Towing a layout boat?

[Rick Pierce]

I was wondering if anyone had built anything like a nose cone to slip onto a layout and make it more towable.

I don't have the ability to purchase a dedicated tender, but I have the chance to borrow a layout. My 16-foot boat would probably tow the relatively light weight just fine, but I don't like the thought of the layout strapped to the nose.

Was pondering something that would angle the box up to keep it from submarining...if I tied off to the cleat, the towing force would keep the box snug against the nose cone, which would be lifting the box. I'd still strap it together, just want to make positive use of physics if I can...

Anyone got some good ideas on a Monday morning?

 

[Chuck J]

Rick,

Have you thought of just putting some weight (like anchors you'd need to haul anyway) in the "stern" of the layout to keep the "bow" up? Sometimes simpler is better.

Chuck

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

Rick, search my name and Kalash postings and see what we did so we can tow the Kalash with my sneakbox.... basically we pull the Kalash up on the transom of a 10ft aluminum rowboat, and tow the rowboat. Works well, and affords more decoy hauling too.

 

[Phil Nowack]

To each their own... but I do not like or advocate towing... to many things to go wrong

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

Phil, I think you are probably right for big water.... best option is a tender and carry the layouts, but for conditions that are safe enough to use my BBSB to make the tow, then we are laying out in pretty calm conditions, where the birds are trading back and forth... where we hunt, if we had wind and waves moving the birds then we likely don't need the layout to decoy them.

I have a Cackler hull on steroids that Dave Clark started years ago that will be my tender at some point, when I get the canoe, scull, and glass BBSB projects I have done!

 

[Dennis Smith]

Rick
You should have a bit on the underside of the layout boat to tie the anchor line at the rear. Put the spray shield up. Tie the layout boat close the stern of the boat. If you get it right, the layout will ride the motor wake as long as the seas are not to rough.

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

If the boat has a planing hull a towing hook under the bow is ok. If the bottom is squared off for depth in the cockpit, it is better not to tow.
If you have a planing hull, tie off a line from the rear cleat and drag something in the water to create drag, this will keep the boat from zig zagging too much [ old tow boat trick].

 

[rich scheffer]

I had a mighty layout boys boat up in North Dakota. To tow it, I used to pull the bow up on to the transom of my 16 ft jon boat, and tie it off. Worked fine as long as it wasnt too rough. An old life jacket or cushion made good padding underneath. These drop box layout boats are definitely not made for towing! Rich

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

Found the pictures I was looking for:

Note the "skeg" added to make it track, and some bow eyes mounted on the other end of the bottom.

That is some plastic rub rail mounted with the tow bridal would wrap around the hull.

Pulled up on the transom of the 10ft aluminum boat, you can tow as fast as you like. We use the aluminum boat to bring more decoys anyway.