Davits or not

Jun 7, 2012
86
Hunter 456 Port Canaveral
We are contemplating adding davits on our 456 and would like to get some feedback from the group. I want to also add 2x345 watt solar panels on top of the davits. Thoughts?
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Not me

I really don't like putting solar on Davits,does your
Hunter have a stainless arch and rather install solar off the arch
as I have done and than added the davits with out solar on them.
Nick
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Davits are fine for coastal or inland cruising but if you are considering blue water sailing you need to find another way to store the dingy. One good pooping and you can kiss your dingy and davits good by (and anything they where booted to also)
 
Jun 7, 2012
86
Hunter 456 Port Canaveral
Are there any pictures of a H42 or H45 with an arch structure over the transom holding solar panels?
 
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
We find davits very handy. It keeps the dingy safe, clean and easily accessible in an anchorage. Most of the time we can leave the motor on it. It's a great place to keep boat hooks, fenders ect. Easy to get in or out of slip because we are not towing a dinghy. In rough weather the dinghy needs to be on the foredeck.
We have a dog and so probably enjoy the davits more than others. We go ashore twice a day.
Bob

Have a look here,
http://roadslesstraveled.us/sailboat-solar/
 

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Jul 27, 2011
5,134
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
We are contemplating adding davits on our 456 and would like to get some feedback from the group. I want to also add 2x345 watt solar panels on top of the davits. Thoughts?
Like everything else, it depends on kind of usage of the dink you intend, and the type/size of the dink. I have an inflatable 8' dink with 5-hp outboard that usually stays on the stern rail; I row a lot for short trips ashore. The dink and the engine can always be stowed below. Davits (IMHO) are needed only if you have a hard-bottom dink & heavy (> 50 lb) engine that you need to deploy and recover frequently while cruising.
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Hunter

Hunter does have a davit setup that mounts off the arch
easy install all off the arch and saw the nice setup at a dealer once.
Davits were the best thing we ever added and that way the dink is always
ready to go and easy no real work and I always leave motor on dink ready to go.
I have Ocean Marine but the hunter davits are so easy to install and just bolted
to the arch and made for 38 hunters and up.
Nick
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,845
Hunter 49 toronto
image.jpg
We are contemplating adding davits on our 456 and would like to get some feedback from the group. I want to also add 2x345 watt solar panels on top of the davits. Thoughts?
This is what I did on my 49
Big job, but amazing results
 
Jan 12, 2011
930
Hunter 410 full time cruiser
I have davits and I have a 290W solar panel. My panel is mounted off the traveler arch and would barely fit on top of the davits so I don't see how you would mount 2-345W on them. Plus I think you would get a lot of shading down on the davits.
 
Jun 11, 2011
1,243
Hunter 41 Lewes
I have davits and I have a 290W solar panel. My panel is mounted off the traveler arch and would barely fit on top of the davits so I don't see how you would mount 2-345W on them. Plus I think you would get a lot of shading down on the davits.
I read ALOT about solar panels and shade. I talked to some installers and the consensus seems to be that it is better to mount them parallel to the water surface than to have them get shaded. I'm sure there is tons of opinion on that subject here as well, but I have seen more than one boat hanging their panels on the life line facing outward. Just one more thought.

BTW Tantor I think your davits are aewsome. I have been looking for a welder locally to do something similar on my 41. I'd like to be able to walk under the dink.
 
Apr 20, 2013
34
Hunter 41DS Newcastle ON
Hunter does have a davit setup that mounts off the arch
easy install all off the arch and saw the nice setup at a dealer once.
Davits were the best thing we ever added and that way the dink is always
ready to go and easy no real work and I always leave motor on dink ready to go.
I have Ocean Marine but the hunter davits are so easy to install and just bolted
to the arch and made for 38 hunters and up.
Nick
We installed the factory Davits from Hunter. Easy installation (simply bolt together) and well up out of the way.
 

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