If you are being towed and the boat has a deck-stepped mast, what should you do about the towline attachment?

• A. Use a different attachment point besides the mast
• B. Attach to the mast
• C. Attach to the boom
• D. Attach to the forestay

Answer: (A)

When towing a boat, the tow line should not be attached to the mast, especially if the mast is deck-stepped. Deck-stepped masts rely on the mast step and the rigging to stay in place, but a towing load can impose strong horizontal forces that the mast and its deck connection aren’t built to withstand. Attaching the tow line to the mast can bend, pull the mast through the deck, or damage the mast step and surrounding hardware.

Use a strong hull attachment point instead, such as stern or bow hardware designed for towing (like a sturdy stern cleat or towing eye). If possible, distribute the load with a tow bridle to keep the line away from sails and rigging and to minimize stress on any single point. This approach protects the mast and rigging while keeping the boat under control during the tow.