Has anybody solved "no dinghytow for MacGregor's"

[bastonjock]

ive ordered a dinghy with an airfloor and my intention is to keep it stored untill needed,as most of the beaches where i will be sailing are long and shallow,i may well beach the boat and walk ashore

another possibility if you have a ridgid boom vang,would it be up to acting like a davit? thus taking the strain out of recovering and launching your dinghy,you could use the mainsheet as a lifting block

[Bob McLellan]

For some really small: www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/origami/dinghy

[Russ]

For some really small: www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/origami/dinghy

That's cute, but it looks like a tissue box.

[Love MACs]

Or a coffin which it could be in high seas

[Chinook]

Being an owner and fan of the Porta-bote, this looks like a really cool homemade relative. Based on the high freeboard, I suspect it could handle sizeable swells, if operated at the right speed. I really like the light weight, compact size, and speed of assembly. It could be easily stowed either on deck or below. I'm guessing the weak point would be the fabric type, and the wood to fabric joints. I'd love to hear from someone with first hand experience.

[R Rae]

Just back from 'sea trials' today.

Weather was 8-12" chop with 10-15 mph winds. Air temp. 81 F.....

Upwind, we achieved 7.4 mph (GPS) and max throttle.
Downwind got a reading of 8.0 mph.

Next time out I'll drop to 9.5" pitch on the prop. from the current 10.0".

The dinghy behaved very well, and gave no anxious moments......

I am certain we lost some performance, tough to quantify, but it's something I can easily live with.

[NiceAft]

Ron,

I believe you and I have the same Achilles. A well made dinghy.


Ray

[commocean]

I am thoroughly impressed. Having just bought my 2005 late last September with a seven month old boy hasn't provided me with many opportunities to sail or modify. I knew I liked the look of that Dinghy-tow product and I knew somebody had the smarts to come up with an alternative.
Now that you've done it, what are your true impressions ? Likes dislikes ?
Are you happy with it or would you continue to make changes?
Could I impose upon you for any sketches or more photos?

[Tom Root]

I'm sure to set off a firestorm of disagreement, but it is flat foolish to attempt to rope tow a dinghy, hard or inflatable, in a seaway or potentially bad weather. Usually it's fine, but in an emergency you must have the capability to haul your dinghy aboard and stow it, either tying it down or deflating it and putting it inside the cabin.

No firestorm Chip, but I certainly have never been in that position with a 3.10 meter Avon with a 9.9 Honda Outboard with it's fuel tank, lashed down. And I have been in most precarious sea's without any ill effects...yet, but you might be right?

I just prefer to have deck space cleared, but again, that's just me. I might have some performance penalty issues, but so what?

I also tow Hard and Inflatable Kayaks at times with same results. In an emergency I can just cut it loose if I had too I suppose and would if it looked like it was that bad.

I also carry a backup Sevylor 12' Fish Hunter, that I might have used a grand total of 3 times in the past 10 years or so. Cheap insurance IMHO. I usually have that in the extreme aft rear berth area. If I didn't bring a dink along I have that as needed. Along with a 12V power inflator and foot pump! It's next to the ditch bag, and take apart oars.

I think we all have differing opinions on just how to do it, but having been on boats that secured their dinghy's on the bow, and engine on some sort of mounting arraingement, I still prefer to tow!

One thing I'd like to mention is to definately make a bridle that puts the stress on the rear portion of the tubes of an Inflatable of ANY size. The towing D~ring that is glued on will be a ticket to loose it for sure!

I might add, is that I am working on a type of bridle that will be attached to both rear cleats of the Mac and have a float on it. YES, one time when I was talking to a fellow boater abeam at Catalina Island, it did foul the prop. The seas were rough and the dink crept in allowing the tow line too much slack! It was so bad that I had to pop in the briney with my knife to cut it free. We were at idle and instead of taking the time to shorten the length of towline like I do when close quartered or slow motoring situations, I took off without looking and yea, admittedly, it did foul the prop, and real proper like too!

But that was the ONLY time in 30 years of towing dinks, yea ya gotta pay attention, or learn the hard way!

[R Rae]

Are you happy with it or would you continue to make changes?
Could I impose upon you for any sketches or more photos?

Complements are always graciously accepted........
On changes with the present design? Perhaps I'll replace the painted galvinised chain with stainless,but at this point nothing else comes to mind.

The other night we had winds gusting to 35mph +, and the dinghy stayed right behind the Mac, although the Mac was doing it's usual bouncing around. I think the transom out of the water helps to stabilize everything.

I'll post more photos shortly showing more detail.

R

[R Rae]

Could I impose upon you for any sketches or more photos?

Here is a bit more detail on how things fit-up.



The above gives more detail on how the 5/16" carriage bolt which is tightened onto the anti-sway bar, can then be dropped into the 3/8" hole in the starboard lifting arm.



This shows how the 3/8" eyebolt captures the last link in the sway link setup, also the bowline on the end of the 25 ft. lifting line.

More pics are availble if needed.

cheers..........Ron

ModsEdit: corrected, per Ron ~fc

[Frank C]

Ron,
Very nice adaptation! With advance apology for armchair qtrbacking,
kinda wondering if crossing the lifting lines, side-to-side, might obviate the swaybar?

This might require the lines led inside the rudders, cleats adjacent to edges of the helmseat?

[R Rae]

Thanks Frank.

The crossed lines you mention probably would sort of balance out the various forces at play.

However, I've discovered that when stepping aft to the dinghy it's very re-assuring to step out onto a fairly stable lifting arm knowing the anti-sway bar is doing it's job in reducing excess wobble. Also the crossed lines could be another obstacle in getting aft.

Cheers.........R