Towing A Boat On The Water ~ PSA

[A-Jay]

 

Below are some lessons learned from a career on the water.

 

 It seems like boaters are always willing to lend a hand, and occasionally that might mean towing a disabled vessel back to the ramp.

 We have some choices to make.  Of course, we want to help, but if we’ve got an 18-foot bass boat with a 150 HP outboard and the boat that needs a tow is a 38-foot cruiser, the physics should indicate we’re not in a position to tow this boat anywhere.  If there is a risk to human life, like if a boat is on fire, we are obligated to mount a rescue effort, but we are not required to preserve property.

 

There are legal implications to consider, but if we act as any prudent person would, we are somewhat protected from liability. As long as we don’t do anything reckless, odds are good we won’t get sued for trying to help someone.  If we can’t tow someone, or are uncomfortable with our abilities, there’s no shame in anchoring or beaching the disabled vessel, noting its position/location, leaving it there and taking the people to safety; especially if dangerous weather is occurring or forecasted.  This can allow a more experienced and properly equipped rig to come out and recover the boat safely later.

 

Right off the bat, it is always safer to tow any small open boat WITHOUT people on board.  

Any tow boat that cannot safely accommodate the extra passengers, probably shouldn’t be towing anything either.  

If on scene weather conditions indicate personal transfer may be unsafe, the danger level of this tow job just increased dramatically. 

Additionally ALL persons from BOTH vessels should be wearing Life Jackets - the entire time.

 

 

If the disabled vessel has an outboard motor, trim it all the way up.

If there’s no juice to the motor and it can be done safely, tilt it to the highest position. 

If neither is possible, perhaps secure / tie the wheel/tiller in a straight ahead position to allow it to maintain a heading behind the tow boat. 

 

Lastly if & when communication is possible, inform the local authorities responsible for responding to incidents on the water of your position, situation, intentions, ETA and description of both vessels.  Additionally, providing the names & ages of the folks from the disabled craft will be very helpful if & when they are ‘reported late’ or missing on shore.

 

The following are some Do’s & Don’ts from the article linked below.

 

https://www.bassproboatingcenters.com/blog/towing-on-water.html

 

Towlines

Don’t: Use three-strand nylon ski tow rope. It stretches under extreme pressure and can break, putting passengers in both boats in peril. Also avoid using dock lines. Those weaken over time and don’t have exact breaking strengths. 

Do: Use a towline of at least eight to 10 boat lengths. Anchor line will suffice, due to its length and strength. 

 

Pulling points

Don’t: Attach the tow line to a single deck cleat. This setup degrades your ability to steer and puts a lot of strain on the cleat, which could become an airborne projectile should it break off. 

Do: Make a towing bridle from anchor line that can be attached between the two stern cleats of your boat. The length should be twice the length of the beam, and positioned low to the water. 

 

Not that knot

Don’t: Use knots that cinch so tight you cannot untie them. Avoid being in a direct line with a taut tow line, just in case it breaks and goes airborne. 

Do: Use cleat hitches and bowlines that can be easily untied should you need to quickly do so while underway. 

 

Communication is a must

Don’t: Hitch up to the tow and proceed without a means of communicating between the boats. 

Do: Use your mobile phone or VHF radio, if both boats are equipped. You need basic communication should you need to make a change in the plans, or should something go wrong. 

 

Take it slow, watch out

Don’t: Take off and go full steam ahead. 

Do: Advance slowly to remove the slack from the tow line, then you can throttle up to reach the desired towing speed. Just as important as communicating is observing. Keep watch throughout the tow. If there are any issues, you can catch them before larger problems occur. 

 

Shorten or lengthen the towline

Don’t: Tie the towline and leave it as is during the tow. 

Do: Be prepared to adjust the length of the towline. A long towline is best in open water, as it acts as a shock absorber, while keeping a safe distance between the boats. You can shorten the towline in calm waters or for more accurate maneuvering at a harbor. Adjust length so your boat and the tow are in sync with the waves, so both vessels simultaneously are on the crest or in the troughs. This setup also allows the towed boat to glide back and forth on the bridle without resistance. 

 

Watch the weather

Don’t: Try and be a seafaring Samaritan when encountering questionable weather. Your first instinct might be to pitch a line and rescue the stranded boat, when there might be a safer and better option. 

Do: In choppy water, or if the boat is larger than your vessel, the wiser alternative is to summon the law enforcement agency charged with patrolling the waterway. Professional towing services like those offered with a BoatUS membership have experts capable of handling such conditions. State marine police, municipal police and county sheriff departments are other considerations. On larger bodies of water, contact the U.S. Coast Guard. 

 

Don’t feel guilty

Boats float effortlessly across the water, but they are still very heavy. Waves and wind can produce a lot of force on deck cleats and dock lines. Snapped lines and damaged hardware is one thing. So is the strain the forces of towing put on the engine and prop. A prop meant for planing speeds won’t cut it for the low-speed torque needed to tow a boat. What might work for a smaller boat in calm water will not when towing a boat of the same size or larger. Above all else, high waves, strong currents and inclement weather can make towing dangerous—for you and the other boater—and you could both end up stranded. 

 

When to say no

If you aren’t 100 percent comfortable with towing, don’t do it. Stand by while awaiting additional help, and leave the big jobs for professional towing services with the proper equipment, insurance and knowledge. 

 

Stay Safe

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

 

 

^ Listen to the man who TRAINED for this type of thing.

[GaryH]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

Below are some lessons learned from a career on the water.

 

 It seems like boaters are always willing to lend a hand, and occasionally that might mean towing a disabled vessel back to the ramp.

 We have some choices to make.  Of course, we want to help, but if we’ve got an 18-foot bass boat with a 150 HP outboard and the boat that needs a tow is a 38-foot cruiser, the physics should indicate we’re not in a position to tow this boat anywhere.  If there is a risk to human life, like if a boat is on fire, we are obligated to mount a rescue effort, but we are not required to preserve property.

 

There are legal implications to consider, but if we act as any prudent person would, we are somewhat protected from liability. As long as we don’t do anything reckless, odds are good we won’t get sued for trying to help someone.  If we can’t tow someone, or are uncomfortable with our abilities, there’s no shame in anchoring or beaching the disabled vessel, noting its position/location, leaving it there and taking the people to safety; especially if dangerous weather is occurring or forecasted.  This can allow a more experienced and properly equipped rig to come out and recover the boat safely later.

 

Right off the bat, it is always safer to tow any small open boat WITHOUT people on board.  

Any tow boat that cannot safely accommodate the extra passengers, probably shouldn’t be towing anything either.  

If on scene weather conditions indicate personal transfer may be unsafe, the danger level of this tow job just increased dramatically. 

Additionally ALL persons from BOTH vessels should be wearing Life Jackets - the entire time.

 

 

If the disabled vessel has an outboard motor, trim it all the way up.

If there’s no juice to the motor and it can be done safely, tilt it to the highest position. 

If neither is possible, perhaps secure / tie the wheel/tiller in a straight ahead position to allow it to maintain a heading behind the tow boat. 

 

Lastly if & when communication is possible, inform the local authorities responsible for responding to incidents on the water of your position, situation, intentions, ETA and description of both vessels.  Additionally, providing the names & ages of the folks from the disabled craft will be very helpful if & when they are ‘reported late’ or missing on shore.

 

The following are some Do’s & Don’ts from the article linked below.

 

https://www.bassproboatingcenters.com/blog/towing-on-water.html

 

Towlines

Don’t: Use three-strand nylon ski tow rope. It stretches under extreme pressure and can break, putting passengers in both boats in peril. Also avoid using dock lines. Those weaken over time and don’t have exact breaking strengths. 

Do: Use a towline of at least eight to 10 boat lengths. Anchor line will suffice, due to its length and strength. 

 

Pulling points

Don’t: Attach the tow line to a single deck cleat. This setup degrades your ability to steer and puts a lot of strain on the cleat, which could become an airborne projectile should it break off. 

Do: Make a towing bridle from anchor line that can be attached between the two stern cleats of your boat. The length should be twice the length of the beam, and positioned low to the water. 

 

Not that knot

Don’t: Use knots that cinch so tight you cannot untie them. Avoid being in a direct line with a taut tow line, just in case it breaks and goes airborne. 

Do: Use cleat hitches and bowlines that can be easily untied should you need to quickly do so while underway. 

 

Communication is a must

Don’t: Hitch up to the tow and proceed without a means of communicating between the boats. 

Do: Use your mobile phone or VHF radio, if both boats are equipped. You need basic communication should you need to make a change in the plans, or should something go wrong. 

 

Take it slow, watch out

Don’t: Take off and go full steam ahead. 

Do: Advance slowly to remove the slack from the tow line, then you can throttle up to reach the desired towing speed. Just as important as communicating is observing. Keep watch throughout the tow. If there are any issues, you can catch them before larger problems occur. 

 

Shorten or lengthen the towline

Don’t: Tie the towline and leave it as is during the tow. 

Do: Be prepared to adjust the length of the towline. A long towline is best in open water, as it acts as a shock absorber, while keeping a safe distance between the boats. You can shorten the towline in calm waters or for more accurate maneuvering at a harbor. Adjust length so your boat and the tow are in sync with the waves, so both vessels simultaneously are on the crest or in the troughs. This setup also allows the towed boat to glide back and forth on the bridle without resistance. 

 

Watch the weather

Don’t: Try and be a seafaring Samaritan when encountering questionable weather. Your first instinct might be to pitch a line and rescue the stranded boat, when there might be a safer and better option. 

Do: In choppy water, or if the boat is larger than your vessel, the wiser alternative is to summon the law enforcement agency charged with patrolling the waterway. Professional towing services like those offered with a BoatUS membership have experts capable of handling such conditions. State marine police, municipal police and county sheriff departments are other considerations. On larger bodies of water, contact the U.S. Coast Guard. 

 

Don’t feel guilty

Boats float effortlessly across the water, but they are still very heavy. Waves and wind can produce a lot of force on deck cleats and dock lines. Snapped lines and damaged hardware is one thing. So is the strain the forces of towing put on the engine and prop. A prop meant for planing speeds won’t cut it for the low-speed torque needed to tow a boat. What might work for a smaller boat in calm water will not when towing a boat of the same size or larger. Above all else, high waves, strong currents and inclement weather can make towing dangerous—for you and the other boater—and you could both end up stranded. 

 

When to say no

If you aren’t 100 percent comfortable with towing, don’t do it. Stand by while awaiting additional help, and leave the big jobs for professional towing services with the proper equipment, insurance and knowledge. 

 

Stay Safe

A-Jay

Great post and very helpful. Thanks

[OnthePotomac]

Good stuff A-Jay,  A few years ago I  was 5 miles up on a Potomac tributary and encountered a 21 ft  SeaRay dead in the water with a young couple on board.  Fortunately, I had been educated on towing by the Coast Guard Auxillary commander teaching  the boating safety course I took when I bought my boat.  You better have proof of training if you boat on the Potomac.  I did the hook up properly with the correct rope and I warned them it would be a very long ride to their launch site 13 miles away on the other side of the Potomac up another tributary.  Away we went with my 17'6" G3 and 60hp Yammie.  I quickly learned how fast I could go before prop slip and it sure was not very fast LOL. Anyway, after a very, very long time on the water we finally arrived at their launch at a little county park on the tributary.  He pulled a wad of $20's from his pocket and wants me to take them.  I declined and told him I had an obligation to help them on the water.   We finally settled for $20 for gas.  We both went away happy.

[Dirtyeggroll]

@A-Jay

 

Thanks for writing up this post. It’s a great service to the forum.

[jbmaine]

As always A-Jay, great advise.

[BrianMDTX]

I’m never going to tow anyone in my 7’ inflatable lol, but this was a good read. Many boaters think they know all there is to know about boating, but they don’t. 

[OnthePotomac]

I have always been grateful to the Coast Guard Auxillery commander, who taught the free six week boating course I took 20 years ago when I decided I wanted to boat and fish the Potomac.  You had better have that little card in your pocket if you boat on the river and often wonder how many other bodies of water have such a requirement, or should.  The best part of the course was final exam night, when his lovely wife served 20 of us the most incredible chocolate cake LOL.  Go Coast Guard

[Crankin4Bass]

Thanks @A-Jay for sharing this with us!

[Tim Kelly]

Andy, I'm always intrigued that people tow on a long rope, where barges tie up side by side with the powered vessel slightly back, so it can steer properly. Any reason why towing on a long line is preferable to side by side?

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

Andy, I'm always intrigued that people tow on a long rope, where barges tie up side by side with the powered vessel slightly back, so it can steer properly. Any reason why towing on a long line is preferable to side by side?

Side by side is for close quarters and calmer water.  Used to navigate narrow channels as well as to and from the dock. In rough water the bigger rig would beat the heck out of the smaller one.   With a single boat towing a larger one along side, the further after the tow boat is, the more control it will have during the tow. It can act as the disabled vessels propulsion although steerage in a big wind can get a little sketchy.  Which is why you'll often see a tug fore and after.

 As for long tows at sea,  seems simple but is really a complicated deal, especially with big tonnage.  The long scope of a tow line acts as a shock absorber and when set at the right length puts the two vessels 'in step'. Meaning they are both going up and down a wave at the same time.  Tricky deal, especially at night.  It's always slow going but having your tow fall off the back of a 20 or 30 ft wave while your going up one can part a towline fast.  A towed vessel that races down a big wave can be just undesirable and can lead to a capsize or broach.  Both are bad. 

 

  I have done my share of towing.  Calm days it's tricky still, rough and at night, it's pretty freaking hairy.  Some cases the hardest part is just getting a messenger line on the disabled ship so they can pull the tow line aboard.  It's not like you can just pull up and hand it to them. We had a special 30 caliber line throwing gun we used to blast the line from our ship to theirs.   Whenever that deal made it's appearance,  it was going to be a long few days at sea.

 

  All of this was in advance of Sea Tow hitting the scene, before which your tax dollars got you a free tow from the Coast Guard.   On summer weekends in New England, I would be dragging in   recreational rigs all day and half the night.  Often 2 or 3 at a time.  Something they don't actually teach.  Free tows are gone and the search and rescue teams only respond to immediate distress leaving the commercial salvage (towing) to the private sector.

A-Jay 

 

[Tim Kelly]

Great answer, thank you. In Holland I see huge barges, 6 at a time, tied together and powered by the rear barge. A lot of responsibility for the barge captain there, everyone gets out of their way! The damage in rough water makes total sense. 

[A-Jay]

13 minutes ago, Tim Kelly said:

Great answer, thank you. In Holland I see huge barges, 6 at a time, tied together and powered by the rear barge. A lot of responsibility for the barge captain there, everyone gets out of their way! The damage in rough water makes total sense. 

We call that

The Rule Of Gross Tonnage.

Always trumphs who might actually have the right of way. 

A-Jay