Davits for H27 1979.

[alessandra]

I would like to install dinghy davits on my H27.................. any suggestions ?????????????

 

[Ed Schenck]

Just one, don't. Then a question, why? Our boats are so narrow at the stern. It has to be a very small dinghy and will still catch on pilings, block your vision, and for me at least, makes the cockpit claustrophobic.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

There are a number of davit manufacturers out there. St. Croix and Kato are two that come to mind. The Kato ones have feet that attach to your transom gunwale and then are supported by the stern rail. So.....the stern rail has to have sufficient enough strength to support the weight and stress of a dinghy (and outboard, if you leave it on). St. Croix Davits has a number of models that allow you to not use the stern rail as a support base and they are flexible enough with different attachment points to make this work. There are some other methods that can be employed too, but I don't recall the company names. One has a couple of loops that you attach to the transom that accommodates the dinghy sideways. This has to be a dinghy with inflatable tubes, rather than a Walker Bay or regular hard dinghy without tubes. The tubes on one side of the dinghy rests in these loops and then you pull the other side up to the stern rail so that the dinghy is thwartships and secured on top with the bottom of the dinghy facing aft. Might be a little more work, but simple in design and easier on your pocketbook. Hope this helps.

 

[Benny17441]

I concur the stern of the h27 is to narrow for davits. There is not enough stern space to provide for the installation of davits with the separation of the arms required to properly support a small dinghi. The beam of the boat is only 9' 3" and the ends of an 8' dinghi would probably extend more than 2' from each side of the stern. You will have windage, weight and height issues which could influence the sailing characteristics of the boat. I mention height as you will need to carry the dink higher than normal to provide an adequate margin of safety so that when the boat heels the ends have no chance of going in the water. Not many of us may go out to bury the rail when cruising but it can easily happen for a moment when sailing in high waves and a moment would be all needed to have that dink ripped from the transom or worst.

 

[Jimboyyy]

I tow my dinghy when needed. Just make sure and watch the painter. I keep it in close while in the slip and motoring and let the line out about 5 to 10 feet when sailing......

I have always wanted to experiment with a pivoting mount at the ladder that would attach to the stern of the dinghy. The bow of the dinghy would then be raised and tied off.