All that stuff in the stern!
This is becoming increasingly more common as cruisers move to using their yachts more, and want some creature comforts along with the ride. The desire for independance from shore based systems has promted an explosion in 12 volt technology over the past decade particularly. This has resulted in solar panels and wind generators sprouting from the yachts as well as the usual proliferation of other gear hung from the stern rail. My first advice for you is in the 12 volt department. Examine your electrical consumption needs and the resulting battery sizing very closely. Evaluate it in terms of ampere hours. Compare this with the type of cruising that you plan on doing, ie: How often do you run your engine daily? Very often, you discover that you already operate your engine for sufficient time to give you good recharging capabilities (assuming some kind of high output charging system). My second piece of advice is to take your time. There is a lot of products out there, most of them good. Matching it up to your needs is the trick to giving you what you need at a price that will not break you. When it comes to a davit system, it is quite common in this day and age to consider mounting solar panels across them. However, on the 340 this decision might require you to mount solar panels on each davit rather than across them. This would then still allow you easy access through the walk through transom. I am not sure, but if it were my 340, I think I would examine closely the possibilities of installing the wind generator on your existing arch. It is already capable of carrying the wiring, so it would only remain to organize a mounting system. I think that this would be preferable to a stand alone wind generator mount as to mount up on the arch would keep it completely out of the way. A davit system might be designed to accept a pair of solar panels offset from the yacht centerline. That leaves only to find a way of lifting the motor. Mounting solar panels on the davits would mean giving up the ability to easily disconnect one davit to use it as a motor lift. If it is a lighter motor, say a 2HP or so, consider lifting it from a tackle on your boom - that would eliminate an extra davit aft. Otherwise, a motor davit might be mounted beside your dinghy davit on one side, and be set up with a quick release so that you can store it when you do not need it. Mounting it there on the 340 would allow you to lift the motor off the dinghy at the stern and swing it through the walk through. Alternatively, a motor davit could be mounted at the forward edge of the stern rail on either side. That would allow you to lift the motor off the dinghy there and lift it up to a motor bracket set there on the rail for the purpose of carrying it while at sea. This might at least minimize the stuff on the rail or at the least, leave room for the all important barbeque!! Hope this helps!
