BLUEMOMENT

The other place has totally collapsed so in the hope of continuing the discussion..................................


Interesting about the drag issue. Its a significant loss over a long passage

On the towing issue, I like to think that I decide for each passage on a distance and weather basis but I think in truth I am lazy.

Wrestling an inflatable singlehanded onto the foredeck is a bit of a battle. Getting the outboard off without a mini davit is enough of a challenge.

I suppose I could use a halyard to lift the dinghy but.........

I tow it on a strong bridle but I like the idea of a webbing strop round the whole thing

Cheers

I dragged my Avon Redstart around all through my first, nervous season on the instant liferaft and MOB system principle. The friction makes a significant difference when you're only 17' on the waterline and I've never done it since.

I don't have an outboard to worry about but I also use the dinghy to get to and from the mooring and have to store it rolled up when sailing so lots of inflations and deflations per weekend. There are times when I can't be bothered going ashore!

There is also the tendency for the thing to become aerobatic in winds over 30 knots, which can be entertaining when you have other things to concentrate on . . .

And if you tow a dinghy you will lose it at some point - probably an inconvenient one. The only mutiny I have ever had to quell was on a delivery of a Sigma 33 when, stupidly towing the dinghy round the Calf of Man, the helmsman wandered into the tide race and the painter snapped.

'Leave it' he said. 'It's too dangerous' (as I turned up into wind).

He was a millionaire, but when I asked him if he would give the owner £500 in recompense he did not seem keen. I informed him that we would retrieve it or die in the attempt, whereupon he went below while my other more enthusiastic crew lay on the side deck and performed the recovery with only minor difficulty.

You don't even need to be towing for the dinghy to flip over. Ours did that while tied to the stern of Superstrath's cat. We were at anchor at the time, and. errmm, the outboard was inverted.... So, I suppose, really good sailors will always remove the outboard when not in use, a habit we've not yet managed.

To go back to the thread. We'll tow in reasonable conditions for maybe twenty miles or so, but I would guess that the drag factor is sufficiently significant to make the effort to haul it in for longer passages. We usually do.

I keep posting this info, and still the outboards drink brine. If the painter is attached to a longish bridle from the quarters of the dinghy, the wind doesn't get under the bow so easily. Also great for towing, and, as the stern doesn't dig, it planes better, (and more rope to snap in a blow.) Now I'm looking for a cure for leaving the rib on the falls and driving off - it birls over sideways.....and what a sea anchor!

sahona wrote:If the painter is attached to a longish bridle from the quarters of the dinghy, the wind doesn't get under the bow so easily.

That's precisely how it was tied, and we were at anchor, not towing. Didn't stop it flipping over in a near gale though - the wind had risen quite quickly while engaged on our social visit.

Must admit, that's the first time I've heard of a failure of 'the bridle' Ho hum, nothing's perfect it seems.

Are you guys saying that you sometimes tow your dinghys with the outboard still attached?

bobbol wrote:Are you guys saying that you sometimes tow your dinghys with the outboard still attached?

No. Have you had an eyesight test lately, or is it a comprehension problem?

"While tied to the stern of Superstrath's cat", ie someone else's boat, "we were at anchor at the time", "we were at anchor, not towing", and "engaged on our social visit", should have made it fairly obvious.

PMSL Get out of bed the wrong side this morning? Or are you always so tetchy?

Reason I said that was this little snippet:

sahona wrote:I keep posting this info, and still the outboards drink brine.

bobbol wrote: Or are you always so tetchy?

Let's put it this way, when someone who either hasn't read or possibly misunderstands the thread can ask what appears to be a smart Alec question, then "yes".

It really wasn't meant to be a "smart alec" question. Was a genuine one, based on reading that bit I quoted. I guess I touched a nerve.

bobbol wrote:It really wasn't meant to be a "smart alec" question. Was a genuine one, based on reading that bit I quoted. I guess I touched a nerve.

Sahona's response was in response to my post about engine inversion (our dinghy, attached to someone else's boat, while at anchor...).

Ah I C. Well that'll teach me to look before I leap in future.

No probs - I look forward to making an occasional visit to your site, where I'm sure I'll do the same...........

Good luck with it.