Towing a Dinghy: How much drag?

[Phil M]

We have purchased a 12' SOAR inflatable hypalon canoe for a tender.
We come from a wilderness canoe tripping background so this option still allows us to go for a paddle yet functions as as tender.
It has 3 chambers.Inflatable floor and two side chambers
http://soar1.com/soar_12.htm

An inflatable dinghy would appear to have an edge in overall stability, as in sudden waves hitting from abeam.

[mastreb]

I've attempted to use an inflatable kayak as a tender, but kayaks are not stable enough for use in any kind of waves or current and they're very difficult to get out of while in the water without capsizing. A traditional dinghy and especially an inflatable dinghy or a hard side dinghy with inflatable pontoons can withstand a lot more wave action without capsizing. Consider that the gentleman recently lost in the Delaware river coming back from his 26M was using a kayak as a tender.

As for towing the dinghy with the bow atop the outboard, I tried this last time I was out, tying the painter to the mast arch. Three problems:

1) There's no less drag, and probably more, than simply towing. The pontoon ends wind up farther in the water and create a lot of drag that way.

2) Any wind enough to sail in is wind enough to flip it around.

3) You can't reverse without removing the dingy.

It wasn't superior to just towing, so I stopped doing it.

You can easily measure the drag in pounds-force (not foot pounds) using a common hanging spring scale between the painter and your tie off. The "weight" indicated on the scale on average is the pounds of force required to pull the dinghy. Multiply the pounds-force by 4.5 to get Newtons.

[Ixneigh]

Towing anything behind an M, at least is going to suck so many how you do it. The boat can barely get out of its own way under sail, and if you want to power fast the dnghy is also a pain. I HATE towing anything no matter what boat I have, except for my 33ft yawl, who would pull a 12ft dinghy filled with water like it wasnt even there.
I use a paddle board when doing short cruises and that lives lashed to the lifelines under sail. I am working on a folding dinghy to be made of cored fiberglass that will be light, will store like I store my paddle board, and unfold quickly and easily. It wont be pretty but it will hold three people for short distances under oars.
Ix

[Seapup]

Towing anything behind an M, at least is going to suck so many how you do it. The boat can barely get out of its own way under sail, and if you want to power fast the dnghy is also a pain. I HATE towing anything no matter what boat I have, except for my 33ft yawl, who would pull a 12ft dinghy filled with water like it wasnt even there.
I use a paddle board when doing short cruises and that lives lashed to the lifelines under sail.

+1 on the Paddleboards. If you have somewhat decent balance they are very convient. We tried an inflatable dinghy, it was a PITA to store, board and use. It is tough to get into because you have to step over the inflatable gunwale and it wants to slide out.

We used ocean kayaks for a few seasons and I thought they were much easier and more stable than the dinghy since they were rigid. Plus more fun. Very different than an inflatable or sit in kayak. We leave them on the roof of the boat all year and just slide them off the bow when we want to use them. Last Spring I picked up a used rotomolded paddle board (pelican 10.6) and love the convience of it. Traditional SUPS are much lighter than roto plastic ones, but very fragile. The roto kayaks and SUPs you can bang around and walk on when they are on the deck. With the paddleboard just step right on and off from the transom, dont even use the ladder or get my feet wet, even the dog can hop right on and off.

Roto kayaks and SUP sit on the roof all summer



Recently I traded one of my old surf kayaks for a windsurfboard and have playing with it the past few weeks. Its almost as stable as a SUP when standing and paddling with the dog to shore, but fragile so has to be stored carefully vs the kayaks. Makes for fun while hanging out in an anchorage.

[Seapup]

While on the topic, this may be an interesting for those with kids, I thought about picking one up, sometime they can be had pretty cheap on ebay. You can sail it, paddle it, drag it, lounge on it, or windsurf it. They look pretty stable and durable, even made to drag behind a boat.

Aquaglide Multisport/Misteral Aquaglide

[JohnCFI]

While on the topic, this may be an interesting for those with kids, I thought about picking one up, sometime they can be had pretty cheap on ebay. You can sail it, paddle it, drag it, lounge on it, or windsurf it. They look pretty stable and durable, even made to drag behind a boat.

Aquaglide Multisport/Misteral Aquaglide

Hmmmm....... Sharkfeeder???? bit like having a bird table but for sharks

[Wind Chime]

We tow our 8 foot Walker Bay without too much considerable drag under sail or under power. What drag there may be, is an acceptable trade-off for us on extended trips.

At about 70 pounds, it tows straight on a 50 foot painter and stays pretty much on top of the water. It fits on the foredeck in heavy weather, rows great with the lapstrake design, goes well under 2.2 hp power to shore and to the crab traps, and I love the optional sail kit.





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[DaveB]

I must have missed this Post. My previous Post said Towed my 8FT Zodiac with 2.5 Suzuiki mounted on the Stern bracket of my MacX. I never tow with outboard on dingy. Might not have been clear when I posted it.
Post #5 at beginning of this post, March 26,2010
Dave

Sounds like it might work. Give it a try and let us know.
Once while towing my inflatable dink a wind caught it and took it aloft. Like a kite. Scary to think this otherwise heavy thing could get lifted so easily.
Another time I was fool enough to leave the 2.5 suzi (like Dave's) attached when towing and wind lifted it straight up. The thing was pointing vertical with the motor probably being dunked. Yeah, these things take a lot of wind.

[Catigale]

You can easily measure the drag in pounds-force (not foot pounds) using a common hanging spring scale between the painter and your tie off. The "weight" indicated on the scale on average is the pounds of force required to pull the dinghy. Multiply the pounds-force by 4.5 to get Newtons.

Does your CFO know you are still trying to support Newtons?

[Steve-Deb]

Great photos, your boat looks good sitting there, ready to go .