Towing - knots
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4135
Printed Date: 14 May 25 at 4:00am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Towing - knots
Posted By: Nudge
Subject: Towing - knots
Date 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. |
Replies:
Posted By: DaveL
Date 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" |
Posted By: radixon
Date 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!!) ------------- |
Posted By: olly_love
Date Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 10:23pm
|
lorrie drivers hitch ------------- TWO FRANK-Hunter Impala |
Posted By: Splosh
Date Posted: 08 Apr 08 at 10:27pm
|
And always remember... ...If you cant tie knots tie LOTS! ------------- RS300 - 346 :D |
Posted By: redback
Date 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. |
Posted By: stuarthop
Date 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. ------------- |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 1:33pm
|
And check everything again after you have gone about a mile. ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 2:50pm
|
How to tie it!
http://www.animatedknots.com/truckers/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com - http://www.animatedknots.com/truckers/ |
Posted By: Black no sugar
Date Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 3:49pm
|
------------- http://www.lancingsc.org.uk/index.html - Lancing SC 
|
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!Posted By: ASok
Date Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 4:55pm
|
I'm a firm believer that you only need to know two knots - bowline and hitches. They'll sort almost anything!
------------- |
Posted By: moomin
Date Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 6:03pm
|
Another useful knot is the Apline Butterfly, borrowed from the climbing world, basically as useful as a bowline when you haven't got an end available. http://www.animatedknots.com/alpinebutterfly/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com - http://www.animatedknots.com/alpinebutterfly/index.php?LogoI mage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com Gareth Europe391 |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 09 Apr 08 at 8:20pm
Just learnt this one as I am now climbing. It is a useful one if you can't do a trucker hitch!! ------------- |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 10 Apr 08 at 12:16am
| Hey that's a brilliant knot on a brilliant site. |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 10 Apr 08 at 8:50am
I've been using the alpine butterfly to tie the boat down at the club. Haven't seen it tied like that though. Very good .------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |