After getting towed into Garibaldi this year I want to have one too, I'll probably need to beef up my rear cleats first.
Subscribed.

 

Are you referring to a bridle that has a sheave/pully on it and snaps on the ends for the towing boat, like the old school waterski bridle?

I just have a long anchor line that I will use if I need to tow, or be towed. I'll tie up a bridle at the time I need it.

 

Are you referring to a bridle that has a sheave/pully on it and snaps on the ends for the towing boat, like the old school waterski bridle?

I just have a long anchor line that I will use if I need to tow, or be towed. I'll tie up a bridle at the time I need it.

I guess you could say an old school waterski bridle. If it would hold up.

 

It's pretty simple to make one that custom fits the dimensions, weight, and propulsion of your vessel. I made mine from kinetic tow line with soft shackles to the transom eyes and a SS shackle (and small buoy) that connects to the 80' of straight tow line.

 

Are we talking about towing or being towed? It seems like they would be 2 separate setups.

 

That was my question as well. However, after thinking about it...how would I tie my bridle to fit the boat that's going to be towing me, as I have no idea what kind of boat is going to be my savior? I'll just stick my my; "make it when I need it, out of anchor line" system.

 

We've had a few threads on this in the past you might find resourceful.

https://www.ifish.net/threads/your-need-a-tow-offshore-now-what-ropes-and-bridles.237345/

Towing bridle

This is prompted from another thread, so I started this one as to not hijack the other. I just purchased one for my boat, been disabled in the past (both motors..yikes) and having been in the towing business years ago in my youth, this purchase was a no brain-er. The name of the company is...

www.ifish.net

https://www.ifish.net/threads/towing-bridle.1622969/page-2?post_id=16439275#post-16439275

https://www.ifish.net/attachments/towing-techniques-pdf.751625/

https://www.ifish.net/threads/towing-another-boat.359823/

https://www.ifish.net/threads/towing-at-sea.415992/

https://www.ifish.net/posts/17152545/

https://www.ifish.net/threads/tow-rope-recomendations.212459/

Here is one of the documents that was included in one of the older threads that is worthy of a read

 

I would never try to talk anyone out of safety gear. But, when I needed to tow a buddy in from a fair way out, we just tied a dock line to the two rear cleats and attached the 150 ft anchor rope with a loop knot. No idea how the other end was attached. No problems at all and I have a photo that will never see the light of day. In fairness, the bar was fine so it wasn't a very demanding test.

 

Cameron,
I bought a professional one and happy to have it onboard! I know one day I will lend it to one of you guys so you can tow me in!!!

I think I posted some picture here of it, I'll see if I can find the thread.

What I like about mine is that it is ready to go and heavy duty! Perfect fit for my boat and all I have to do is throw it out on deck and have the guys clip it in and it is ready to go in 30 seconds.

Last year I towed a guy in who had twin power but had lost a motor outside. He lost the other motor inside the jetties and was talking with the Coast Guard as I went past him. I quickly doubled back and had him strapped on in about 1 minute. He was honestly very close to hitting the S Jetty "fingers" that stick out.

Very cheap insurance in my opinion.

Let me see if I can find the thread, if not, I will post some new pictures of it.

 

Here it is............

https://www.ifish.net/threads/towing-cost-from-tuna-grounds.1712200/page-4?post_id=17152547#post-17152547

 

I have a bridle with SS snap swivels on both ends about 25' long. It clips onto my rear tie downs. It's made of 3/4" poly with a sliding connector to the 100' 3/4" nylon tow line. I use poly for the abrasion resistance and nylon for shock absorption and flexability. It terminates with a SS snap swivel for hooking onto the towed boat's bow ring or to loop around a bow cleat and snap onto itself. It's been used. It works.

Tensile strength of a 3/4 nylon rope is in excess of 10,000 pounds. Yanking on my rear tie down with over 5 tons of force with a nylon rope would more likely pull the tie down or tear off the transom than break.

 

I bought one from Top Knot in Canby……….Very impressed.

 

I will second Top Knot! Mine has been used several time and it was flawless. Yes, I have been on both ends of the bridle.