Sampson Posts

Sunfish · 19 August 2006, 09:53

Hi,
I've got a 7.8 Ribcraft Offshore & last w/e I needed to be towed in (long story). The sea was big so we decided on a line astern tow rather than a side tow. When the towing boat handed me the line I used my Sampson Post. This bent & pulled the 2 supporting legs out of the deck!! I ended up successfully using my bow eye. But my question is; shouldn't a Sampson Post be capable of being used for a line-astern tow?
Regards,
G250

Hightower · 19 August 2006, 10:04

I recon that there are alot of Sampson posts on RIBs that are pretty useless for the purpose of towing and things any more demanding than mooring.

I would have expected better from a Ribcraft, assuming that they fitted it.

The most reliable method is to always use the Bow eye or transom eyes for everything "heavy".

codprawn · 19 August 2006, 17:04

They need to be mounted properly - I think a lot of them are there for show. Mine seems pretty good - bolts going through thick plywood with nice big washers behind it.

ribowner · 20 August 2006, 15:56

Have Ribcraft responded to this..................I ask as these were on my shopping list next week and this sounds terrible. On our work boats we totally abuse the samson posts and have never had one break the deck

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

They need to be mounted properly - I think a lot of them are there for show. Mine seems pretty good - bolts going through thick plywood with nice big washers behind it.

Richard B · 20 August 2006, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Mine seems pretty good - bolts going through thick plywood with nice big washers behind it.

Useless for a sampson post - needs to go into a stringer! I suspect you have a bollard, anyway, not a post!

Bigmuz7 · 20 August 2006, 18:46

I agree. The leverage that gets put on one of these means it neads to be built into the fabric of the boat to be of much real use

Powerboat · 20 August 2006, 22:01

We have one firmly engineered into the bow of our Parker.

Ones that are just surface mounted are useless as the leverage is your biggest problem.

Personally, I would only rig a line astern tow from the bow towing eye as it is a straight pull.

Kind regards,

Stuart

Rogue Wave · 22 August 2006, 00:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I recon that there are alot of Sampson posts on RIBs that are pretty useless for the purpose of towing and things any more demanding than mooring.

I would have expected better from a Ribcraft, assuming that they fitted it.

The most reliable method is to always use the Bow eye or transom eyes for everything "heavy".

I don't think Ribcraft do a veery good job of mounting the A frames and sampson posts. I puled the A frame out of a 7.8 which is when I discovered it was fastened with threaded inserts into the GRP deck.......not impressed.

I showed the things to Pete 7 and he was most surprised but not as much as me when the fkkr leaped into Langstone harbour.

Hopefully they have a better system nowadays

M Humphray · 22 August 2006, 10:44

What I have had made up is a towing yoke, to fit between the eyes on the transom, with a clip hook at either end for ease or removal, and one in the middle for the tow, like a ski rope.

BogMonster · 22 August 2006, 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Humphray

What I have had made up is a towing yoke, to fit between the eyes on the transom, with a clip hook at either end for ease or removal, and one in the middle for the tow, like a ski rope.

That is exactly what I am going to do for mine, I have some fairly solid towing eyes (M12 stainless eye bolts) to replace the rubbish ski hooks that are fitted on the end of the A frame mounting bolts, and then I will carry a towing bridle with quick release carbines and a loop or a carbine in the middle to hook whatever on to. And then hope I never have to use it