TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Charter Boat Reviews and Questions Do you take the outboard off the dinghy at sail?

Hello,

After chartering twice in the BVI and not having to do this, on my recent charter with the Moorings at St. Martin, they told me I needed to take the outboard off of the dinghy and mount it back on the stern pulpit bracket whenever I was towing the dinghy under sail.

Well, this was a pain as I'm not particularly strong and have a bad back. Wrestling that thing on and off the dink even in relatively calm anchorages was not fun and I'm wondering if I was just a sucker for actually doing what they said. I confess, on the last day, on an easy sail back from St. Barts, I left the damn thing on the dink and it did fine.

So what's the logic on this? Are they trying to prolong the life of the dink transom? Is there that much stress?

Do people just ignore this request?

Thanks,

Tom

ours is locked onto the dink, taking it off every day would be a real pain. I have never heard of a charter company, especially Moorings making this request. I don't know if i would want my dinghy towed without the engine. This has nothing to do with the life of a transom.

That’s pretty much accepted procedure when you’re in a more exposed environment. Even though it can get rough in Drake Lake the chances are far less that the towed Dink would flip. A flipped dink in higher seas with the additional weight of the outboard could cause not only a drenched OB but would probably lead to transom separation or at least a compromised bond.

We did this in st Lucia. I didn't find it to be a big deal, but it certainly isn't something that would be easy for everyone. On some shorter legs, we did leave it on.

Thanks for the replies (I'm the OP - just forgot to login on the original post...)

That seals it. I'm not going to take it off and on next time. To me, it seemed like there was more risk of dropping the motor over the side during the repeated transfers than any risk of damage while it was on the dink but I did it anyway. I tied the jib furling line onto the handle during the transfer so if I *did* drop it in, it wouldn't go the bottom but still I had a constant fear that I would tweak my back and ruin the trip.

Tom

You could always just get a cat next time

not all cats have davits

I think I would rather lift the Outboard <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duel.gif" alt="" />

spoken like a true sailor <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Ha! I'm with you on that. We seriously thought about trying a cat for two reasons - the shallower draft and the davit to avoid the outboard on/off dance. With all apologies to cat-lovers, we couldn't go through with it. I admit, I've never sailed a cruising cat so maybe it's not actually like sitting in a seat and driving a car but it looks that way <flamesuit on="true"/>

Of course they are also about $1K more than a monohull when I priced my trip so there's that...

Cats do lack the thrill of heeling, but otherwise can be just as much fun to sail, especially in good winds. Cats we've been on not only have davits, but have electric ones which is really nice. Hard to beat the space too.

And we own a monohull. Both have their pros and cons.

I doubt any charter guest has ever removed an outboard or have any reason to. So I don't get the outboard on/off dance.

When towing a dink...

If going into the open ocean we remove the outboard.
In Drake Channel we don't.

we tried a cat this year, with the davit thing, hook up 2 lines and push the button, refrigerator made ice and plenty of fresh water storage, yes sailed dorky.
in years past the st martin companies made u take the motor off in case the dingy flips and wets the OB, maybe not in summer but in winter when its rough they always did make u take it off.

Moorings St. Lucia does tell everyone to do this. I believe the outboard is actually on the transom when you depart as well. I imagine any locations where there are long stretches of open water they do this - certainly not necessary in the BVI though.

yes, I am talking about a BVI charter.

Ah yeah, I don't think anyone mentions this in the BVI. Just not needed.

Are the dinghy's motor locked on charter boats?

I agree with Matt about the BVI's and agree traveling east then south the rules change.

Nope, not on the ones I've been on, but they do provide two locks, so you can lock it if you want. I'd guess most people don't.

CYOA provides a long cable and lock so you can lock the motor, gas can, and dingy to the dock. Similarly you can lock it to your charter boat while sitting in an anchorage for a little more security.

We don't tow a dinghy at all if seas or winds are short or strong.

There are a lot of ways to get a dink and outboard on board. Most charters I have done, both exposed and sheltered came with a small dinghy and motor.

With basic knots you can lift a motor onto the boat by securing the dingy amid ship and lift it on the main halyard up and onto the boat. Its much easier to carry to the transom this way with one crew in the dink keeping it off the side of the boat, the other at the sheet winch.

You can also pull a line through the back of the boom and swing it out over the dinghy and to a sheet winch.

I also bring dinghies on board to the bow this way once the outboard is removed.

I mention this because I like to not flip my dinghy, lose an outboard or pay the .5 knot sailing price.

We will have an 11' rib, 10hp motor this trip and seas may reach 6-8 feet at 8 seconds. With a rib and motor, if wind speed is less than 20 knots, I may just tow as well.

This behavior is not the norm elsewhere where I have sailed and chartered. At home I use a rollup 9' with 6hp motor that can be lifted fairly easily.

leave it on, flip up the outboard so the prop is out of the water for sure, tie a bridle to the bow on the dinghy so that its long enough to be aft of your stern wake, remove anything not tied down, tie or lock the outboard to the boat at all times especially when using it, check your dogs often, move the tank to the front of the dink if possible securing it there underway or remove it, pull it in prior to anchoring or mooring, teach your kids how to use it so you have a chaufeur and it empowers them giving them confidence...see my article in Cruising World Aug 2011 "Tips: Smooth Sailing on Charter"
Peace.

The reason that you have to take the outboard enginge of is that the dinghy can capsize during a saling trip.

Gr Mark