When we had an E32-200 we encountered some steep seas on the Chesapeake while towing an inflatable bow first without it's motor. The dinghy got out of sink with us as it raced down the steep following seas. It's bow began to plow under and take on water. It appeared that the dinghy was going to fill with water and something was going to give.
Fortunately I was able to tie the dinghy bow up to the aft rail. In that configuration, it rode the steep seas fine. As usual, it's important to read the changing conditions ahead of time and know what to do. If I had a plan to begin with, re-rigging the dinghy would have been much easier before the weather hit.
In the case of the dinghy-tow revesre tow concept, I would give it a try for coastal cruising based on my experience with tieing the dink bow to the aft rail. I know that you're not supposed to tow offshore.
Having studied the dinghy tow website, I would be inclined to make one from scratch. It isn't very complicated. The price wasn't on the website which suggests that it is expensive and I believe they are the sole source. I think it's important that it have an easy quick release mechanism in case you need to reconfigure the tow in changing conditions.
-- neal
Geoff Johnson said:
I think I would stay away from the Dingy Tow because it looks like it is connected to the transom by a hard attachment. In any kind of a sea it would buck the hell out of both the boat and the dingy. I tow mine (with the motor mounted on the aft rail).