I put the motor on the quarter berth. I take the motor off not because of the increased towing load (it is minimal with my 28 lb motor), but to protect the rather expensive motor. It only takes a couple of minutes to take the motor off or put it back on. I have never had a problem towing the dinghy here on the Maine coast. I find that my rib-lite tows very easily. I do find the noise of towing a dinghy under sail objectionable though.