towing kayaks, dingy, sup etc

E

easy does it

Member
We are heading out to lake powell for 2-3 weeks. 1st time on the water and new boat. I have two eddyline kayaks and one sup securly mounted on top. I will use the hully rollers on the top and a pvc roller bar across the back cleats to get them down into the water. Discovered I cannot raise the engine with the rear roller bar so I will take it on and off. Since we are in our 70's this is quite an ordeal so once they are in the water (at least the kayaks i would like to leave them there and reload only for the road trip home. What are the issues towing 2 kayaks I have noticed in the c-dory video they tow the dingy from the side front cleat, why? It seem then you could turn only one way. I intend to have two short tow lines from the rear cleats. I am scared to death I will some how foul the lines in the propeller. Is that an issue at all? If so how can I avoid it? Should I tow them inline or separate. and then what about when I dock or go up narrow canyons or especially just setting up on shore at night backing in. Seems like I am setting myself up but I am kinda stubborn about my toys.
 
I read your post a couple times before considering a response. This is a free opinion, and, in spite of your self-described stubbornness, I offer it with friendly sincerity.

Make this first trip out easy - leave the kayaks at home. The SUP should be easy enough for the two of you to put on top. I have seen plenty of the big houseboats on Lake Powell towing a bunch of stuff behind them (a bow rider or wake boat, and several jet skis)... usually rentals. They don't have as much concern about fouling a line in the prop - a real concern in your situation.

Lake Powell is a spectacular place, and you will have no problem finding great places to explore with your boat. The C-Dory can get into places deeper draft boats can't, and you can beach it. Make sure you have an easy way of getting back on the boat - we went bow to the beach and used a two-step step ladder to get back onboard.

It is going to be hot at Lake Powell, so you will want to get into the water to cool off. Look for places where you will have afternoon shade to beach for the night. Be aware that the mass of other boats on the lake will be looking for the same.

With that in mind, even in this usual time, I would expect plenty of boat traffic. If you are towing two kayaks, that is more to deal with, with the regular wake you will experience.

I am not aware of the premise of towing from a forward cleat with the C-Dory, unless you are talking about hip towing (towing alongside); generally used when in tight spaces or a lot of other boat traffic, as in a marina). If you are determined to tow the kayaks, I would use polypropylene line - it floats. Add a couple in-line floats (as used on lines in swimming pools) where the line is in proximity to your motor; keeping in mind that the line will collect there as you slow down. Depending on the design lines of your kayaks, they may try to get airborne or submarine if you tow at speed... you will need to experiment with line length to see where they tow the best. At night, when beached, I would keep the kayaks tied right alongside. If you intend to back to the beach, you will need the kayaks out of the way.

From what I'm writing, it would be more to deal with than I'd care for (the reason we kept the kayaks or dinghy on top when underway) to tow the kayaks, especially on your first outing.

Another thought: pick up an inflatable tandem kayak, like a SeaEagle. https://www.seaeagle.com/inflatable-kayaks
Easier to put that on top when underway on the water. Or, deflate it and stash that in the cockpit.

This first outing will set the tone on your future boating experiences. I'd suggest keeping it simple while you learn the functions and handling of your C-Dory.

Lake Powell is a special place. It can also be a very busy place between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The experience you have there at this time will be very different from exploring the lake in the spring and fall. I wish you all the best with this first outing.
 
I would agree with Wild Blue, leave the Kayaks at home, and enjoy getting to know your new boat and exploring the Lake. You will have a lot to learn and focus on without them.
 
JamesTXSD":3fgb6l6v said:
If you are determined to tow the kayaks, I would use polypropylene line - it floats. Add a couple in-line floats (as used on lines in swimming pools) where the line is in proximity to your motor; keeping in mind that the line will collect there as you slow down.
Click to expand...

Google "foam backer rod." You can get 20' lengths at hardware stores. The smallest diameter (1/4") can be threaded into the center of the common yellow poly rope. It makes it less flexible and float like crazy. It also makes it very difficult to back over and worthless for anything other than the tow line.

Mark
 
We try not to tow when possible. The weather on LP is crazy at times. We've had our dingy flipped over by wind while towing. We have had to make emergency recoveries more than once. We now either put them on the roof or in the back strapped to a bar like yours. Have fun ,but don't underestimate how quickly the weather changes.
 
We were last on Lake Powell in October 2018. We had our kayaks on top of our boat. but due to bad weather we didn't use them as much as we would have liked. But when we did they were fantastic. I personally would not tow them in a place like Lake Powell. Firstly, there are many tight places that you will need to maneuver in and having kayaks behind you would make that more difficult. When we were there in October there was very little boat traffic. We have experimented with towing our kayaks, but have not done it over long distances. My method was using a waterski rope with v-harness off the back cleats and several floats. I would tow the kayaks one behind the other so they don't bump together. We needed to keep the speed low, about 5 mph because the wake would cause them to porpoise at higher speeds. When we are anchored, we hip tie the kayaks to the sides of the boat and we have travelled short distances at low speed with them in this position. This works OK, but I would not do it over a longer distance.

We are paddlers first and motor boaters second. For us the C-Dory is a mothership that we can use to transport our kayaks to remote locations where we can paddle. Seeing Lake Powell in a non motorized boat is superior to a motor boat. In 2007 on our first visit to Lake Powell, we were in our canoe for 10 days in October. It was a fabulous way to see the canyon. It is quiet and you can see all the reflections and rock formations up close. The two biggest drawbacks were firstly, the motorboats that travelled past us in the small canyons. This caused a lot of waves and echo waves. We had a small motorboat circle around us in Annie's Canyon at high speed and I now know what a turd feels like when you flush the toilet. The second issue was finding a camping spot, when the light is fading and you are confronted with 500 foot cliffs going straight into the water.

My personal recommendation would be to take the kayaks, keep them on top of the boat and take them off when you are going to use them a lot. Find a place where you can hang out for a few days and take them out to explore. Pick places where there are slot canyons that are fantastic to explore.

Enjoy.
 
Another thing to consider is where in the wake to tow stuff. Towed objects should be on the upslope of one of the wake waves (i.e. riding on the back of the wave). As your cruising speed changes (which changes the shape of the wake) the towing position will probably need to be adjusted.

Make sure that wherever you attach the tow line to the kayak that point is actually designed for that purpose. I would also suggest closing the kayak up with something (like a skirt) to prevent any water from entering (either from splashing or if the kayak overturns).

If the kayak fills with water the stresses on all the towing attach points is going to go WAY up quickly. You might want to consider using undersized tow line so that if things go badly the line will part before anything else gives way.

Finally, if you don't have unsinkable kayaks, you might want to put flotation bags inside them so if things go south, the kayak won't end up at the bottom of the lake.
 
-- I am with Captain Jim of Wild Blue (heck, I am in with him and the Blond on just about anything - they are my heroes as they can sell stuff they do not want and buy want they want and use the new toys so acquired); leave the paddle toys home on the first trip and if you take them, be ready for big wind. I have rarely towed and been a happy camper and when I did, it was with the bow tied high on the stern and no motor on Toad (RV talk for dinghy or towed vehicle).
-- That being said, I have posted prior on my two weeks on Powell in a small house boat and also our several trips to house boat Shasta. The take away is that if it has a small motor, I am all in favor of taking it along. Mother Ship stays on the anchor or beach tie and the dinghy gets to go out several times a day, even for long runs of 50 miles or more (sometimes you just have to have ice cream when it is hot). If I do not burn 4-5 gallons of gas a day in the dink, it is a slow day of hammock and lounge chair resting.
-- Best use for our kayak and SUP? Cruising our anchorage and maybe going over to another boat or two to visit.
-- Enjoy your trip and safe boating. Take a good shovel to bury your beach anchor. There is no such thing as too much ice in the cooler on day one. Fill your tank(s) off the lake and find out where you can dump the loo in these COVID-19 times.
-- Buy a composting toilet, I have a C-Head and it is a real treat to not have to empty the holding tank or cassette.
Bob Jarrard
 
A kayak is a light weight boat, maybe 40 - 60 lbs. This makes it especially
vulnerable to the wind, even when you are inside it and paddling.

Towing a kayak might work OK but will be sensitive to both wind direction
and wind strength. Trying to monitor this on your 1st trip along with the sea
state, your boat's course and speed is a tall order, probably best avoided. So,
towing 2 kayaks is asking for trouble.

If either towed kayak flips, it will quickly fill with water and snap your ski rope
sized tow line. Then the fun is over and the work starts, even if you were back
in your 20s.

Aye.
 
Jim is giving his usual good advise others too. Between the motorized kayak “Mokia” & rubber inflatables, we have towed for a combined over ten thousand miles with our CD22. The floating ropes are much better than non floating, but either way, I guarantee you it’s not that difficult to get the line into the propeller, especially in close quarters maneuvering where reverse is needed in shallow water. With the engines raised for shallow water drive, going in reverse can easily suck any line down into the prop. I’ve been kept from being in even bigger trouble with a line wrapped in a prop by still being able to maneuver using the other twin.

I only had the covered Mokai flip once in 8000 miles of towing & that was caused by close quarters maneuvering in an area of many whirlpools, they were big enough to get the CD22 & Mokai side ways & the tow line up & around a gps mount midway on the side of the Mokai, then when the line came taunt again it pulled the Mokai over. Other then that, the Mokai towed very well even in extreme conditions. We towed the 13 foot rubber inflatable Kaboat with 6 hp Suzuki motor on it for over 800 miles around SE Alaska in 2018. It worked out ok for us, but wouldn’t recommend the same for others. Leaving the drain plug out when towing a rubber inflatable allows the spray water to keep draining. I’ve towed a canoe, but never a regular kayak & wouldn’t tow either a canoe or kayak now except for very short runs in good conditions.

For Lake Powell as others have recommended kayaks on top or left home especially on your first trip.

ssobol makes a good point about having the tow properly adjusted for position in the wake for when cruising on plane. It’s even more important when tied to a off to the side rear cleat on the stern. I’ve towed thousands of miles tied off to the side with a stern cleat with many miles in fairly severe conditions without a problem. Those stern cleats held up for me towing a 25 Ranger tug through chop across the strait of Juan De Fuca, so think a kayak water logged or not is not going to create a problem there, but of course a connection installed just for towing will be superior.

Jay
 
I agree for the first Powell trip--leave the Kayak/canoe home. Get the lay of the land--and enjoy.

I try and avoid towing if possible. I do tow our 9.5' air floor inflatable, mostly if we are going displacement speed. I have a 75' tow line--a bridle off the two stern cleats, and a bridle (lash the tow line to the tow rings right at the waterline.

If we are maneuvering like in a lock, the inflatable is on the"hip"--tied to the side cleat forward and aft cleat aft. Boat will maneuver fine.

Even with a kayak or canoe, I would want a tow point near the water line--to keep the bow up.

Powell is subject to winds and monsoon type of rains. Be very cautious of slot canyons if there is any chance of bad weather. Also avoid being under high cliffs. A number of years back a couple were killed when a rock fell off the top of one of these cliffs onto their boat.

The lake is magnificent during and after a storm. But slot canyons become major flood zones, mud, trees, and very rapid rise of water. Once during a storm, another couple had anchored their boat off a nearby point and went for a walk. Their anchor pulled free--and off the boat went--the canyons continue for hundreds of feet down. We pulled our anchor and chased down the boat--and had it side tied when they finally got back. But if not....they would have been stranded and in real trouble.
 
Thank you all for your posts, I have read and reread them all. This is a very complex issue. I spent weeks designing a rack system and a workable way to get them on and off the mother ship. We are not in a hurry. I will experiment with different ideas but I like the floater rod idea best. I really appreciate the information about lake powell weather, strong winds and slot canyons.
 
OK, so the majority is voting to leave the kayaks at home, or put them on top.

I have to agree. It will be a much easier trip without 2 kayaks and an SUP.

So, options:

1. Just take the SUP. and you could tow that with much less danger than the kayaks.
2. Being stubborn, (and I know how/what that is - personally :oops: and you have to take 2 of something, make it one of each, the kayak and the SUP. That would give you both ability to be off the boat at the same time, and still only have 1 kayak to deal with.

IF you tow, you can get either "pool noodles" or foam pipe insulation and put a couple of lengths of that together on the tow line directly behind the boat. That will help keep your line out of the prop. AND, use the yellow, poly line because it floats. NOTE, that does not mean it cannot get into your prop. Things happen.

Full disclosure, I have not been to LP, but I have over 1500 hours on my boat, have towed several boats, different sizes and in different situations, but would not chose to tow a kayak for any considerable distance. (I have towed both Kayak and canoes for short distances in my capacity working with paddle craft races.) I carry my inflatable on a rack, aft, and though it is relativity easy to launch, I really don't very often, although I do anchor frequently.

Best in your decision. Be careful, watch the/your back and enjoy the warm water and big lake.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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