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Old 05-10-2018, 11:23 AM   #1
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towing outboards - in gear or neurtral?

When towing the dink with outboard (9hp) should we leave the o/b in gear or not?
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Old 05-10-2018, 11:25 AM   #2
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Most definitely in neutral. The prop has enough bite to turn the power head while towing
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Old 05-10-2018, 11:31 AM   #3
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Why not tilt it up so it is out of the water?

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Old 05-10-2018, 11:33 AM   #4
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Motor in full tilt up position, in neutral.
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Old 05-10-2018, 11:34 AM   #5
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How about tipping the OB so the lower unit is out of the water? Is that better than OB down and in neutral?
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Old 05-10-2018, 11:54 AM   #6
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Towing a Boston Whaler 13, I tilted OB just enough to submerged most of the skeg. Boat tracked much better that way. I think you have to play around with your specific dink and tow setup to figure out what's best. Offhand I don't like the idea of submerging the prop.
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Old 05-10-2018, 01:11 PM   #7
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if its a long run, you could always remove the prop. It would only take a few seconds.
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Old 05-10-2018, 01:27 PM   #8
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if its a long run, you could always remove the prop. It would only take a few seconds.
Why remove it when you can tilt it out of the water?

If you want the dinghy to track well behind your boat, tow a small fender on a 10'-15' line. That will keep the dinghy in line with very little drag.
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Old 05-10-2018, 02:15 PM   #9
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We tow with it in and in neutral, prop freewheeling .
Tracks better, dinghy doesn't surf, veer and snatch.
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Old 05-10-2018, 05:27 PM   #10
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We tow with it in and in neutral, prop freewheeling .
Tracks better, dinghy doesn't surf, veer and snatch.
Always best to define what "it" is.
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Old 05-10-2018, 06:03 PM   #11
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Always best to define what "it" is.
The outboard, silly!
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Old 05-10-2018, 06:35 PM   #12
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The outboard, silly!
Which outboard? Which dinghy? Do you know?
And yes, I should have specified my OB is 40hp Merc 2 stroke ELPTO
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Old 05-10-2018, 06:46 PM   #13
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And the color of the outboard motor, please!
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Old 05-10-2018, 07:50 PM   #14
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Quintrex "busta" 4.2 dinghy
Suzuki dt30 outboard
Black.

http://fishingmonthly.com.au/Article...Break-The-Bank


Just moved position due to a 25 knot wind change.
Running downhill with outboard up and it was surfing down waves and spearing off and jerking.
Short run so not that concerned but anything longer and it would have needed addressing.
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Old 05-10-2018, 08:31 PM   #15
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The other thing to consider is whether water flowing through the cooling system could be a problem. On my dinghy (60 Yamaha) and jet skis, water in the system without the engine running can/likely will cause major problems.
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:08 PM   #16
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I think all agree that it should be left in neutral, but the question of whether the outboard should be up or down (or if the dink should be towed at all) would be dependant on local conditions.
I've given up towing my dink in all but the most calm conditions. If I do tow it, I take the outboard off.
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:35 PM   #17
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The drag of the leg/prop in the water will/may prevent the dink from racing down the face of a wave. I’ve heard dinghies can actually pass the towing boat when the waves get large. In a thread in the recent past draging a line w a bit of chain would tend to tame the wild dink.

And I agree w MTTraveler that pumping seawater through the powerhead could cause problems. The rubber vanes of the pump impeller should/may reduce volume of water but ......
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:41 PM   #18
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Most gearcases there is no thrust bearing between the prop shaft and the front edge of the reverse gear. So possible to wear that out on extended tows, prop windmilling in neutral. Depends on the motor. But never heard of any failures...

In calm water tows, tilt it up.
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Old 05-11-2018, 02:35 AM   #19
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Quote:
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The prop has enough bite to turn the power head while towing
That's quite unlikely.
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Old 05-11-2018, 02:41 AM   #20
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That's quite unlikely.


It maybe possible at 300 kph
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