Towing - knots

   Sounds a simple question, but I’m stumped. What’s the best knot to use when tying the bow of a dinghy to the trolley/trailer when towing? I’ve tried a few knots and how ever tight I make them after a bit of wiggling the rope becomes a little slack. This slack I presume will allow my nice dinghy to bounce up and down from the many potholes we have on our roads which I guess will equate to a broken dinghy over time.  

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Nudge Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 08 Aug 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nudge Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Towing - knots Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 9:35pm
	Sounds a simple question, but I’m stumped. What’s the best knot to use when tying the bow of a dinghy to the trolley/trailer when towing? I’ve tried a few knots and how ever tight I make them after a bit of wiggling the rope becomes a little slack. This slack I presume will allow my nice dinghy to bounce up and down from the many potholes we have on our roads which I guess will equate to a broken dinghy over time.

DaveL Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 28 Oct 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 111	Post Options Post Reply Quote DaveL Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 10:04pm
	when tying the boat to the trailer i use halfhitches, when the trolley is attached to the trailer i create a purchase system out of rope then pull tight and tie off with about 4 half hitches, nice and simple. i sometimes use ratchet straps but always remember to put pads under the sides otherwise you could cause damage
	Contender GBR443 National 12 - 2859 "Dogmatic"

radixon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407	Post Options Post Reply Quote radixon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 10:07pm
	May sound like a daft question but what boat are you towing? I tow a Laser and an RS200 (separatly). I tie both down with two straps, one ratchet strap over the middle of the boat, the second towards the front to keep the bow down. The Laser doesnt move cos I tie it down to the trailer and the road base separatly. The RS I tie to the trolley using the normal method, but also the bow down to the trailer. The issue I found with that was the boat does slide back, because of the angle from boat to trolley, but just checked after a while and tighten if necessary. (Hope this makes sense, but basically tie down halfway from the bow to the centre tie down!!)

olly_love Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 18 Jan 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1145	Post Options Post Reply Quote olly_love Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 10:23pm
	lorrie drivers hitch
	TWO FRANK-Hunter Impala

Splosh Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 13 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 497	Post Options Post Reply Quote Splosh Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 10:27pm
	And always remember... ...If you cant tie knots tie LOTS!
	RS300 - 346 :D

redback Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote redback Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 10:47pm
	Yes the lorry drivers hitch - also called the wagoners hitch is a simple and convenient way of producing a multipurchase from a piece of rope. I use it in all sorts of situations. The only knot I use more often is the bowline which as most people know you can always undo no matter what load you've put on it.

stuarthop Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Dec 04 Location: Nottingham Online Status: Offline Posts: 1040	Post Options Post Reply Quote stuarthop Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 1:02am
	Ratchet straps for holding the boat down i have a small one what goes through the jib shackle on the bow and then down round the trailor (i find if the strap on the bow isnt through a fixed point it slides forwards and becomes loose), Then have a nice big ratchet strap (3 tonne braking strain, bit excessive on a 50kg boat but its nice and wide so spreads the load on the gunwhales) over the middle of the boat. Mast is held on with a couple of tiger ties.


English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 1:33pm
	And check everything again after you have gone about a mile.
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 589	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 2:50pm
	How to tie it! http://www.animatedknots.com/truckers/

Black no sugar Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 04 Location: Somewhere between Brighton and Lancing Online Status: Offline Posts: 3941	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black no sugar Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 3:49pm
	Brilliant! That's going to go straight to the links page of Lancing SC website, as soon as I start the next update. Thanks Magnus!
	Lancing SC