By Bob Currie, Recreational Boating Safety Specialist
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Station Galveston Flotilla
The master or person in charge of a vessel is obligated by law to provide assistance that can be safely provided to any individual in danger at sea (46 USC 2304). The type of assistance is greatly dependent on the ability of the assisting vessel’s master to provide assistance without endangering his or her own vessel or the safety of its passengers. One of the most common forms of assistance is to provide a tow to a disabled boat. Although towing might seem an easy prospect, there are many inherent dangers in doing so, and safety is the most important consideration when deciding to provide a tow. This column is intended to be a very general discussion of towing and is not intended to be a primer for towing.

Important Considerations
Before providing a tow to another vessel, the master of the towing vessel must carefully assess the situation to ensure that the tow can be safely provided. First, the situation should be non-distress; that is, no person aboard the disabled vessel is in need of immediate medical attention and the disabled vessel is not taking on water or otherwise damaged in a way that would hinder being towed. Second, ensure that the wind, weather, and sea conditions are such that the vessel cannot be safely towed by the prospective towing vessel. Third, ensure that the towing vessel has the proper gear needed to ensure a safe tow.

Bridle and Trailer Eyebolt Tow Rig Connection
The most common towing method is towing a disabled boat from astern. Another method is towing alongside. We will discuss towing from astern. There are two basic methods used to tow a disabled boat from astern. One method is to connect the tow line to the trailer eyebolt on the disabled vessel. This is the safer of the two methods, but requires special equipment that is used to attach the tow line to the to the eyebolt. The other method is to use a bridle attached to cleats near the bow of the disabled vessel that allow an equal pull to be asserted on them. If the pull is not equal, then either or both boats could be capsized due to the great forces generated by towing. When using a bridle, avoid short bridle legs, as they create more tension on deck fittings.

On smaller, trailerable boats, the trailer eye is frequently the sturdiest fitting available to attach a tow rig. Attaching a towline to the trailer eye is a very dangerous technique. It requires the towing vessel to maneuver very close to a distressed boat and requires crewmembers to extend themselves over the side between two vessels, or under the flared bow sections of the distressed boat. There is a specialized skiff hook designed to attach the tow line to the trailer eye. If you do not have one of those hooks, the bridle method should be used for towing.

The Tow
Once you have secured a tow line to both vessels, there are several considerations in actually performing the tow. There are separate procedures for starting the tow, changing heading, and minimizing forces when towing another vessel.

Static Force
Static force causes a towed vessel to resist motion. The displacement or mass of a towed vessel determines the amount of force working against the vessel. The assisting vessel must overcome these forces before the towed vessel moves. Inertia and the moment of inertia are two different properties of static forces that cause resistance in towing vessels.

Overcome the effects of static forces by starting a tow slowly, both on the initial heading or when changing the towed vessel’s heading. A large amount of strain is placed on both vessels, their fittings, and the towing equipment when going from dead-in-the-water to moving in the desired direction and at the desired speed. Extreme caution should be used when towing a vessel of equal or greater mass than the assisting vessel. In such situations, the assisting vessel strains the capacity and capability of its equipment, requiring slow and gradual changes.

Procedure for Starting the Tow
The goal when starting the tow is to overcome the static force of the towed vessel in the water without causing damage to either the towed or the towing vessel. It is at this point that one or both boats could be capsized. It is important to start the tow using the same heading as the disabled vessel. If you try to both start the tow and change the heading at the same time, the lateral forces set up could capsize either or both vessels. Use the following steps when starting the tow:

1. Apply the towing force on the initial heading to gradually overcome the towed vessel’s inertia.
2. As the towed vessel gains momentum, slowly and gradually increase speed.
3. To change the tow direction, make any change slowly and gradually after the towed vessel is moving.

Changing the Towed Vessel’s Heading
The moment of inertia occurs when a towed vessel resists effort to turn about a vertical axis to change heading. The larger the vessel, the more resistance there will be in turning the vessel. Unless necessary in a case of immediate danger, do not attempt to tow a distressed vessel ahead and change its heading at the same time. Apply turning force gradually and slowly. Once making way, the effect of static forces diminishes and dynamic forces come into play. Once the vessel’s heading begins to change, it wants to keep changing in that same direction. The faster the towed vessel’s heading changes, the harder it is to get the tow moving in a straight line.

Dynamic Forces
Dynamic forces occur once the towed vessel is moving. They are based on the towed vessel’s characteristics (shape, displacement, arrangement, rigging), the motion caused by the towing vessel, and the effects of waves and wind. Below is a list of the types of forces that affect the tow. A full discussion of these forces is beyond the intent of this column, but knowledge that they exist and can affect the safety of the tow is essential. The dynamic forces set up during a tow include:

1. Momentum
2. Angular Momentum
3. Frictional Resistance
4. Form Drag
5. Wave-Making Resistance
6. Wave Drag
7. Wind Drag
8. Spray Drag
9. Shock-Load

Combination of Forces and Shock-Load
During a towing evolution, the boat crew rarely deals with only one force acting upon the tow. The crew usually faces a combination of all the forces, each making the situation more complex. Some individual forces are very large and relatively constant. Crews can usually deal with these safely, provided all towing-force changes are made gradually. When forces are changed in an irregular manner, tension on the tow rig starts to vary instead of remaining steady. “Shock-load” or “shock-loading” is the rapid, extreme increase in tension on the towline, which transfers through the tow rig and fittings to both vessels. Shock-loading may cause severe damage to both towing and towed vessels and overload a tow rig to the point of towline or bridle failure. Shock-loading could also cause momentary loss of directional control by either vessel and could capsize small vessels. Extreme stress is put on the tow rig in heavy weather when the tow vessel and the towing vessel do not climb, crest or descend waves together. Vessels in step will gain and lose momentum at the same time, allowing the towing force to gradually overcome the towed vessel’s loss of momentum, minimizing shock-loading. To get the vessels in step, lengthen rather than shorten the towline if possible. Slowing down lowers frictional resistance, form drag, and wave-making resistance. Reducing these forces will lower the total tow-rig tension.

Underway With the Tow
The best course to safe haven is not always the shortest distance. A course that gives the best ride for both vessels should be chosen. At times, the vessels may have to tack (run a zigzag type course) to maintain the best ride. A firm understanding of the dynamic forces in towing helps to ensure a safe tow. In head seas, where waves come from directly ahead, reducing speed also reduces wave drag, spray drag, and wind drag, lowering the irregular tow rig loads. It is best to avoid running in head seas if possible. If possible, try to ride waves at a 45-degree angle.

Breaking the Tow
A tow may be started under favorable wind and wave conditions but wind and wave conditions may deteriorate to a point where the tow should be terminated. The best way to break the tow is to ask the towed vessel to free the tow lines. The towing crew will then retrieve the towing bridle and either call for help or wait for conditions to change and try the tow again. Waiting for conditions to change is along shot. In either case the Coast Guard should be apprised of the situation.

Summary
The decision to tow another vessel should not be made hastily. Instead, the captain must carefully assess the situation before deciding to tow. The captain must be sure that the tow can be made safely without danger to either vessel or crewmembers. Rough seas and high winds are conditions that should be avoided when towing. The towing vessel should have proper towing equipment. Although many tows have been undertaken using a couple of 25-foot deck lines tied together, a towing bridle should be standard equipment if you ever plan to tow another boat. The prudent captain will be able to judge when it becomes necessary for safety reasons to break the tow once it has been undertaken.

[BC: Sept-24-2024]