Nearly Lost my Dinghy...

B

brentolsen

Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
RO Number
30473
Messages
6
Hi Everyone...this past weekend I attended our annual raft up event in Newport Beach Ca. called "Wild Bill's Roundup". For the past 4 years the weather has been pretty good and the ride home from the event on Sunday a nice whale watching cruise home. This time a looming storm we all new was due to hit us came with full force just as we were leaving. In tow was my newly purchased 14 ft. AB hard bottom inflatable dinghy. I had stainless tow eyes mounted to each side of the hull of the dinghy for towing. Half way through the trip home one of the hooks on the bridle broke. We kept the other attached just in case and attached the tow line to the center tow hook on the dinghy. We had 10 foot plus following seas all the way and with just 500 yards or so to go to enter our harbor the tow line snapped. Good thing the other hook was still attached or we would have seen our new toy disappear.

I need to make a more reliable bridle and tow line. I would appreciate any information regarding the types of hooks I should be using to attach the bridle to the stainless tow eyes on the dinghy and what sort of line and size I should be using for towing. Obviously the half inch polypropylene line wasn't strong enough and I can go to .75 inch but I want to be sure to do it right. The bridle I purchased from the company that sold me the dinghyl has a nylon piece that the two lines of the bridle attach with a large hole I ran the .5 inch line though. The .5 inch line was attached to each corner of the stern of the boat...the dinghy weighs about 800 lbs....thanks
 
Google "Rope Inc." and look at their "Mighty Tow" tow line setups.

That is what I use to tow our 24' RIB tender. But like you I have two tow eyes on the bow of the tender. So I have about a 6' bridle made up of two plasma lines coming off those to the quick release end of the tow line. This additional bridle also makes it easy to release the tow line without reaching over and down the bow to the tow point.

I will be using the same set up for the 32' express SF we will soon be towing in place of the RIB from time to time.
 
Is it still winter and we should have a discussion on the "true" differences in seas and swells? Or is it spring and we should admit that we actually know that which the poster is talking about?

Pot Stirring? Me? Never. :)

Actually, if you recall, I had my ding swept off the sundeck by an 8footer about a year and a half ago. Having good tackle is in my opinion, shall we say, Important...:)
 
? I thought he was asking about what is a good towing set up. Line, hook and bridle wise.

If I misinterpreted his question please feel free to jump in.
 
Sorry guys if I was not clear with my posting. I was hoping to learn from the very knowledgeable group of members here their opinions on the hardware and line I should consider using for a reliable towing set up. I have done the usual search of websites and found lots of products. But when it comes down to what I should buy I am hoping an exchange of information and opinions will not only be helpful to me but perhaps others.

As for "following seas" or "swell" I only know they were pretty large and chasing me the whole way...maybe they should be called "pushing seas".
 
No need to say you're sorry to me. I thought your post was clear.

And like I said, look at how and what Rope Inc. makes their tow set ups out of. Many large yachts buy or copy their system.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top