Towing a dingy

ric992

Member
Apr 5, 2021
147
Miami Beach
Boat Info
2007 Sundancer 48
Engines
Cummins QSC 8.3
Hi, I just purchased my first Sea Ray. Unfortunately it doesn't have a hydraulic platform. Not quite ready to spend the money to add one. I wondered does anyone ever tow their dingy on a trip or is this a bad idea?
 
Couple of folks here have posted about towing, I know at least one towed a dinghy from the west coast of FL to the Bahamas on a few occasions.

We were coming up from Boca Grande to Venice the other day, passed a 120' yacht that was towing a 28ft center console. They docked right behind us at Venice, was talking to the captain. He said that center console had been towed all over the east coast.

A lot of folks will rig a pole with a radar reflector on the dingy in case it comes loose in heavier seas.
 
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For $2,800 you could buy a decent davit set up.

Ric992,
You don't need a hydraulic platform. Take a look at these two companies (there are others) who offer a reasonable davit system to haul your dinghy.

https://hurleymarine.com/

https://www.weaverindustries.com/
Depends on a lot of variables. My swim platform is only 30” deep and can only hold 500#. So my dinghy won’t fit both size wise or weight wise. Davits exceed the limit on the transom. Been down that road with all the various davit companies. Hydraulic swim platform at about $30K is out. There are other lifts but they extend past the swim platform and I felt they would extend too much weight, too far aft and affect the boats performance. So for me the towing option will be a winner and eliminates all those negatives.
 
I towed my Achilles 350 center console several times before I installed a davit. It works fine in calm conditions and slower cruising speed. I used at least a fifty foot lead with a good bridle. You need to watch when making turns to keep the dink inside the wake if it swings wide and leaves the wake things get dicey quick. The other pain is dealing with the dink when you arrive your destination harbor. It can be done and is done often but it needs a lot of consideration and attention.
Carpe Diem
 
Which David did you install?

I towed my Achilles 350 center console several times before I installed a davit. It works fine in calm conditions and slower cruising speed. I used at least a fifty foot lead with a good bridle. You need to watch when making turns to keep the dink inside the wake if it swings wide and leaves the wake things get dicey quick. The other pain is dealing with the dink when you arrive your destination harbor. It can be done and is done often but it needs a lot of consideration and attention.
Carpe Diem
 
Towing a dinghy is a worry in good conditions and nearly impossible at cruising speed in rough weather. Get the davits. If the swim platform is not robust it's cheap and simple to add bracing and reinforcement.
 
Any other recommendations on particular davits systems other than already listed for the easiest to use?
 
I had a Nick Jackson on my 44 and I have a similar one on the 506 but am considering an H3O because I like to remove it when not planning to take the dink on a trip. My Dink lives on its own floating dock so I don't need a davit as dinghy storage.
Good Luck finding what works best for you.
Carpe Diem
 
I think the h30 looks good. But the price. It's cost as much as a dinghy and small engine. Wow, seems it like it's worth couple hundred at ...But I know it's for our boats
 
I think the h30 looks good. But the price. It's cost as much as a dinghy and small engine. Wow, seems it like it's worth couple hundred at ...But I know it's for our boats


Yes the cost is high, but its very well engineered and well built. Its easy to install, easy to remove when not in use, and just plain works well. The support is excellent as well.
 
For me towing sucks. Unless your boat tops out at 12knots. The high performance diesels today need high rpms 80%+ to have a healthy long life. And 80% means 22 to 25knots. Anything over 15 knots most tenders get squirly. But if you plan to tow, the general length behind you is around 100 to 125 feet, pending the roller following behind you. That requires up to 250 feet of continuous float line. V -ing from port and starboard upper cleats back to BEST port starboard dingy bow. Or to center bow ring. Pay very close attention to the lines as you turn. Lines tend to get snagged by the cresting waves from behind the mainship. Hence dragging the dingy severely close and over that crest... hence flipping or damaging the dingy!
Heavy center consoles over 800lbs tend to tow much better.

Not trying to scare, but share the realities of towing a dingy.
 
For me towing sucks. Unless your boat tops out at 12knots. The high performance diesels today need high rpms 80%+ to have a healthy long life. And 80% means 22 to 25knots. Anything over 15 knots most tenders get squirly. But if you plan to tow, the general length behind you is around 100 to 125 feet, pending the roller following behind you. That requires up to 250 feet of continuous float line. V -ing from port and starboard upper cleats back to BEST port starboard dingy bow. Or to center bow ring. Pay very close attention to the lines as you turn. Lines tend to get snagged by the cresting waves from behind the mainship. Hence dragging the dingy severely close and over that crest... hence flipping or damaging the dingy!
Heavy center consoles over 800lbs tend to tow much better.

Not trying to scare, but share the realities of towing a dingy.

You are right, and I agree. A davit system will definitely be worth the money.
 
Just last month, I had installed the Presto XL500 hydrolic lift. Absolutely love this set up on our 2007 44. I like it even more than the sealift platform we had on our 2001 410 dancer. Thought that was an awesome set up while at anchor, it was not so great in a heavy following sea! Beware.

The one thing we really love about this set up is we can get in the dinghy. 11ft Apex with 25hp (450lbs) and lower ourselves down while in it. The chalks are deep enough that we just start and go. And when returning, we pull up to it and up we go via a wireless remote.
 

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Just last month, I had installed the Presto XL500 hydrolic lift. Absolutely love this set up on our 2007 44. I like it even more than the sealift platform we had on our 2001 410 dancer. Thought that was an awesome set up while at anchor, it was not so great in a heavy following sea! Beware.

The one thing we really love about this set up is we can get in the dinghy. 11ft Apex with 25hp (450lbs) and lower ourselves down while in it. The chalks are deep enough that we just start and go. And when returning, we pull up to it and up we go via a wireless remote.
Wow that looks super nice and love idea of wireless remote. I hate to ask but about how much did that setup set you back?
 
Wow that looks super nice and love idea of wireless remote. I hate to ask but about how much did that setup set you back?
Well that's the best part, shipped direct from Sweden to my door with extra remote under $12k. I got my local boat yard to be a certified installer. I had some custom work done with the stainless upper plate and the pump location bracket under the step. I could have installed myself but who has the time anymore.
 

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I think the h30 looks good. But the price. It's cost as much as a dinghy and small engine. Wow, seems it like it's worth couple hundred at ...But I know it's for our boats
@ric992, did you look into the H2O? much simpler and will work fine for a lighter soft bottom dink and a bit less of an investment. Problem is most of us upgrade our dink like we upgrade boats so if you are spending the bucks to put a davit system in make sure you install something that will work for your next Dinghy.
 
@ric992, did you look into the H2O? much simpler and will work fine for a lighter soft bottom dink and a bit less of an investment. Problem is most of us upgrade our dink like we upgrade boats so if you are spending the bucks to put a davit system in make sure you install something that will work for your next Dinghy.
Your right, I was thinking of a 8.5 dinghy for the least amount of weight and ease of use
 

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