THE COURSE STABILITY OF TOWED BOATS

The course stability of towed boats is discussed theoretically and numerically by the parameters--a ship's course stability criterion, towing point, length of towing rope, number of boats, steering, and size of boats. The results are as follows: (a) the course stability of same size towed boats is poorest when the parameters of each boat are same except size of boats. (b) the greater the number of towing boats the poorer the course stability and the stable towing of a boat is possible by the adaptation of a proper towing point and the length of a towing rope but it is impossible in the case of two, three or more boats without steering. (c) the course stability of a towed boat increases together with the increase of course stability criterion, but its effect is small in the case of two or more boats. (d) the effect of aft towing points is nearly zero, but the approach to a boat's centre of gravity is good. On the case of fore towing points it is better to part from a boat's centre of gravity except one towed boat. (e) generally in the practical case the long towing rope is more stable and the short length is unstable. (f) by steering the course stability increases remarkably and of course the steering of each boat is very good, but the steering of only a last boat is not questionable in the case of two towed boats and the use of long rope is needed in three towed boats.

• Corporate Authors:

  West Japan Society of Naval Architects

  Kyushu University, Hakozaki C-10-1, Higashi-ku
  Fukuoka-shi,   Japan 
• Authors:
  • Inoue, S
  • Kakizaki, S
  • KASAI, H
  • KUBOTA, T
  • Yamashita, Y
• Publication Date: 1971-5

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 41

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Hydrodynamics; Steering; Towing devices
• Old TRIS Terms: Course stability; Steering dynamics; Towed bodies; Towline hydrodynamics
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00323610
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Stevens Institute of Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 19 1980 12:00AM