Question 10 AT01 - Assistance Towing Endorsement

The Correct Answer is C **Why option C ("The components of the shorter leg to fail") is correct:** When a bridle (or tow arrangement) has legs of unequal lengths, the load is disproportionately distributed. The shorter leg will become taut and take up the majority—and potentially all—of the initial towing load much sooner than the longer leg. Because the components of the shorter leg are bearing an excessive portion of the total load, they will be subjected to higher stress, increasing the risk of premature failure (breaking or yielding) compared to the components of the correctly loaded, longer leg. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **A) The bridle to foul:** Fouling (tangling or snagging) is usually caused by slack, poor rigging, or excessive motion in light conditions. While unequal lengths introduce uneven stress, they do not inherently increase the likelihood of the bridle fouling, especially under significant towing tension. * **B) Chafing on the fairlead or bitts of the tow:** Chafing is generally caused by movement, friction, and sharp edges where the line passes through or over fittings. Unequal leg lengths affect load distribution, not the physical geometry or movement of the line *at the point of contact* with the fairlead or bitts (assuming the apex connection remains centered). * **D) A bent swivel:** Swivels are designed to handle rotational forces. Unequal leg lengths primarily cause unequal tension (linear stress) on the legs themselves. While unequal loading can place eccentric stress on the apex connection hardware (which might include a swivel), a bent swivel is not the primary or most direct consequence. The most direct and critical outcome is the catastrophic failure of the overloaded, shorter leg components.