Attaching towing points to a zapcat

[Gray]

For those of you that don't know, a zapcat has very little in the way of a transom. It's metal and the mostly a rectangular metal bar stetching from on tube to the other.

On the zapcat website they used to advertise some sort of attachment that presumably went on the metal bar on order to tow stuff i.e. ringos.

I want to have a way of attaching a towing bridle to the zapcat. I've drawn some really poor diagrams to illustrate this. Basically I need ideas of how i could attach an eye or similar to the metal bar without damaging it...i.e. no drilling!

I was thinking along the lines of a U bolt if you get my drift. Someone on Ribnet must know of something in existence that would do this. Off the top of my head I would say the bar was about 2-3inch square.

If there isn't anything in existence I might be tempted to have something custom built....

[Tim M]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but why don't you just make a couple of rope loops on the bar which you could either tie or clip (using caribinas) to the bridle?

[Nasher]

The U-bolt idea sounds good, with a plate welded an inch or so from the top to form a permanant eye and nuts clamping down on to a loose plate the other side of the box section.

Although I'd be tempted to have two short loops of rope that pass round the box and back through themselves with the bridle carabiner'd to the loose ends.

Nasher.

[Nasher]

Tim

You posted whilst I was typing.

Two great minds think alike

And so do ours

Nasher

[Gray]

'coz they wouldn't be fixed in position and would therefore move right in against the engine causing the rope to rib against the engine and more likely to drop down closer to the prop when at slow speed.

Btw was evolution in cowes last night?

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Gray

'coz they wouldn't be fixed in position and would therefore move right in against the engine causing the rope to rib against the engine and more likely to drop down closer to the prop when at slow speed.

I'd be tempted to try it first, as the rope will be so tight whilst towing it may not move.

Even if it does move, something very subtle like a few wraps of tape around the box will be enough to stop it moving inwards once its tight.
That way the only thing left on the boat when not towing is two bands of tape around the box section.

Nasher

[Tim M]

She was - we went over there for some more engine running in and a quick cider. I thought that was Intrepid I saw as we came in....

Your diagram shows two upright bits of bar to the left and right of where the engine goes. Wouldn't these stop the rope from moving in towards the engine?

Failing that, why not get some big U-bolts. I've tried to find a pic of what I mean but can't find one so heres a quality diagram. I'm thinking of a U bolt threaded most of the way down to the U. You could get hold of a extra bar bit that normally goes across the two bolt bits (I hope that makes sence) and then bolt it all on using 4 locking nuts per bolt.....

Edit: having just read Nashers second idea, maybe use a couple of jubilee clips to hold the rope loops in place....

[Gray]

Ye the U-bolt with the extra plate is what me and Ben had come up with so far, just hoping there might be something ready to go. I think we might give the rope idea a go although I don't think the metal plate behind the engine is wide enough to stop the rope coming close to the engine.

I think the answer might be a custom stainless job.

Ye you saw Intrepid just after Ben saved the harbour master