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When going ashore in a natural harbour, use a plumb line to check that the water is deep
enough and drop the anchor sufficiently far away from the shore. A reasonable hold is
achieved if the anchor rope length is 4-5 times the water depth.
5.4 TOWING
When towing another vessel, use a sufficiently strong, floating towing rope. Start towing
carefully. Avoid jerks and do not overload the engine. Adjust the towing rope length so that it
allows the towed vessel to travel down the wash. In narrow passages and at rough sea the
vessel that is being towed should be kept close to the transom to minimise swaying
When towing or being towed, fasten the towing rope as shown in fig. 1.
Figure 1.
Fastening of towing ropes
6. MAINTENANCE OF BOAT AND EQUIPMENT
Keep your boat clean and tidy. It will add to your comfort and safety, as well as the resale
value of the boat.
6.1 WASHING AND WAXING THE BOAT
Normally it is sufficient just to wash and wax the deck and sides. A special boat cleaning agent
is best for washing. Do not use strong solvents as they may damage the gloss of the
reinforced plastic surfaces. Mildly abrasive polishes can be used to remove chafings and
embedded dirt. Fibreglass surfaces can be washed with a pressure washer.
Useful tip: when the boat has been washed using tap water, a thin chalk-like layer of lime and
minerals will appear on its surface after it has dried. This results from the hardness of the
water and can be eliminated by adding a few drops of tall oil soap solution into a bucket of
rinsing water, which will soften it.
WARNING! The towing rope is under extreme tension. If it breaks, the rope end may hit
the boat with a dangerous force. Always use a sufficiently thick rope and
stay away from the line.
