We're inching our way towards summer. What better time than now to add to that stock pile of paddling…. Where I am temperatures are dropping, so it's almost dry suit weather. With that here's a video with…. Eddyline Kayaks 50th Anniversary. View all Safety Tips. Towing a dinghy is not a "set it and forget it" procedure. Make sure to look back regularly to check on it, especially if the wind picks up or sea state deteriorates.
If the dink ships water from waves or rain, it will increase drag quickly. It's also possible for a dinghy to flip over and submerge the motor or engine or even break loose, so keep a watchful eye on your tow at all times. Finally, consider your towing speed. Don't tow a dinghy so quickly that it becomes airborne. Never tow in questionable conditions. If you absolutely must tow, start slow. Powerboaters may be tempted to get a planing hull up to speed; this will put extra pressure on every piece of this puzzle.
Don't do it. Never tow a dinghy on long passages. Never overload your dinghy, or you'll swamp it. Check your dinghy's capacity plate, and stay below the weight limit. Put together a bag of essentials to take with you in the dinghy. An open-mesh bag works, and it can be secured under the middle seat with bungees, where it's easily accessed but not underfoot.
Everyone in the dinghy should be wearing a life jacket while the boat is underway. Many dinghies move at a fast clip, and guests especially are vulnerable to falling overboard. Zuzana Prochazka is a freelance journalist specializing in writing, editing, and photography in boating and travel publications.
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Call For a Tow Photo: Mark Corke. Loading And Unloading Don't assume everyone knows how to get in and out of a dinghy. Ready For Arrival Just before you arrive at the harbor, marina, or anchorage, pull the dinghy in close before conducting any backing or docking maneuvers. Critical Equipment And Advice Never overload your dinghy, or you'll swamp it.
Include: Bailer to offload rainwater or seepage from a slow leak. A cut-off plastic bleach or gallon water bottle with the lid screwed on works and provides a built-in handle. Following waves cause the dinghy to surf forward, possibly striking the boat.
This is happening in the photo above. The dinghy may also be spun around such that the outboard strikes the stern, causing damage. Possible solutions:. A strong wind or waves from the side threatens to overturn or fill the dinghy.
This can be a serious situation. Ironically, with a lightweight inflatable, removing the outboard makes the dinghy more susceptible to being flipped.
The dinghy capsizes and fills or goes underwater. This creates an enormous drag that may do damage almost immediately. The tension may snap the painter or rip out the tow eye s.
At the least, the dinghy becomes a sea anchor slowing or stopping the sailboat. The traditional method for traveling with a dinghy is to lash it upside-down on the foredeck. While this is generally the safest thing to do with a dinghy in all conditions, it can be inconvenient and difficult or even dangerous when shorthanded. Still, short of deflating an inflatable and stowing it away for an ocean passage, this is generally the best option when sailing in unprotected or unpredictable waters.
With a larger sailboat, if cost is no object, davits installed on the stern for raising and lowering the dinghy are a popular contemporary solution. While the dinghy thus exposed to wind and rain may seem at risk, fewer cruisers report any problems in settled weather up to gales.
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