Tow a skiff?

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by sapelo son

I just got back from 2 months in the Abacos and I towed my 22' Bay Boat. I had initially planned to tow a 27 Contender but we sold it at the last minute before the trip so I towed the bay boast instead. I had already purchased a tow rope from the pro rope folks in FFL so I was set as far as tow line. Like DJ says, I shortened it way up for tight spots and nights with wind and/or current. On the nights where it was somewhat still I'd bring it along side and tie it up with the bow a little loose so the wind would push it off the big boat a little and provide an air cushion. When I got ready to go into a very tight spot or during anchoring I'd bring it along side and tie it up very tight against 3 fenders hung vertically from the big boat. I never had a problem and traveled a good bit single handed in a variety of situations. The auto pilot will be your best friend but, needless to say, be very careful! Also, advise bridge tenders that you have "a vessel in tow" when approaching, you will have right of way in most situation's. Before my trip was over I felt very confident in all situations and had the time of my life with my fishing boat along!

Be careful.....unless you are showing RAM dayshapes or discuss it via radio with all concerned craft or at least broadcast a security call stating your limited manueverability....your vessel has no special rights unless there are local regulations concerning a particular body of water.

Sometimes the bridgetender will direct traffic, but thats rare in my experience

[Sailor of Fortune]

Originally Posted by sapelo son

I just got back from 2 months in the Abacos and I towed my 22' Bay Boat. I had initially planned to tow a 27 Contender but we sold it at the last minute before the trip so I towed the bay boast instead. I had already purchased a tow rope from the pro rope folks in FFL so I was set as far as tow line. Like DJ says, I shortened it way up for tight spots and nights with wind and/or current. On the nights where it was somewhat still I'd bring it along side and tie it up with the bow a little loose so the wind would push it off the big boat a little and provide an air cushion. When I got ready to go into a very tight spot or during anchoring I'd bring it along side and tie it up very tight against 3 fenders hung vertically from the big boat. I never had a problem and traveled a good bit single handed in a variety of situations. The auto pilot will be your best friend but, needless to say, be very careful! Also, advise bridge tenders that you have "a vessel in tow" when approaching, you will have right of way in most situation's. Before my trip was over I felt very confident in all situations and had the time of my life with my fishing boat along!

Just curious why you think you have "right of way" because you have a tender in tow?

[johnrupp]

Originally Posted by HopCar

I was thinking the bow but now that you mention it, I think the ones I’ve seen had the line from the whip attached to the stern. Might be hard to do with a 14’ Boat.



I like FF’s idea. Attach the line from the whip to the bow of the towed boat and lines from port and starboard of the big boat to the stern of the towed boat. Also a tow rope from the big boat to the bow eye of the towed boat.



The tow line pulls the boat.

The whip prevents the towed boat from running into the towing boat.

The port and starboard lines prevent the towed boat from swinging side to side.



I’ve never done this. It might be a good idea to try it with a piece of pvc pipe before you spend the money on a real whip. You might get an idea of how this would work before the pvc breaks.

Is this what your talking about Parks?

magicmarinetow.com

John

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by johnrupp

Is this what your talking about Parks?

magicmarinetow.com

John

It’s getting pretty complicated isn’t it?

[HopCar]

Mooring Products International
This was what I was originally thinking of.

[johnrupp]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Mooring Products International

This was what I was originally thinking of.

That is much simpler.

[sapelo son]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Be careful.....unless you are showing RAM dayshapes or discuss it via radio with all concerned craft or at least broadcast a security call stating your limited manueverability....your vessel has no special rights unless there are local regulations concerning a particular body of water.

Sometimes the bridgetender will direct traffic, but thats rare in my experience

Power-driven vessels are to keep out of the way (Rule 18) and either give-way (Rule 16) or stand-on (Rule 17) to vessels not under command or restricted in their ability to maneuver, sailing vessels or vessels engaged in fishing, ascending or descending a river (Rule 14(d)). Similarly, all vessels should avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft (Rule 18), navigating a narrow channel (Rule 9), or traffic separation scheme (Rule 10).

RULE 3
GENERAL DEFINITIONS
g) The term "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver" means a vessel which from the nature of her work is restricted in her ability to maneuver as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. The term [Int] "vessels restricted in their ability to maneuver" shall [Int] include but not be limited to:
1.
i. A vessel engaged in laying, servicing, or picking up a navigational mark, submarine cable or pipeline;
ii. A vessel engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations;
iii. A vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions or cargo while underway;
iv. A vessel engaged in the launching or recovery of aircraft;
v. A vessel engaged in mine clearance operations;
vi. A vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their ability to deviate from their course.

I certainly am no expert and I definitely don't profess to be, however, this is what I read as I prepared to tow my fishing boat south for a few months. I'm new to the big boat stuff and don't really know what I'm doing but, I have been flying for the last 40 years and realize the importance of advising via radio to other traffic your position, intentions and special circumstance if needed. I made sure to advise bridge tenders and other traffic when navigating tight spots that I "had a vessel in tow". I always took the assumption based on the regs above that most times I'd have right of way and acted as such. During my whole trip, this worked. I never had an issue, except at this one spot in south Florida. I did have one guy in a power boat coming from the opposite direction jump ahead of me as soon as the bridge opened. I never figured for a minute he disputed my right of way, I just figured he was an a$$hole.... Thanks for the input, I'm learning..
Tim

[dhays]

Tim, I can understand the confusion, but I think in this case you are completely wrong. Notice in the section you quoted above where they define a vessel restricted in their ability to maneuver, they say a vessel “which from the nature of her work...”. You are simple towing a tender, not engaged in the work of towing a vessel .

You also mentioned that you felt that since you were towing a vessel that you had “right of way”. I know that was likely a slip of the tongue, but no vessel has right of way. Using your logic, anyone towing a tender would be the stand-on vessel. That is simply not true.

I do think that telling a bridge operator a lock attendant that you have a tender in tow is fine. However, if you tell them you “have a vessel in tow” you are implying that you are a vessel that would fall into that category of being restricted in maneuverability due to the nature of her work. That is clearly not the case.

Also, you said you operated on the assumption that you had “right of way” and didn’t run into any problems except for the one vessel that cut ahead of you. That could simply be that no one called you on it. You may have been the give-way vessel and didn’t give way, so other boats acted according to Rule 2 and avoided a collision.

[psneeld]

Nope ..even as an assistance tower for 14 years I never assumed and often wasn't the stand on vessel because I hadn't declared it and even if I did, many would he oblivious to it.

A tow vesselbhas to "declare" RAM by marking herself as such and / or announcing such. Just saying you have a tow isn't enough to expect more than courtesy.

The red/yellow flashing lights on assistance tow boat and USCGSUX boats are info only and don't make them RAM. Though I just read that is up for change if the USCG is convinced it needs to change.

Towing a dink, or small fishing boat is not like towing a barge 3X bigger and possibly 10X or more heavier. Even though those tow vessels don't always show RAM, when nearing a bridge or narrows in the ICW, a prudent seamanship will give way to them, not necessarily a recreational vessel.

Heck, they may not even have a radio or have it on.

[sapelo son]

very much for the clarification....

[Sailor of Fortune]

towing a barge or ship doesn't give tug any right of way privileges either,under most circumstances.

[psneeld]

True about the rules and all tows in general...I was just pointing out the ability for us small guys to adjust early and make things easier.

Especially in tight situations where multiple vessels all at once just confuse the rules.