Towing
Commercial tugs and workboats have a stanchion post or other form of strong point to tow from. Few private vessels have the same facility, so beware of connecting a tow rope to bow or stern cleats – the tow line will simply pull them off!
Strong bridles attached to as many thru-bolted strong points as possible need to be set up on both the tug and the towed vessel. Use a long anchor line or rope of similar strength strung between the two as the tow line, tied off with bowlines to the bridles at each end.
- Keep a safe distance between you and the tow. A wave can easily surge the stricken vessel up onto your transom.
- Beware of loose lines fouling your props.
- Check the tow attachment points on the tow vessel. If they pull out during the tow, the rope will whiplash back and damage your boat or injure your crew.
- If necessary, use a light throwing line to connect the two vessels and use this to pull the heavier tow line across.
- Keep crew out of the direct line of the tow rope.
- Start the tow downwind to minimise the acceleration forces on the rope, then turn on to the correct course once momentum has built up.
Towing is a salvageable act. Agree a fee with the tug before lines are attached and log any arrangement.
- Set up a tow bridle to strong points around the boat and feed it through the bow fairleads to minimise chafe.
- If the tow vessel is much lighter than the tug and surges forward down the waves at a faster speed, deploy a bucket drogue or drag a long loop of rope astern to slow you down.
- If the rescue services come to your aid, remember that their prime concern and responsibility is to save lives, not property. If conditions are favourable, a lifeboat crew may be prepared to take your vessel in tow but they are not obliged to do so.
The tow line needs to be as long as possible to minimise the snatch forces.
- If possible, make the tow line long enough so that both vessels are in sync with the waves.
- If necessary, tie a heavy weight to the middle of the line to keep the line in tension and lessen the shock loadings.
- Keep speed to a minimum. The faster you go, the greater the loadings will be on tow rope and fastenings.
If the tow rope or equipment on either vessel is not strong enough, then it is far better to stand by at a safe distance to provide assistance and moral support until the professional services can reach the scene, rather than attempt a tow that could put both vessels in jeopardy.
If the need arises to evacuate the stricken crew, then position your boat at a safe distance upwind and float a dinghy or liferaft on the end of a tow line down to the stricken vessel and pull the crew across one at a time.
In restricted waters, towing alongside gives much greater manoeuvrability.
- Fender both boats well.
- Position the tow slightly ahead with the bows pointing in of the tug in order to steer a straight line.
- Connect bow, stern and spring lines with equal tension.
- Keep speed to a minimum.
