Re: Question how to two on the water
Re: Question how to two on the water
You can always tow a boat that is the same size as yours (barring storm conditions) and even bigger.
If your transom seperates, it's not a towing problem; you have a defective transom, and better to learn now than later.
While towing along-side is a good method, "never tow like a skiier" is absurd. Unless you are referring to speed.
It is not dangerous, as far as lines parting, for the typical recreational boater to tow another. There is no reason to fear liability, etc. as long as you are careful.
The most essential aspect is to tow on center. If you don't have a good ski harness, just take one of your lines and tie one end to one stern cleat/eye and the other end to the other. Take his bow line, from his bow eye or centered bow cleat, and attach to the center of your stern line with a bowline (knot). This allows the towed boat to center with yours. When you start off, start slow and have someone in the tow boat pay out the line, keeping some tension and starting movement; when you get to the stern line harness just throw it over the motor.
the longer the line, the better, in open water. tighten up when you get close to the pier, even go along side. That's when I might tie his bowline to my stern cleat and bypass the harness rig. Also keeps lines free of the prop.
Of course, since you are an I-boater, your boat is already properly equipped with a bow and stern line at least the length of your boat, as well as a real anchor line. You don't need to use ski lines, and shouldn't. It is astounding, however, how few boats have lines, or at least any that are any good. They are the ones that don't have paddles, too. But start with their anchor line--hopefully they have one. if the towed boat uses his own bowline, and you use your stern for the harness, it's easy to disconnect and each go his own way with his own gear.
Whether the towed boat leaves a motor down--even part way--depends on how it's tracking in the conditions. Down adds control but also drag. That's one reason to have a person on board the towed vessel and communications devices (radio preferred).
A waterman I know has an old 40' wooden barge; he ties his 14' whaler with about a 25 to it and drives for miles, even against currents. takes a while, but once they get going, they go. Having seen that, I am not concerned about my boat being smaller. However, hull shape would be a concern; a big heavy deep cabin boat will be different than a bay-boat hull of equal length.
