Towing & Being Towed
Rudyard Lake Sailing Club
Fault Finding – Can we fix it?
• Engine Won’t Start / Has Cut Out
– Have we run out of fuel?
– Is the fuel line still attached to the engine?
– Is the fuel line trapped?
– Has the engine run out of oil (2 stroke)?
– Has the engine overheated?
– Has the kill cord been activated?
– Is the kill cord inserted correctly?
Actions to Take
• Don’t Panic – Assess the Situation
– Are we drifting? Do we have room to Leeward?
- Use the Anchor to stabilise your position.
– Are you in a group (other powerboats)?
- Communicate you problem with them. (VHF, Phone, Visual)
– Do you need external assistance?
- Who can you contact? (Coastguard, Marina, other Boats)
- How do you contact them (VHF, Mobile, Waving Arms, Flares?)
- Is this situation an emergency? How severe is it really?
Salvage and the Law
• Help arrives – what now?
– Don’t forget Salvage Rights.
- Be aware of it, however not all who come to assist will be looking
to claim salvage of your craft.
- They will be looking for compensation of their time and fuel costs.
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Agree Terms First (What is it going to cost me?)
Offer your lines.
Agree where they will take you.
If you fail to agree terms you could be faced with a hefty
bill to get your boat back. Read up on the legal situation
and be prepared.
Techniques of Towing
1. Alongside Tow
2. Stern Tow
3. Multiple Tows
Before We Tow - Considerations
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Which side should I approach them on?
Length of tow, how far?
Where am I going to take them?
How will the conditions affect the tow?
Are the crew of the towed boat safe to remain in that boat?
Has the disabled boat got suitable anchoring points for ropes?
Is their boat damaged in any way?
Do we need any other assistance – are the crew in any
immediate danger – hypothermia, exposure etc?
Alongside Tow
WIND
Towing Powerboat
be
Help – Bows
Helpshould
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‘toed’ inwards
Help
I Need
Assistance
Disabled Powerboat
Towing boat to be astern of
the disabled boat
1. Which side do we choose?
2. How do we position the boats?
3. What lines do we use?
As the boat is towed which
ropes will become tight? A,
B, C or D
Spring
D
Bow Line
A
Stern Line
B
Spring
C
Before Moving Off
• Make sure all knots are tied in the towing boat and are easily
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accessible for a quick release.
Agree communication signals.
Raise the outboard on the disabled craft.
Ensure no ropes are left dangling overboard.
Are the ropes sufficiently tight?
Crew disposition.
Assess where you are taking the tow and how the
conditions will affect you. Room to Manoeuvre?
Stern Tow
WIND
Towing Powerboat
1. Discuss and agree method.
2. Agree Communication Signals.
Disabled Powerboat
3. Prepare the Bridle and raise the disabled crafts engine.
4. Ensure adequate anchor points are used.
5. Keep personnel clear of tow lines as they may swing
and become very tight – Risk of Crushing
1. Having Secured a tow line to the Bridle
move forward carefully.
2. Take the slack out of the tow line.
3. Increase speed slowly and monitor the
tow at all times.
Whilst Under Tow
• Plan your route well ahead and prepare an escape route when
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nearing others and fixed objects.
Are all of the crew away from ropes under load?
Is the tow stable?
Are the crew comfortable?
Are the knots holding?
Slow down over a distance to avoid the tow running into the
tug.
Where am I taking them, how will the conditions affect me?
Multiple Tow
Multiple Stern Tow – In Line Tow
To avoid boats running into each other when slowing
down get the crew to put all their weight to the back of
their dinghys.
Steer to follow the boat in front.
Attach the line to the mast and thwart – one end should
be easily released in an emergency.
Multiple Stern Tow - Herringbone
To avoid boats running into each other when slowing
down get the crew to put all their weight to the back of
their dinghys.
Steer to follow the boat in front.
Attach the line to the mast and thwart – one end should
be easily released in an emergency.
Questions
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Name the methods /options of towing.
What are the 4 main ropes used in an alongside tow called?
Which ones take the load when going forwards?
What should you agree before you tow?
What is one of the risks with a in line stern tow?
What should be done with a disabled boats engine?
Where should the crew of the disabled boat sit?
Where should you tie the knots on ropes?