Anyone have insights on towing a beachcat behind another boat for a decent distance (10-30 miles)?Â
I'm towing with a bridle attached to the forward crossbar in this picture, but it's not the most stable for a high speed tow.
Pulling from the bows would increase static stability, but I don't trust the attachments for towing. I'm thinking a concocting a bridle that transfers the pulling force to the forward crossbar, and only the lateral steering forces would be loaded to the bridle tangs.
Alternatively, as with dinghy towing where you leave the lower unit of an outboard partially down, I could see the benefit of some extra drag at the stern to help keep the pointy ends facing the boat doing the towing. Centerboards are ineffective at increasing stability, and the only way to tow fast is with someone manning the rudders....
Any tips?
Thanks!
-AP
Back in 1999, we had a 150 mile multihull race on L. Erie sailing East from Cleveland Yacht Club (Ohio) to Dunkirk NY.
My friend Jim and I 'raced' my H18 against a Corsair F24 trimaran and a Stiletto 27 cat. No one else showed up. The wind conditions could have been much, much better... we were making about 5 knots on a broad reach on the first day, easily keeping up with the bigger boats. On the second day (Sunday), the wind was nil. We all decided to more or less cancel the race, but since the ground crews were already at Dunkirk, we had to motor to the final waypoint.
We pulled the H18 by the Stiletto from the H18's main beam, but tied a bridle line to the bridle chain plates, so the towline arrangement looked like a 'peace' sign. However, we likely didn't make more than eight knots, if that. I put the rudders up out of the water and the daggers up as well. Tow line length was about 50 ft. The H18 towed straight at those lower speeds.
It was a long day with the outboard engine droning on and on, sipping ice-cold beers while baking in the sun on a mirror-like sea, relaxing on the big cat.
We got to Dunkirk at around 5 pm I think. After eating dinner with the ground crew on the beach, the wind came up. Jim and I took the H18 out for a bit of a romp, popped the spin up and flew a hull. Yippee.
What a crappy race.
I would keep the rudders and daggerboards up since nobody will be on the boat. For a really long tow like you are suggesting, I would probably take the rudders all the way off. Even in the up position, they will be partially in the water if towing at a high speed. From the picture, it looks like a Hobie 18? If so, or any boat with daggerboards, you may need to keep the daggerboards in (but up), otherwise water will come up through the daggerboard well. I would tow from the front crossbar. You may consider making a bridle and passing the tow line through the bridle connecting the two bows for stability, but the load should be on the crossbar.
Another important note. Since the mast is up, you really need to secure it well. The rig should be as tight as possible for towing, and I would also try to keep the mast from rotating. If the rig bounces around, you will break a shroud.Â