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Towing techniques

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/01/2020 : 05:36:32

In another thread on the subject of dinghy motors, the subject of the "hip tow" technique came up. It was off topic to that thread, but it's a good subject that should be discussed, and we haven't discussed it much here.

When towing another boat, most people use the traditional method of taking a line from the bow of the disabled boat, attaching it to the stern of the tow boat, and pulling it. Nothing wrong with that. That's the way Tow Boat US usually tows a boat. It's especially useful in rough waters, but it doesn't allow you very much control over the towed vessel, and in a confined area, like a marina, control is crucial. When you use the traditional method, the towed vessel can drift to leeward while you're towing it through a fairway. Also, you can't tow it into a slip.

In smooth waters, and in a confined area where you don't have much room to maneuver, the side tow or hip tow gives you very precise control over the towed vessel. Using a hip tow or side tow, the towed vessel isn't free to drift to leeward at the end of a long tether, and, when you get to a slip, the towing vessel can stick the disabled vessel's bow into the slip, and then untie the tow lines and back gently away.

Here's a short video of the hip or side tow technique. https://youtu.be/TGVWWCE_q0M

I had to tow a friend's boat with a broken rudder in very choppy water. I towed him the traditional way until we got into the river leading to the marina. Then I moved alongside him and towed him from his hip. When we reached his slip, I maneuvered his bow into the slip and he pulled himself in the rest of the way with a boat hook.

On another occasion I towed a friend to a boat ramp using a hip tow. I maneuvered his bow into the center of his trailer and he hooked up his winch cable to his bow eye and winched it onto the trailer.

As you can see from the video, it's easy to rig the boats for a hip tow or side tow, and it's a very useful technique. Generally, you rig the boats about the same way you rig them when you tie up to raft alongside another boat.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

HappyNow
1st Mate

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USA
99 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2020 : 10:09:38

Thanks for posting . As I said previously on the other post, I didn�t know this until I really needed it, and was very impressed with the ability of a 10 horse dinghy to bring in our 54 foot sailboat and maneuver it right up to our mooring ball.

Michael Levin
Sailin' on Sunshine
C250 #402 WK
Lake Tahoe

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3992 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2020 : 10:37:40

quote:
very impressed with the ability of a 10 horse dinghy to bring in our 54 foot sailboat and maneuver it right up to our mooring ball.

I use to watch dock hands maneuver stone and sand barges along the dock by simply standing on a dock line to move them into position to be unloaded.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2020 : 10:50:43

I'll bet you used all ten of those horses to move that 54' boat!

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2020 : 09:36:52

Thanks for posting.

DavidP
1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52
PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess"
Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2020 : 09:53:12

quote:
Originally posted by dmpilc

Thanks for posting.

You're welcome.

One more thought - when you're lashed onto another boat doing a hip tow, you're pushing around much more weight, and dealing with much more windage, and you need to use much more engine power to steer the boat and bring it into the wind, so be prepared to use enough throttle.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

RockB
Deckhand

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20 Posts

Response Posted - 05/16/2020 : 12:22:10

quote:
Originally posted by Steve Milby

quote:
Originally posted by dmpilc

Thanks for posting.

You're welcome.

One more thought - when you're lashed onto another boat doing a hip tow, you're pushing around much more weight, and dealing with much more windage, and you need to use much more engine power to steer the boat and bring it into the wind, so be prepared to use enough throttle.

I'd recommend testing full throttle before you need it so that you know how the entire rig will react.

Bill
1979 Catalina 25 SK #936
Panama City, FL
https://freeboatproject.com

sethp001
Mainsheet C-25 Tech Editor

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814 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2020 : 15:57:43

Thanks, Steve!

Seth
"Outlier" 1987 Catalina 25 SR/SK/Traditional Interior #5541
"Zoo" 1977 Morgan Out Island 30
"Nomad" 1980 Prindle 16
"Lost" 1988 Catalina Capri 14.2 (sold - yay!)
"Marine Tex 1" Unknown Origin POS 8' Fiberglass Dinghy
https://whichsailboat.com/2014/07/27/catalina-25-review/

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