Tow or stow – that is the question. I will be joining ranks for some segments of the upcoming CDSOA NE Fleet events and am trying to decide if I should stow my inflatable or tow it. Stowing is always preferred on longer trips, but most of the legs we will be sailing are not tremendous. So any recommendations would be appreciated.
In the past I have utilized a bridle from the stern cleats run to a shackle, then to a bridle attached to each bow cleat on the inflatable. This worked well except in heavy following seas when I had concerns each time the inflatable got pushed hard against the transom. The option is to deflate and inflate each evening which would be time consuming and something I would prefer to avoid.
Does anyone have experience utilizing a rigid bridle? I have seen 2 different configurations. The first used 2 sections of hard PVC pipe with line running through the center of each. The line was secured to each stern cleat and had a snap shackle on the other end for attaching to the inflatable. This appeared as though it would fend the inflatable off the stern, but could exert rather significant force on the stern cleats if the inflatable were to become swamped.
The second system I recently noted on a boat slightly larger than my CD330 had the bow of the inflatable affixed high on the transom. The bow of the inflatable sat firmly on the transom about 2’ above the waterline. The stern floated free. This also looked like it would prevent the inflatable from dropping under the transom in a following see, but the high bow forced the stern of the inflatable to sit rather low in the water which would also have me concerned.
Any suggestions?
chris.reinke@sac.com
Tow or Stow?
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Larry DeMers
Re: Tow or Stow?
What we do in crossings and longer trips is to stow the dinghy under the main boom, lashed down well. But for all else we tow it (Avon Roll-Away).
Towing a dinghy in following seas for example, you will need a painter that is around 100ft. long. Use the bridle you already have for the dinghy. Let out the painter after you are done with clearing out of harbor, and set the dinghy back on the *back side* of the second crest back from the transom. Adjust the painter length until the inflatables bow is just nearing the crest of the wave top. This minimizes the drag, while putting some backwards pressure on the painter, keeping the dinghy from running down the wave front, hitting the transom..or joining you in the cockpit.
The technique of raising the bow up to a few feet off the water does eliminate some of the drag apparently, but it also allows air under the dinghy sooner, making it go airborne faster..not a good thing when this happens.
Be aware that when towing the dinghy at any distance, wind will, if of sufficient force, get under the dinghy and lift it off the water, spinning the darn thing like a propellor! I followed one such sailor once, and watched over a 30 minute period, as the painter wound up tighter and tighter..getting shorter and shorter until it actually flopped into the back stay a few times.
Now I contend that one could be somewhat surprised by this so probably it's to also be avoided.
Cheers,
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
CD30 Lake Superior
demers@sgi.com
Towing a dinghy in following seas for example, you will need a painter that is around 100ft. long. Use the bridle you already have for the dinghy. Let out the painter after you are done with clearing out of harbor, and set the dinghy back on the *back side* of the second crest back from the transom. Adjust the painter length until the inflatables bow is just nearing the crest of the wave top. This minimizes the drag, while putting some backwards pressure on the painter, keeping the dinghy from running down the wave front, hitting the transom..or joining you in the cockpit.
The technique of raising the bow up to a few feet off the water does eliminate some of the drag apparently, but it also allows air under the dinghy sooner, making it go airborne faster..not a good thing when this happens.
Be aware that when towing the dinghy at any distance, wind will, if of sufficient force, get under the dinghy and lift it off the water, spinning the darn thing like a propellor! I followed one such sailor once, and watched over a 30 minute period, as the painter wound up tighter and tighter..getting shorter and shorter until it actually flopped into the back stay a few times.
Now I contend that one could be somewhat surprised by this so probably it's to also be avoided.
Cheers,
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
CD30 Lake Superior
Chris Reinke - CD330 wrote: Tow or stow - that is the question. I will be joining ranks for some segments of the upcoming CDSOA NE Fleet events and am trying to decide if I should stow my inflatable or tow it. Stowing is always preferred on longer trips, but most of the legs we will be sailing are not tremendous. So any recommendations would be appreciated.
In the past I have utilized a bridle from the stern cleats run to a shackle, then to a bridle attached to each bow cleat on the inflatable. This worked well except in heavy following seas when I had concerns each time the inflatable got pushed hard against the transom. The option is to deflate and inflate each evening which would be time consuming and something I would prefer to avoid.
Does anyone have experience utilizing a rigid bridle? I have seen 2 different configurations. The first used 2 sections of hard PVC pipe with line running through the center of each. The line was secured to each stern cleat and had a snap shackle on the other end for attaching to the inflatable. This appeared as though it would fend the inflatable off the stern, but could exert rather significant force on the stern cleats if the inflatable were to become swamped.
The second system I recently noted on a boat slightly larger than my CD330 had the bow of the inflatable affixed high on the transom. The bow of the inflatable sat firmly on the transom about 2? above the waterline. The stern floated free. This also looked like it would prevent the inflatable from dropping under the transom in a following see, but the high bow forced the stern of the inflatable to sit rather low in the water which would also have me concerned.
Any suggestions?
demers@sgi.com