Wondering what everyone thinks about towing a 4.2m tinnie on a overnighter was going to sail if possible and motor when needed from portsorell to flinders the tinny is too big for davits and too big to put on the deck.
I wanted it on flinders to give some freedom to go diving and fishing etc but am concerned towing any thoughts.

We towed a tinnie many times with no probs before I got an IRB so we could have a route to shore when we anchored. And its great fun to lie in one with a pillow and amber beverage while it gets towed along. The only annoyance was it banged on the side of the boat at anchor because it was too big to pull on board. No matter what we did with it it had a magical attraction to bang, especially at night!

Oh, and dont forget its there and motor over its painter if you go astern. A boat I knew sank by doing that, the prop wound up the painter pulling the tinny in sharp end first at speed which then punched a hole in the boat.

The tinny is 4.2 long with a 25hp on it so not my usual tender we use it for fishing and diving.
The idea is to tow this bigger tinnie to give more options for fishing and have the diving compressor in it for adventures when we arrive at the destination.
I would not like to cut it loose but yes if i have too.
My thinking is it should be fine if i pick my weather but i have never towed such a big dinghy

Hey Toph, are you getting something you can stow on deck at all? Why not an alloy hulled RIB? That's what we had for the trip and it was great. Easy to haul up on foredeck using halyard and stow upside down. I wouldn't like to tow a dinghy all the way.

473 on our dock keeps his on his transom aka sportscruiser type brackets.

Remember you are in for some big currents/tides in the Kimberley, our guys did a 360 getting caught in a sudden eddy going to horizontal falls and got quite a scare.

Can't say it would be the place to be towing something, at least consider some way to bring it somewhat up the transom to avoid any tow rope that could tangle on your rudder/prop.

Think carefully about it mate!

Here's something I've got my eye on at the minute that might suit and is a little more sturdy than an inflatable.

There is a fair bit of diy involved though.

woodenwidget.com/fold.htm

A few tricks....
looooong toe rope with some give in it.
lift the outboard and try a 5m length of 20mm rope tied to each corner of the tinnie and dragged behind in following seas.
when anchored tie a bucket onto the stern on the tinnie to act as a sea anchor. Means the tinnie should hang with the boat and not bash into the side.
pool noodles attached through small holes drilled under the gunnel with cable ties are cheap and easy fended strip idea. They don't last forever but would do for the trip

Another at anchor/mooring dinghy bumping solution is to use a V harness from your stern to the dinghy. On each V thread a pool noodle. The dinghy then shouldn't bump into you.