Towing SUP behind RIB

[garyb]

I am wanting to tow my Starboard Drive SUP behind a small RIB.  Before I put leash plugs into the nose of my board, has anyone had experience of towing a SUP? The Rib has a top speed of about 15knts. I am concerned that there may not be enough nose rocker to prevent the board pearling at planing speed.
Better still, perhaps I could try towing it tail 1st?

[Richard]

Use caution. If the nose catches a piece of chop it will pearl and the power of the boat will force it further and further underwater, creating a lot of stress for the board, and the boat.

Unless there is a trick that I don't know about, I think it will be difficult to do.

Richard

[1tuberider]

Try mounting leash plugs on nose and your tow rig high on the vessel.  Pay out enough line to get the board behind the wake and then start towing at slow speed.  If it tows fine at slow speed it should tow fine at high speed.  I really doubt it will pearl because the board should be in smooth water behind the vessel.

[JC50]

Better yet, rig a harness that wraps around nose of board with tow line attaching to center underneath the nose. This is how to line a canoe upstream while keeping bow upward. Also doesn't strain a single point of failure leash plug; that's a lot of strain.

[newton333]

i would not do this at all. seems like will only lead to trouble. i have a 16 ft inflatable i strap mine kind of to the side can fit 2 like this no prob.

[garyb]

Thanks for all the advice.
 I will hold off putting leash plugs in the board and experiment a bit with stropping the board. My RIB is a tender for my fishing boat and is only 2.3m long so I think it will be difficult to strap the board to it.

[PonoBill]

The Starboard 12'6" and 12'2" often have a leash plug under the nose for towing. I've towed both behind my Adventure Island sailing trimarans, which probably hit a max speed of fifteen MPH in a beam reach. No problems with pearling or tracking. I've even done it with my 240 pound buddy sleeping on the board.

If you wanted to do it without adding a plug, I'd run a line from the rear leash plug under the tail and do a clove hitch on the nose with the bitter end of the line leading out  under the center of the board to your tow boat.

If you want to do belt and suspenders, I'd tow the board backwards with the fin over the transom in the boat. You could have the board way off to one side and still not feel it.

[SUP Sports ®]

Hi Gary,
I tow my boards behind my tunnel hull Dux flato on a tow sled...fins forward and facing up...

[capobeachboy]

That is one hell  of a sweet rig Wardog!  Check out the thundercats at about 16:40 at   Woohoo!

[SUP Sports ®]

Hey Chris,
Let's go for a ride next time you're up in Santa Babylon...;-)

Xtreme Thundercat Racing

Jerry Shalhoob has his pretty tricked out...

[stoneaxe]

I WANT one of those! I've been thinking about a small boston whaler for coastal runs. That looks like more fun.