Towing a Tender: Avoid a Daggerboard Slot?

[Bobcat]

I am starting to look for a tender to replace the inflatable that came with my boat. The tender will likely be on edge on the swim step most of the time, but I don't rule out that I might want to tow a tender. I have heard that a daggerboard slot can be a problem with a towed tender. Anything to the rumor?

[landlocked sailor]

Just fit a plug to fill the slot and you ought to have no problem. I have towed my Auk dinghy this way with no problem. Rick

[Ian McColgin]

Yep, the plug will prevent a jet of water from shooting up the slot when towing. Makes things more comfortable when rowing also. Make the plug like a 6" long centerboard with a top normal to the board so it can't go down too and is comfortable to sit on or straddle as the case may be.

G'luck

[David G]

Here's one I build for a small boat. the block on the underside is tapered so it is a friction-fit. The top overhangs the case slightly at the front, so it can be popped back out easily. It is also left in place while rowing.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3433/3383030377_15cfcab4b9_z.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3642/3383842852_e3fd010afa_z.jpg

[Bobcat]

Thank you gentlemen

[JimConlin]

It should have a good soft foam gasket. It's a bad thing if the dingy has the auto-fill feature.

[wizbang 13]

And be sure to make the towbolt strong enogh to tow it sunk or flipped over. More problems than just the cb trunk geyser!
I caulk my cb trunks with a piece of "noodle", swimming pool toy. Comfy for rowing too! I could not keep track of a dedicated dummy board.

[Lew Barrett]

Regardless of the boat in tow, you will not want to drag it around while transiting up here if you can avoid it. There are very few truly calm days and the protected waters of Puget Sound can be remarkably messy on a fine summer afternoon. Make sure the painter is long enough to get the boat well back if you plan to travel above hull speed. It wants to ride just a bit nose down in the second wave off the stern if you are making time. That puts the least pressure on the equipment.

[David G]

And be sure to make the towbolt strong enogh to tow it sunk or flipped over. More problems than just the cb trunk geyser!
I caulk my cb trunks with a piece of "noodle", swimming pool toy. Comfy for rowing too! I could not keep track of a dedicated dummy board.

The cherry one in the fotos just slips under the shock cord when not in place. I suppose a holster could also be easily provided. But... I suppose that just TOO organize for SOME laid-back Caribbean-types |;)

[JimConlin]

Dealing with a dinghy while cruising became a LOT easier after I built a dinghy that was easy to get on deck. There was no more more worrying about what the bad boy would do next.
Towing a dinghy would slow Damfino appreciably, so it's upside down on the net.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

We have a plug for our Eastport Pram. Unlike the plug illustrated above by David G, ours extends al the way down to the Pram's bottom in order to have a fair surface on the exterior. the lowermost two inches of the plug has a fairly close fit in the cdaggerboard case, while the greater part of it is thinner, therefore looser, so swelling or entrained debris will not cause it to jam.

Once when towing the pram through very boistrous seas the velcro holding the plug in-place let go, causing the plug to be pushed up out of the case. The pram almost swamped.

[Lew Barrett]

I think rubber boats are, sad to say, a better proposition for towing than a fine dinghy in mixed conditions. I agree that getting them out of the water is the most comfortable option, but not every boat provides a ready solution.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Lew, pretty well all my attempts at towing my Avon dinghy have resulted in the boat flipping over - I have tried all the tricks in the book!

I dare say a proper RIB would be different.

I completely agree that on deck is much the best, but I can and do tow my (UK) Nutshell, a 9ft stem dinghy much like the Auk, without much trouble - she goes on deck at sea, though!

[Lew Barrett]

I should have qualified by adding RIB, Andrew. That was to be my original meaning, but I was unclear. I have had enough moments towing small light clinker built boats in mixed conditions not to want to do that anymore. With a RIB, you don't worry as much in mediocre weather. Agree about inflatable boats without the hard bottom; too light and they too easily catch air.

[coelacanth2]

Got a tow once, just to speed things up(9'6" Nutshell) and the fellow doing the towing requested I pull the daggerboard. Got a out 2 miles at a modest pace, bailed the poor thing out and put the board back in. She towed better, too.