We used a
dinghy tow for probably several thousand miles - several times up and down the ICW and in (not to) the Bahamas. We had it swamped once by a Gasshole on the Cape Fear River who thought it would be prudent to run his 6 foot wake right next to our boat. Busted one of the clips that hold the
dinghy to the bracket.
Had it come loose on the Albermarle once - same clips came loose in a nasty chop.
And the final straw was in the Bahamas. We were anchored on the Banks between Bimini and Nassau. The wind picked up at about 90 degrees to the rollers that were coming in off the Atlantic. We had tied the mizzen halyard to the painter to hoist the whole
dinghy out of the water, but we were bouncing so much it was slamming into the water with a horrible crashing noise about every sixth wave. One of the square pipes of the
dinghy tow bent, and the
dinghy turned and snugged its side up to our transom - rubbed part of the name off the boat. And ruined the
dinghy tow. Needless to say, sleepless night - and I could do nothing - it was as dark as the inside of a cow out there and the boat was a carnival ride.
So we towed or stowed the rest of the trip and we now have a davit system which I'm going to install next chance I get.
My advice echoes a lot of what was said above. Double up on your
lines if you're towing and connect to different
cleats on the deck and tow points on the
dinghy -
lines break and so do
cleats, d-rings, etc.
I don't think I would purchase a
dinghy tow again, though in calm waters it was handy, I don't always sail in calm waters.