[Alberg30] Dinghy Towing

Wed Jul 24 17:20:41 PDT 2002

In the Bay Albergs, there are several portabotes about; at least one older 8
foot, and a 10 which I own and use.  Had I to do it again, I would buy an 8
foot, as there is not really enough room on an A30 foredeck to assemble a
10. It can be done, but it ain't easy.

In general, they row well and can, as you say, be transported in the
lifelines--they fold up  (hull only) into a package as long as the boat, 6"
wide, and about 24 " high.  I made a rather odd looking pair of plywood
slings attached to the midships lifelines to carry the hull in bad weather,
which works well, but purists would say that the rig spoils the lines of the
A30. I am a purist.

The negatives are: when the hull is folded, you have to find someplace to
store the seats and transom.  I use the Vberth, as we sleep in the main
cabin. I do not believe that the transom can be made to fit in any of the
lockers on an A30.

I have made a towing bridle, which I think is the best answer--but I have
only one 25 mile trip on it, and consider this an insufficient test of my
design and workmanship.  The boat draws less than my old Atlantic dingy (so
there is almost no drag) and it has enough flotation so that it cannot sink.
I have yet to have it flip over; it has a fairly wide beam, and appears to
be less inclined to flip than some hard (or inflatable) dingies, but it is
too early to say. It can be drawn right up against the stern rail if
necessary when towing, and seems quite happy there in a bad chop.

R.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wally Moran" <helm at georgianbaysailing.ca>
To: <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 2:52 PM
Subject: RE: [Alberg30] Dinghy Towing

> Make absolutely certain the dinghy is on the bow upside down! Or else
> make sure the drain plug is out.
> Seriously though, I don't think that water over the bow with the
> dinghy there would pose much of a problem as long as it's soundly
> lashed down.
> Has anyone considered the Porta Boat, it folds down and can be lashed
> to the stanchions, is make of hard plastic and is thus (nearly)
> indestructible and can be either rowed or motored? And no, I don't
> sell them, I got this pitch from a guy who owns and loves one.
>
> Wally
>
> >I think Bob's advice is sound. I too lash our hard dinghy on the bow
> >when making any crossing on Lake Superior.  Not sure what I would do if
> >it got so bad I was taking serious water on (over) the bow.  Any advice?
> >
> >
> >Brian Zinser
> >#134 Manana
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: public-list-admin at alberg30.org
> >[mailto:public-list-admin at alberg30.org] On Behalf Of Bob
> >Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 11:31 AM
> >To: public-list at alberg30.org
> >Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Dinghy Towing
> >
> >>>  Any body got any notions about how long the painter (line) should be
> >>>  that
> >>  is
> >>>  connected to a dinghy in tow behind an Alberg 30?
> >
> >I didn't see any advice that said do NOT tow the dinghy. I agree that in
> >protected areas it is ok to tow the dinghy but there are conditions
> >where the dinghy should not be towed. We used to tow a rigid dinghy
> >(Dyer Dowh (sp?)) One problem we had with it occurred when water came up
> >through the centerboard trunk in rough seas and filled the dinghy. We
> >then learned how to heave to and empty the dinghy from the stern of the
> >Alberg. (We also started to tape the centerboard trunk to prevent it
> >from happening in the first place.)
> >
> >The second time was more serious. We made the mistake of towing the
> >dinghy on an off-shore hop from Provencetown to Maine, We had done it
> >previously with no problems, but on this occasion the following seas
> >built up until the dinghy, on a 40 foot painter, was surfing down seas
> >and trying to pass the Alberg. We lengthened the painter to 70 feet and
> >about ten minutes later the dinghy swamped, dropping our speed to 2 kts.
> >With the swamped dinghy holding the stern into the wind we could not
> >turn to rescue the dinghy or steer at all. If we bouyed the painter
> >before cutting it loose it might have been possible to go back, find the
> >dinghy, empty it out and start to tow it again, but even if we could
> >have done that, we figured that the dinghy would swamp again. This
> >happened with just the two of us on board, at midnight, on a moonless
> >night, 50 nm offshore. We elected to cut the dinghy loose and not try to
> >rescue it. We called the Coast Guard so that, if the dinghy was found,
> >nobody would worry that someone had been in the dinghy and start a
> >rescue operation. The next year we bought an Avon Redcrest which we
> >deflate across the cabin top and lash between the handrails.
> >
> >Bob Johns, Wind Ccll #397
> >
> >  //===============================================================//
> >          Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide
> >
> >   My favorite Chesapeake Bay guidebook. While it mentions marinas,
> >   it concentrates on anchorages--the kind of places I prefer to spend
> >   my time. And in addition to listing shore facilities, it rates each
> >   location for Beauty/Interest and Protection. This is the guide you
> >   need to really cruise the Chesapeake Bay--a smorgasbord of small
> >   creeks and coves.
> >
> >    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071363718/alberg30-20
> >  //===============================================================//
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Public-list mailing list -- Public-list at alberg30.org
> >http://www.alberg30.org/mailman/listinfo/public-list
> >To unsubscribe: email to Public-list-request at alberg30.org
> >Include command "unsubscribe <password>" in subject or body.
> >Use command "help" for more options.
> >
> >  //===============================================================//
> >          Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide
> >
> >   My favorite Chesapeake Bay guidebook. While it mentions marinas,
> >   it concentrates on anchorages--the kind of places I prefer to spend
> >   my time. And in addition to listing shore facilities, it rates each
> >   location for Beauty/Interest and Protection. This is the guide you
> >   need to really cruise the Chesapeake Bay--a smorgasbord of small
> >   creeks and coves.
> >
> >    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071363718/alberg30-20
> >  //===============================================================//
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Public-list mailing list -- Public-list at alberg30.org
> >http://www.alberg30.org/mailman/listinfo/public-list
> >To unsubscribe: email to Public-list-request at alberg30.org
> >Include command "unsubscribe <password>" in subject or body.
> >Use command "help" for more options.
>
>
> --
> The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span the hours spent in
> sailing. Anon
> www.georgianbaysailing.ca for interesting reading for sailors
>  //===============================================================//
>          Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide
>
>   My favorite Chesapeake Bay guidebook. While it mentions marinas,
>   it concentrates on anchorages--the kind of places I prefer to spend
>   my time. And in addition to listing shore facilities, it rates each
>   location for Beauty/Interest and Protection. This is the guide you
>   need to really cruise the Chesapeake Bay--a smorgasbord of small
>   creeks and coves.
>
>    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071363718/alberg30-20
>  //===============================================================//
>
> _______________________________________________
> Public-list mailing list -- Public-list at alberg30.org
> http://www.alberg30.org/mailman/listinfo/public-list
> To unsubscribe: email to Public-list-request at alberg30.org
> Include command "unsubscribe <password>" in subject or body.
> Use command "help" for more options.
>

 //===============================================================//
         Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide

  My favorite Chesapeake Bay guidebook. While it mentions marinas,
  it concentrates on anchorages--the kind of places I prefer to spend
  my time. And in addition to listing shore facilities, it rates each
  location for Beauty/Interest and Protection. This is the guide you
  need to really cruise the Chesapeake Bay--a smorgasbord of small
  creeks and coves.

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071363718/alberg30-20
 //===============================================================//

_______________________________________________
Public-list mailing list -- Public-list at alberg30.org
http://www.alberg30.org/mailman/listinfo/public-list
To unsubscribe: email to Public-list-request at alberg30.org
Include command "unsubscribe <password>" in subject or body.
Use command "help" for more options.

 1027556441.0