Hearing a pan pan on the VHF or coming across a disabled boat in the water is fairly common in busy coastal areas, especially at the peak of the boating season. The cause may be a mechanical issue with the engine or a thick rope stuck in the prop. Whatever the reason, a fellow boater may need help.

Recreational boats don’t carry the right gear for towing other vessels. Only trained professionals on suitable watercraft should tow boats in an emergency situation.

If you do it yourself, you risk putting both crews and vessels at risk. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stand by until assistance arrives.

That said, you may find yourself in a remote area emergency services can’t reach. In this situation, you may be the only hope for the vessel in distress. That’s why it’s important to know how to tow a disabled boat in the water.

In this article, we go through the 9 steps you need to take in order to safely tow a boat.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A DISABLED BOAT IN NEED OF A TOW

Most boaters will issue a pan pan on the VHF explaining their situation. Always keep channel 16 on while you’re underway, so you can hear when a boat in distress is near you. By standing by, you can also hear if the emergency services have responded to the call.

If the boat’s radio is broken, the boater will wave both hands over their head to signal for help.

In either case, slowly approach the vessel and don’t get too close. The boat may be grounded and you don’t want to suffer the same destiny. Ask the captain of the boat what’s the problem.

ALTERNATIVES TO TOWING

You don’t need to tow a disabled boat to safety in order to offer assistance, especially if you don’t have the right vessel and equipment. International law dictates that you have to help people in danger at sea, as long as it doesn’t put yourself, your boat, and your crew at risk. However, this duty doesn’t extend to property - i.e. other vessels.

Here are some safe alternatives to this towing:

Call the emergency services - the Coast Guard or a professional towing service
If the boat is out of fuel, offer to pick up a jerry can from the nearest marina
Ask the other captain to anchor their boat, so you can take the crew to safety
If they need a spare part in order to fix the vessel and you have it, offer it to them.

HOW TO TOW A DISABLED BOAT IN THE WATER

If there is no viable alternative, you have suitable gear on board, and you feel confident you can tow the boat back to safety, follow these steps.

1) Assess the situation

First, you’ll need to calmly evaluate the situation. Don’t rush - take your time and be objective.

Ask yourself these questions:

Is the boat aground? If so, only a professional vessel can handle this situation
What are the weather conditions? Is the tow dangerous?
Are your stern cleats solid? Can they take the weight of a boat?
Is your engine powerful enough? Is your boat the right weight to tow the other one?
Are the crew angry or intoxicated? Can they safely secure the boat to the tow rope?
Do you have enough fuel, considering you’ll be consuming more?
Is there enough daylight to make it to the nearest harbour?

Don’t give into the pressure of the circumstances. If you cannot safely help the other crew and no professional service is available, issue a pan pan to other boats.

If you start a tow regardless of these factors, chances are that you will damage your own boat and create an even bigger emergency.

2) Establish leadership

If you intend to carry out the tow, make sure to communicate to the other captain and crew that you will be in charge of the operation.

3) Rig a bridle

Using dock lines, rig a bridle. Pass the bitter end of each dock line through a transom eye and then to the stern cleat on the same side of the boat. The bridle should be loose enough to allow for movement, but tight enough to keep the tow line away from your prop.

4) Set up a tow line

You can use a long anchor line (at least 30m or 100ft long) as tow line. It doesn’t matter whose boat it is, as long as it’s strong. Pass one end of the tow line through both loops on the end of your bridle and tie the line with a bowline knot.

4) Approach the vessel and throw them the tow line

Very slowly, approach the other boat into the wind or current to prevent drifting away or into it. Once you’re close enough, throw the tow line to a member of the crew. At this point, they need to secure the tow line to their bow.

They should remove their anchor and attach the line to a bow cleat and through the bow eye, so that the pulling force is in the centre of the boat.

5) Take in the slack and start the tow

Once the tow line is secured, take in the slack and start accelerating gradually. Remember never to put the engine in reverse and to take wide turns. Don’t go fast or go on plane.

6) Head to the nearest harbour or dock

You should aim to keep the tow as short as possible, so you need to head to the nearest dock. Ignore any requests from the other boat to take them to their home port. Once you get near the entrance of the harbour, slow right down.

7) Approach the dock

Next, you’ll want to approach the dock into the prevailing wind or current.

8) Secure your boat

First, you’ll need to dock and secure your own boat. Remember to go very slowly, so the other vessel doesn’t get pulled into your stern.

9) Pull in and secure the disabled boat

Finally, you can use the tow line to pull in the disabled boat and secure it to the dock.

Here are some extra tips to make the tow safe:

Keep watch for the whole duration of the
Agree on a destination before initiating the tow
Stay in touch with the other boat over the VHF
Prevent chafing the tow line with anti-chafing gear or water hose.

Remember: don’t attempt to tow a boat unless the authorities cannot come to help. Only engage in such an operation if you are confident you and your boat can do it safely.

TOWING A DISABLED BOAT IN THE WATER: 9 STEPS