How far to tow a dingy?

[Steve]

Getting geared up for my first coastal cruise and am wondering how much line should I put the inflatable dingy on?

Thanks,

Steve

[m26roy]

Depend of the speed. at slow speed at dock, my dingy is around 3 feets behind. At high speed, I leave my dingy is around 30-40 feets aprox.

[Captain Steve]

I towed mine the whole length of the San Juans trip last summer. The length of the towline is adjusted to let the dingy "ride" just behind the wake wave generated by your boat. THis is usually about 25 - 30 feet back. When we were entering a moorage or marina, it was brought up and tide along the port side (side opposite of the dock!) so you could keep an eye on it.

I tow with a nylon web bridle that attaches to the towing rings on each side of the dingy. Each arm of the bridle is 6 feet long and attaches to a 3 inch SS ring. A 8 inch fishing float is just behind the ring to keep it floating so it does not get fouled.The tow line attaches to that. I attach the tow line to the port rear stachion, so I can watch it and easily adjust the length.

This bridle setup minimizes the swinging or wandering of the dingy. The dingy MFG recommends a bridle set up rather than towing from the boweye on the dingy. I tow it with the Honda 2HP on it and have not suffered any problems.

[BK]

At high speed, I put the inflatable dingy behind the wake at about 30 feet. It seems to wander from side to side. Each front eyebolt on the dingy has a direct line to a rear cleat on the boat. I leave the engine in the dingy and had no problems. Does any know how to stop the wandering?

[BK]

We posted at the same time. You answered my question about swinging. Thanks, I will try it. Your dingy must not be centered behind the boat but on one side of the wake if you are tied to the stachion.

[Captain Steve]

BK....thats right. I found that the port stanchion was just enough off center to get it to tow straight. You up for a return to the San Juans in 05? Will be in Victoria and Vancouver in may. Will get you a nice placemat

[BK]

I got a Chartplotter GPS now! I can put my sexant away. Now all I need is the San Juan region chip which is $149. I am waiting for a sale. I am still planning on getting up to the San Juans this summer if gas is reasonable. 05' sounds good for a cruise around the San Juans. You will like Victoria, lots to do and you can get a slip in down town Victoria for $15 a night. I will be leaving the boat up there after this summer and making it our sailing place. We like the islands so much I am thinking about buying a small place up there and then just fly up.
We are still going to the Florida keys next winter but with only the 12 foot inflatable and 8HP engine. The inflatable goes 19 MPH and I can launch from shore. The problem with the keys is trailer parking. None or very expensive.

[Frank C]

... and you can get a slip in down town Victoria for $15 a night. I will be leaving the boat up there after this summer and making it our sailing place. We like the islands so much I am thinking about buying a small place up there and then just fly up. ... The problem with the keys is trailer parking. None or very expensive.

Bob,
You just need to rent dry storage and use the boat as your second home! I think your idea is great, but check carefully before you jump in. If trailer parking is the problem w/ SE, airfare is the problem with PNW.

A round-trip from SF to Seattle is only $120 per person. But fly to Vancouver as a jump-off point and the best fare becomes $230/person. The best airfare to Victoria BC is $400 per person. And the current rd-trip, coast-to-coast (e.g. SF to Balimore) is $193 per person.

I think a place in the PNW would be great, especially as a summer spot, say July thru Sept. But you need a pilot license (or a child in the airlines) to afford "weekending" up there.