Towing an inflatable being boat?

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Ken34

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Does anybody tow their inflatable behind their boat with the outboard still mounted? If so, what is the distance you leave the boat back.

The new boat is a 280 Sea Ray SS and I have no interest in putting a davit system on the extended platform.

When I had Jet skis I would pull them in line just past the break of the wake. I am just concerned with the weight balance of the inflatable. Then add the instability of the OB in the up position. Its a 10' Zodiac YL with 15hp 2 stroke.

Any thoughts are appreciated
 
Personally, it is something I would try to avoid. At low ( below hull ) speed, no issues. but the inherent instability means that IF something goes wrong, you will suffer damage to something. Either capsize of the inflatable, snapping the tow line and/or ripping the inflatable itself.

Can it be done? Well I've seen others do it. Should it be done? Well, in my few attempts ( at above 5 kts ) to test the idea, all were failures. YMMV.

I am sure others will offer their experiences and advice.
 
If this dink does not have a fiberglass hull, consider letting the air out and rolling it up to take it along. I have towed a dink with a soft bottom and an inflatable keel with a segmented wood floor inside. There was no FB hull. I left the outboard on and up. While it towed ok behind a 1990 25 sundancer (probably the same size as your 280 due to the affects of management and profits?) don't leave the gas tank back there. You might also starve the outboard carb empty as well. Gas was shaken out of everything and it took a serious cleaning to get rid of it and all the odor.
Don't pull the tow bridle legs on the dink through the tow rings to aft cleats on the dink. I know someone who did this and it pulled the transom over the bow and filled the dink with water.
I eventually went with the Weaver davits that are removable.
The best guess I have for line rating is to use something at least 4 times the weight of the dink. For 200 pounds that means about 1000 lb test line.
 
I have seen folks pull their soft bottom dink bow up onto the platform so that only the stern drags. Motor off however and be careful backing. I have no info on how well it worked long term.
 
I wouldn't have guts enough to tow a dinghy astern with motor mounted. Too much bad stuff can happen far too quickly.
 
We towed a dink across Florida and over to the Bahamas. Our speed was less than 8 knots generally, and the dink did just fine with the OB attached. However it is a RIB and the OB is a 40HP.
We've seen Sporties hauling the mail with a CC in tow. Very impressive.
 
"Does anybody tow their inflatable behind their boat with the outboard still mounted? If so, what is the distance you leave the boat back.

The new boat is a 280 Sea Ray SS and I have no interest in putting a davit system on the extended platform.

When I had Jet skis I would pull them in line just past the break of the wake. I am just concerned with the weight balance of the inflatable. Then add the instability of the OB in the up position. Its a 10' Zodiac YL with 15hp 2 stroke.

Any thoughts are appreciated "

The tender should be towed with the outboard motor down, this will help with the tracking and stability.
 
A light 10 foot tube tender will have a want to catch air and kite when towed on plane. With or with out a mounted motor.

I am always amazed by just how stable they become upside down if the bridal holds.

At displacement speed towed close should not be an issue.

I tow with the engine on the tender in the tilted up position.

Even in following sea's, you will find it hard to lock the tiller in a straight line on the tender.

Bigger, heavier tender lets me change "settings" for the tow.

IMO there really is no one answer for every set up, so working through and playing till you find what works best for you is best.

Just start slow and learn till you get comfortable.

My two cents
 
I do, but mine's a rib and the engine is bolted on :). Years ago Dad was pulling his and he left the engine on, I think it was a 2HP on a 10'achilles - we saw the engine pop off never to be seen again. He replaced it with a 4HP - he never fessed up that he just wanted a bigger engine - he swears he tightened it...I wouldn't recommend leaving it on, unless you want a new one.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

I have seen folks pull their soft bottom dink bow up onto the platform so that only the stern drags. Motor off however and be careful backing. I have no info on how well it worked long term.

Click to expand...

A friend of mine does that and he wore the gelcoat off the edge of his swim platform.

I have towed my inflatable behind my boat but with the motor removed. Mostly, I keep it on the foredeck and operate from my flybridge but if I have to drive from the lower helm, I let the air out and roll it up so I can see.
 
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