Re: [Paddlewise] Towing a kayak behind a sailboat

Al Gunther wrote:
> 
> I recently read that kayaks can be successfully towed behind a sailboat
> that is too small to carry one on deck. I'm sure there are all the same
> issues as in towing a dinghy, like surfing in following seas, rolling in
> rough seas, and all the usual problems associated with backing up in
> marinas. But, with a good cockpit and hatch covers, swamping should be
> nearly eliminated.
> 
> Does anyone have experience in doing this and any tips to offer?

We towed a Pamlico Excel, from Wilderness Systems, behind a houseboat, max hull
speed about 6-7 knots, over several days in January, Al.  The PE is a small
open cockpit double, with a pretty good cockpit cover, maybe 14 1/2 feet in
length, and with little freeboard compared to large FG doubles, but with quite
a bit of rocker.

It handled the seas we encountered pretty well, although I could see from the
wave action that there was some probability of inversion and swamping if the
wrong swell hit it.  Our sea conditions were mild:  maybe 3-foot chop at the
worst, and no aggressive following seas.  I imagine broaching on a following
sea might be a hazard.

A kayak with greater length and/or less rocker might have a greater tendency to
invert and turn turtle.  I've heard that 6 knots is a nominal max speed for
towing, but don't have anything to back that up.

Oh, yeah, we used maybe a 15-foot tether, and kept the yak to the lee side of
the wake.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************