T&T: ICW in winter - Towing

[Albin43SDtr]

'Lo All,

A year or two ago, we towed our 16.5' I/O runabout - the Celesta - 
down to Apalachicola from just east of Panama City, Florida. We 
wanted spend a couple of days running around down there in some of 
the backwaters, including Saul Creek, and did not want to put the 
Celestial at risk of grounding or hitting any hidden stumps or logs, 
so we left it anchored in the Apalachicola River across from Apalachicola.

Going down, at first I had it on a 3/8" single polypropylene tow 
line. It quickly became obvious that was not going work. The pull on 
the line was close to the working strength of the line (well, maybe 
not, but I have seen what damage a line can do when it breaks under 
load, so I am overly cautious). Also, the boat did not track as well 
as I wanted. So the first thing I did was to make a "V" bridle. That 
worked, then I played with the length of the bridle. On the back of 
the stern wave, the Celesta created a huge drag, about 2 kts worth at 
our normal cruise setting! Yes, the outdrive was all the way up, but 
some of the lower part was still in the water.

As in most boats this size and type, most of the boat's weight is in 
the stern - engine, outdrive and fuel. The occupants balance the boat 
along with outdrive position - when running. When being towed, the 
bow rides up on the water, so the stern sinks lower, making something 
of a brake.

I carefully adjusted the bridle so that the Celesta tracked almost on 
top of the first stern wave. The GIWW is quite narrow in some places 
and I wanted the Celesta to be towed in a stable location for when we 
met/passed other boats or were passed ourselves. A boat of the 
Celesta's size and weight requires VERY careful deceleration as it 
wants to keep moving, if only slowly, and the inertia even at 
drifting speed can easily damage it or the towing boat - as I found out later.

We thoroughly enjoyed having the Celesta at Apalachicola and being 
able to run around the various places we gunkholed as well as to run 
to our favorite restaurant in Apalachicola.

All went well until we were docking back at our dock. I maneuvered 
the Celestial so that the Celesta was just sitting behind the 
Celestial as we pulled into the dock and tied up. A light breeze 
gently blew the Celesta up close to the stern of the Celestial. I was 
watching her quite closely. I did not pay too much attention to a 
boat heading up the bayou, making all of about a 6" wake. The small 
wake carried the Celesta into the swim platform and against the 1/2" 
dia shaft of the dinghy mount. The rocking motion caused a small 
damaged area on the hull of the Celesta - a very thin hull!! 
Fortunately, it was well above the waterline so no collateral damage 
was done and it was quite easy to repair.

So.....I would echo all of the comments I have read so far -  pulling 
a hard boat of any size should be avoided if possible. I have pulled 
an inflatable - in benign conditions and that posed no problem. I 
would never try to tow anything on open water, such as from 
Carrabelle to Anclote Keys.

But then again......YMMV.....


Take care and be safe.

Wayne
Celestial
Albin 43 Sundeck
Near Panama City, FL