311 davit pictures?

[stevemitchell]

Anyone have a stern davit or something similar for a dinghy on a 311 or similar model that they have pictures of?

Have been considering adding one in a year or so for a rather heavy dinghy and also some solar panels.

Thanks

 

[Caboteur]

Hi,
I'm sorry the images are not fantastic for demonstration of the davits etc... My dinghy is a AB 8½ ft hard bottom and quite heavy, it was impossible for me to heave it on deck alone. Because the 31 (a descendant of the 311) is such a small boat (for davits & solar) I opted for the Weaver snap davits with the removable davit heads. This way when the dinghy is in the water and the davit heads removed you don't catch your toes while using the swim platform. I wanted the solar panels to be inobtrusive and keep the bimini removable, they are therefore positionned behind the bimini and are high enough that all may walk through without hitting their head. I attached a pulley system to raise & lower the 8hp Yamaha I use on the dinghy. The 31 has a rather wide stern and the dinghy clears water & waves on every point of sail. The panels are 85W each and keep the fridge working all season long; the boat is on a mooring and beer (water etc) must be kept cold at all times!
Still three months to splash... can't wait.
Pierre

 

[Caboteur]

Another note,
I had to disconnect my stern running light and put a new one on the rear edge ot the solar panels. Small detail.
Pierre

 

[stevemitchell]

Hi,
I'm sorry the images are not fantastic for demonstration of the davits etc... My dinghy is a AB 8½ ft hard bottom and quite heavy, it was impossible for me to heave it on deck alone. Because the 31 (a descendant of the 311) is such a small boat (for davits & solar) I opted for the Weaver snap davits with the removable davit heads. This way when the dinghy is in the water and the davit heads removed you don't catch your toes while using the swim platform. I wanted the solar panels to be inobtrusive and keep the bimini removable, they are therefore positionned behind the bimini and are high enough that all may walk through without hitting their head. I attached a pulley system to raise & lower the 8hp Yamaha I use on the dinghy. The 31 has a rather wide stern and the dinghy clears water & waves on every point of sail. The panels are 85W each and keep the fridge working all season long; the boat is on a mooring and beer (water etc) must be kept cold at all times!
Still three months to splash... can't wait.
Pierre

Thanks so much for the description and the pictures! Love your 31 - I have a dock-mate who has one right next to me.

The snap davits are a good idea with the flat transom.

I can't quite tell how your solar arch is put together. Is it independent of the bimini completely? Just a single piece, or a couple of pieces? Did you have this custom made, or is it an option for the 31?

 

[Caboteur]

There are only two stainless tubes, they are attached to the stern rail with a hinge. I had a local canvas dealer bend them to my needs. The forward tube is attached to the bimini support.
On this site if you go to "home" "resources (beneteau)" "31" "owner modifications" you will find the solar panels and added batteries along with several other "improvements" I made. The next ones to come are a larger cockpit table and drawers in the galley... Work to be done this spring.
Pierre

 

[stevemitchell]

There are only two stainless tubes, they are attached to the stern rail with a hinge. I had a local canvas dealer bend them to my needs. The forward tube is attached to the bimini support.
On this site if you go to "home" "resources (beneteau)" "31" "owner modifications" you will find the solar panels and added batteries along with several other "improvements" I made. The next ones to come are a larger cockpit table and drawers in the galley... Work to be done this spring.
Pierre

Thanks! I never knew that section of the site even existed!! Quite excited by all of the info I've found there on my 311.

I found the pictures of the solar panel attachment. I'll have to see if I can have someone do something similar for me.

I've also made a ton of modifications already, including increasing my battery capacity as you did as well.

 

[Caboteur]

I went to the boat yesterday: pics of the Solar-bimini setup

 

[stevemitchell]

I went to the boat yesterday: pics of the Solar-bimini setup
View attachment 119407 View attachment 119408

Thank you so much! That's super helpful. It looks like your bimini top is connected in a slightly different way than mine. Mine cants out over the stern a bit more, so I might have to get creative. But the concept should work!

Looks super cold there!

 

[Caboteur]

Actually it was the warmest January on record... there is just about no snow and the dayly temps hover around the freezing point. We usually get around three meters of snow and it stays until early to mid April. The background on one of the pictures shows grass on the lawns: unheard of in February!

 

[Full Circle 473]

Caboteur. Which or what model configuration of snap davit did ou use? I also have an AB and was concerned about the weight. Did you need the riser plates and were you able to use the brackets that glue to the side/top if the dinghy?

 

[Caboteur]

Full Circle,
I have the removable "Quick kit" with the base "snaps". with this configuration the snaps are not toe breakers when using the swim platform for swimming.
The rear lip on my Bénéteau 31 is relatively high and the dinghy clears the water well without the risers. On a close port tack and heavy waves the lower tube occasionnally touches the water. The 31 has a wide stern and great buoyancy so the weight isn't a great factor.... This is cruising mode... the 300 liters of water and fuel under the rear bunk have a greater effect than the 80 kilos of outboard and dinghy.
I used the normal glued-on patches on the dinghy and they work fine. It is easy and very quick to raise or lower the dinghy and unhook it to go swimming or use the dinghy. My only proviso is that it blocks entry back to the boat should I fall overboard while singlehanding.
Pierre