Trailering with dinghy aloft

C

C-Dawg

New member
I searched the archives, but didn't come up with an answer. Is it safe to travel at freeway speeds with the dinghy strapped to the cabin roof? Or should it be inflated at the launch?

What's everyone else do?
 
We do not trailer with the dinghy on top - I would be concerned that there would be wear on the inflatable where it's strapped or tied. It only takes a few minutes to inflate the dinghy once we get to the launch area.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Rick,

We leave it up there all the time. We secure it from the front and sides. After 5 years, it shows no signs of wear where it slides under the arch. See album for photos.
 
We tow from home in marysville to twin bridges every weekend in the summer. 30 mile or so each way. speeds up to 70 for most of it and we always leave the dinghy on top. just use two good ratcheting tie downs. no problems with it yet. we also run the boat with the dinghy on top.
 
I think it would depend on several things:

1. How the dingy is tied down, with what and where
2. How the tiedown attachments are affixed onto the dingy
3. How much flexing the dingy does if/when tied and traveling at "freeway" speeds.
4. Where it is rubbing or wearing, on both the dingy and the C-Dory

If it is up there, it is going to add more to the windage of the tow. If it is tucked in, tight, and there is little flexing or rubbing, and you are OK with the added windage, and as long as it is VERY secure, I would think it OK to tow with it up.

(Be a good time here to get on my soap box) about using Bungee cords for load securing ----->> NOT. Stretching == movement == NOT secure. Learn a couple of basic knots, and use them with sturdy line and you have no worries about your load.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Rick, we tow w/ the dinghy on the cabin roof, upside down/bow forward, and held down by a bungie cord "spider-web". No issues at all. Our dinghy is 7'11". It's so much easier to inflate at home w/ my compressor system [than the foot pump]. I can inflate the entire boat, including floor, in less than 5 minutes @ home.

(Be a good time here to get on my soap box) about using Bungee cords for load securing ----->> NOT. Stretching == movement == NOT secure. Learn a couple of basic knots, and use them with sturdy line and you have no worries about your load.
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Harvey the inexspensive bungie web I use (Harbor Freight) is stretched nearly to it's limit while holding down the boat, so it's tight. It has plastic hooks every 8" or so and they fit perfectly over the rooftop grab rails. The boat is held down 360* and the forces are evenly distributed over the entire boat & roof. The first time I used it M watched once we hit the freeway (60 mph); it didn't move an inch. I don't disagree about your point of using lines/knots, but this solution so far is easy, quick and effecient. When the web shows sign of wear, it will be replaced. I think I paid ~$15 for it.
 
I think a lot depends on where you are going to tow the boat. We do not tow with a dinghy inflated. There are issues of relative pressure as you go up in altitude. You could possibly damage the inflatable going from sea level to 9700 feet. There is gong to be increase wind resistance, and you will not get as good fuel economy with the tow vehicle. We will inflate the dinghy the first night under way. Even at home, we carry the dinghy in the cockpit until we stop for the first night, when we inflate it.
 
We carried our inflatable on top of our van on several trips to Florida. No problems except one time in the winter we lost the air in the dink due to temp change. It got very soft.
 
Harvey the inexspensive bungie web I use (Harbor Freight) is stretched nearly to it's limit while holding down the boat, so it's tight. It has plastic hooks every 8" or so and they fit perfectly over the rooftop grab rails. The boat is held down 360* and the forces are evenly distributed over the entire boat & roof. The first time I used it M watched once we hit the freeway (60 mph); it didn't move an inch. I don't disagree about your point of using lines/knots, but this solution so far is easy, quick and effecient. When the web shows sign of wear, it will be replaced. I think I paid ~$15 for it.
Click to expand...

Mark, Your exception is noted. I too, use a bungee spider webb for some things, and as you specified, it will do the job. My issue is with the single or two bungee cords to hold anything down. Too much stretch, and not enough security.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Rick,

We have towed to Port Hardy, B.C. at freeway speeds and possibly above :wink for three summers now. Not to mention countless trips to Tacoma and Bellingham. We typically have two crab pots and a couple full jerry cans of gas in the dinghy. All held down by two dock lines on top of the 22. Our dinghy was a pvc 9'1" Silver Marine with air floor. Never had any problems as a result. Save yourself some time and leave it inflated on the roof, bow forward rightside up.

Karl
 
Like Roger on Dreamer, we travel with our Alaska Series dinghy bow forward and right side up on the cabin roof of Daydream all the time. It is held down by two ratchet straps, and I tie the painter to the front cleat. I have not see any wear or other problem from doing this, we have gone to Powell and back twice with it on top (last year we took kayaks instead, and this year, as you may know, we were halted a good deal short of Powell, Yakima to be precise), and to the San Juans and back literally dozens of times. Not a problem.
 
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