I think a push boat is the answer.
The SkipJacks of Chesapeake Bay are sailing vessels (some over 100 years old) that drag dredges to harvest oysters. To compete with power boats, they are allowed to be pushed 3 or 4 days a week but must sail the rest of the time.
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This is the Kathryn (over 100 years old).
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Off her stern are a pair of davits to carry her push boat when not in use.
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Her stern has a chock (between the ladder sides) that the bow of the push boat fits into.
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This is her push boat. Its probably about 12' long and has a keel cooled, dry stacked Cummins 6BT 210 HP for propulsion.
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When used, the bow of the push boat is set into the chock and either 2 steel poles or 2 sets of blocks and tackles link the stern corners of the push boat and the stern corners of the Skipjack. The rig is steered with the large rudder of the Skipjack. Shift and throttle cables are run to the Skipjack, so no one actually rides in the push boat. Thought you would find this interesting.
I like the concept of a diesel powered dinghy that could be side tied near the stern. Fortunately my cruising doesn't require this level of redundancy, but it's fun to consider the possibilities.
Ted
They should probably have a feathering prop on that wing engine.
Wing engines are fine in a large boat. Won't fit in mine. There is a dilemma in a certain size range, around 30 - 38 ft or so. Too small for a wing engine, but big enough to go places where TowUS doesn't operate. This is the sweet spot for a solution that uses the diesel onboard to make slow progress towards civilization. It seems logical to use the diesel energy converter I already have installed and maintain (the genset) to supply this if possible.
Something like that but smaller would be ideal. If you can find one of those, it's around 200 lbs +, and way more power than is necessary.Agree about the feathering prop.
Ok see where you are coming from, so how about a, Yanmar D27 Diesel outboard engine or similar? An outboard but runs on diesel, hooked on the back and just run a temporary hose back to your diesel tank ( with it's own inline filter).
Small enough to be stowed off season and could tilt up till required.
Allan
I have a sailboat. But the powerboat is in the PNW where there is no wind an no towing service. You are in SF Bay where there is nearly always wind - though it is nearly always from the same direction. How's the tacking angle on that Duck?Get a sailboat but motor as long as the engine works. Subscribe to a towing service if available. Not a sailboat:
We have (and love) a Torqeedo electric outboard for our Portland Pudgy dinghy, and we carry two batteries for the Torqeedo. In the scenario described, if we lost our single Cummins, we'd use the Pudgy as a tug to move our trawler, and use our diesel generator to recharge the battery that was not in use. Voila!
I never looked how did he fare? Them motors moved weight but then again in 8 hours would drain a 36v battery weighing over 1500 pounds plus the hydro pump motor running so im on the fence for my opinion on it. Even tho those motors were maybe 150 or so pounds. But I guess would run if you had a genny wired right.That's exactly what the young fellow of the Sailing Uma youtube videos DIY'd on his sailboat.