Towing dinghy

[ready123]

Here is a video of my F32 at cruise, 3200 rpm 19 mph with 13' classic whaler in tow. The whaler sits on the second wave back from the transom, quite close compared to what I see others doing up here in Georgian Bay.... most people seem to tow 100'-150' back, not sure why that is.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79664671@N00/4744866646/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79664671@N00/4744316301/


Whaler sitting steady just back of the stern....... key thing is to have a single continuous line from transom through an eye on the towed vessel.

[jddens]

Nice videos Michael, thanks for sharing. I've been wondering if I could tow my 17' bass boat behind my Sea Raider....might give it a try.........John

[Paul]

Hi Michael,

Why do you leave your outboard in the down position while towing? Does it keep the Whaler tracking straighter than in the up position?

[ready123]

Hi Michael,
Why do you leave your outboard in the down position while towing? Does it keep the Whaler tracking straighter than in the up position?

Yes tracking is one but also my motor is a little heavier than it should be, so when in up position the skeg is in the water and often the prop blade is getting hit at the surface so I felt down was best.
Yeah extra rotations for the bearing but under no load and in the grand scheme of things the big boat towed distances are way less than dinghy travel distances.

[k9th]

Good idea towing that way. Will have to give it a try.

I, too, was wondering about the engine in the down position but your answer makes good sense.

How does towing in this position with the engine down on the dinghy affect your fuel mileage?

[ready123]

Any comments on the amount of steam in the exhaust?

Seems high to me but have always seen a fair amount and thought it might be expected from 30+ yr old engines.
Temps etc and water flow seem right... new impellers this year and the manifolds were cleaned out.
Going to check to make sure I have no restrictions on water flow through the engine hoses..... my exhaust pipes are quite large as is the muffler system from the headers so maybe I'm just seeing gasses not mixed with water on exit.

[Big D]

Michael, sounds like you`ve checked the obvious. I went through the same thing on a friend`s 318`s. New T-stats solved the problem; no more steam.

[turtlem1969]

Sure is some pretty water your going thru.

[foofer b]

Man, lots of rocks around. Guess you have to know where you are going.

[rossjo]

A longer line will keep that Whaler off you boat if you stop quickly. I guess leaving the motor down does the same thing (although it puts a lot of pressure in reverse on the Whaler's wooden transom).