sea condition. You can feel the difference on the tow line in how hard the dingy pulls in relation to where it is following the boat in its wake.

I have an inflatable keel on my dingy. With the above, I have no problems towing in Puget Sound. I only loose a litte speed due to towing the dingy (1/2 to 1 knot).
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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts
Response Posted - 03/06/2006 :  19:24:13  Show Profile
I'm currently using bridle set up as well. I picked up one like this on E-bay last year when I got my inflatable. Seems to work pretty good.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.