ever determined how much water would actually enter a 10 or 13 ft RIB (without the engine attached) if the drain is left open? This thread got me to thinking a bit more about the towing option. A commercial operation I've worked for tows their (large) RIB astern all season between the US and SE Alaska and all the time in Alaska without issues. The towline is very short. Larry's comments about filling with rain and spray are valid but I was wondering just how 'full' a RIB would actually get if towed on a short line, without engine, but with the drain plug open so that it couldn't get seriously full. Alternatively, snugged up real short with a bit of a bow high attitude might further reduce actually water carried in bad conditions. Dinghies tend to flip on longer tow lines although it's probably not impossilbe on a short line given the right (wrong?) circumstances. This concept wouldn't really work with hard dinghies nor, most likely with those of you who have stern mounted wind vanes.