MacGregorSailors.com

We haven't tried towing a dingy yet and we have a hard bottom dingy and want any tips you have.....

If possible, attach a line to each side to the towing attachments. If the boat doesn't have towing attachments try to attach as low as possible just aft of the bow on both sides of the boat with a "Y" shaped bridle. This will keep the nose of the dink high to ride over waves. Connect the "Y" to a long piece of floating tow rope and attach the bitter end to one of the aft cleats. As you pick up speed you will have to let out the line till the dink balances on the first or second wake behind the Mac. You will just have to experiment. When docking or anchoring you will need to pull the nose of the dink up to the stern of the Mac. We tie another line to the mid point of the dink--near the oar lock and pull that line to the mid stantion of the Mac. This will keep the dink under control and out of the way when stopped.

We tow with the motor on the dinghy, but many take it off and hang it from a rail on the Mac. We have never had even a slight problem. Best speed for us is in the 10-12 knot range with maybe 25 feet or so of line out. I think the fastest we have towed it was maybe 15 knots and it did OK, but seemed to me to be too much strain on everything. Probably depends on how slippery your dinghy is.

If you don't have a motor on the dink and you find yourself getting water over the bow of it, try putting a 5 gallon water jug or something similar in the stern - this will both lift the bow and help the little boat track straight.

- AndyS

I haven't tried it myself yet but I read somewhere that
you can put an 8 inch funnel (with the botton facing the stern of
the Mac) about a dingy length in front of the dingy. You put a knot
in front and in back of the funnel to keep it in place. This is supposed
to keep the dingy from slamming into the back of your boat in
following seas. It will cause the dingy to turn. I plan on trying when
I go sailing again.

tcoltrane