Size limits for towing a center console?

I do know that insurance companies do have a ratio so youn,any want to ask an ins broker. I've also heard many ins companies won't insure the boat while under tow. That's what happened to us. Centerconsole was fully insured except when towing.

They definitely don't want to see anything 1/2 the length of the boat towing. BUT, there are so many variables of determining what size boat you can tow. I used to tow a heavy older 24' Robalo with 2-225 hp 4 strokes behind a 52' Searay sedan bridge......it was pretty hard on the cummins in the Searay, but it towed it fine and never pulled or steered the searay around. But we never towed it in more than 3-5', and that was only once off the stern. I always towed it at around 22 knots.

23' and 27' doesn't always get you much more in a center console. For example the 23' Contender with it's stubbiness, I've found to hold just as many people and be just as capable and preferred to the 27' Contender. That's probably what I'd tow for a lot of yachts with a single 300 HP Yamaha on it or verado.

The larger than your beam thing is total BS. Let's take an older 80' Hatteras, beam is around 21', a 21' tender would be nothing behind it. I've seen those tow much larger tenders than that, no problem...…… I would skip Albury, I ran one extensively for 3 days. They have no chines so they slide around corners (very wide) rather than turn sharp, and they were just an average riding boat and crudely finished off.

Most 65's MY could tow a 27' center console if it's on the lighter side, but it would be right at the upper limit in size unless it was a 65' SF

I think 2 of my insurance companies said 1/3 the size of the tow vessel. However, they both allowed me to tow a 29 ft Everglades behind a 78 ft boat. I think the also had a Force 5 wind maximum for towing. One company actually made me have the bridle surveyed.

Wow! this topic still blows my mind away. Capt J your a towing machine! Zen do it to it! send us a photo when you do the entire deal.

I've been towing my 19 Pioneer behind my Cabo 43 for 7-8 yrs. Do it every year to the Bahamas for a month. Cruise at 22 knts. Never leave unless forecast is less than 2-3ft although have run into higher when forecast was off.

So towing a 12' RIB with a 40Yamaha with a 50' Californian is no issue. But here is my question.
I am on the Columbia river and towing in current seems dodgy imagining a downriver run. The current based on tide, water release by the Corps of Engineers and the powers that be, recent rains, water levels is so variable there a times with significant current.
Advisable to tow downriver?
My stern is set with a fixed davit for the Seadoo so I would have to tow if I wanted the dink for junk holing and bass fishing excursions.

When towing you always leave the motor on the tow partially down......maybe at a 45 degree angle where the prop is at the waterline. This creates plenty of drag so that the tow slows down before the big boat and tracks straight. Small RIB's usually don't track well and you might as well leave the engine all of the way down and motor locked straight.

I told my wifey that you meant to say I need an 18 foot center console
Thanks for the great advice.

When I'm towing on the intracoastal there is also current. 2-3 knots

Well yeah, that too. You need an 18' center console instead of some silly little rib!

I knew it! Capt J to the rescue. My Saint Bernard will like the extra walkaround space too!

Kitty Kats and a Saint Bernard, bigger boat for sure. Now let me see, I have the Californian Veneti 50, my wife has a 37' sail boat. Can I convince her that 87' is the way to go with one vessel instead of two?...That would hold plenty of kritters.