I found using my swim ladder as a rigid tow bar for the tender was one of the cleverest adaptations I made to cruising. The tender stays behind the boat, no lines to foul, and it tows better...I even will tow it with the 4HP kicker attached in good conditions, lashed down.Chinook wrote:Regarding the dinghy securing system, I think this will be pretty cool. The dinghy is always a hassle, when docking or anchoring, with the painter at risk of getting pulled into the prop, even though it's a floating poly line. I will install a snap shackle on the tow line, just ahead of the bridle, at the ideal location for snapping to one of the stanchions located near the cabin bulkheads (the rear stanchions, within easy reach from the cockpit). I'll install a pair of jam cleats, one on each side, on the aft corners of the boat, with each cleat pointing downward. In the back of the dinghy I'll set up a short line, attached to the dinghy transom at both corners and just long enough to reach a jam cleat when the dinghy is drawn up alongside. The drill will be, when nearing a mooring location or entering a lock, to pull the dinghy painter in and quickly snap the tow line to the stanchion with the snap shackle. I'll have the boat hook handy, so I can reach over and snag the line I've rigged at the stern of the dinghy. All I'll have to do is secure this line to the jam cleat and the dinghy will be securely rafted to the side of the boat, where it can't get into trouble. That's my plan anyway, and I'm looking forward to giving it a test.
Best part, no new hardware required!
Some pix and discussion here
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... lit=Towbar