CD25 Bow Eye

[FL Dan]

Hi, I just acquired a '75 CD25 and am doing some work on it prior to splashing. It doesn't have a bow eye but it looks like it had one at some point. Did the hull have on originally? Would you recommend I install one? I'll keep the boat on a dock in protected water so the only time I'd need it is for emergency towing. The bow deck cleat and chocks look pretty good but if I had to be towed for miles, I trust a bow eye more. Thanks.

[sloopjohnl]

many recommendations for towing suggest one or two lines from the tow vehicle, thru the disabled boat's bow chocks and then looped around the base of the mast. if a bow eye does not have a substantial backing plate it could pull thru in rough seas when being towed.

[mgphl52]

For the CD25, I would not recommend having the tow line secured to the mast due to the way the mast is mounted. I would trust the deck cleat more, unless it was installed/reinstalled by a previous owner and does not have an adequate backing plate.

[tartansailor]

I like the idea of a well backed! bow eye for extended anchoring, especially in a blow,
because it lowers the center of effort and eliminates chafing, and you need only one mooring line,
thus eliminating twisting.