Looking for the plus and minus of adding a dink davits system to at 32'. Not a fan of drilling any holes into the deck, nor the potential of having to remove the system for winter storage. However, the dinghy, weighing close to 100lbs and not a great fit on the foredeck, is a turning into a burden. The fact that they are an infrequent sight on sailboats in the marina should tell me something. Any thoughts/suggestions w/b appreciated....
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My friend loves his davits
on his Pearson 36, and the system is very easy to use. Cost is probably the reason that you don't see more of them - that and the care that has to be taken to create the template of the stern surface for fashioning the mounting members.
on his Pearson 36, and the system is very easy to use. Cost is probably the reason that you don't see more of them - that and the care that has to be taken to create the template of the stern surface for fashioning the mounting members.
LOVE davits
We had davits on an old 44' boat & loved them. I found myself bringing the dink more often & using it more often, too, while cruising. Safe, secure & easy to use. Better boat speed over towing, easier & cleaner than dragging on deck. I currently have a 30' and I'm debating if that's too small a boat for davits. If you like to bring the dink & hate to drag it on the foredeck, tow or deflate it & stow, davits are the way to go. Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
We had davits on an old 44' boat & loved them. I found myself bringing the dink more often & using it more often, too, while cruising. Safe, secure & easy to use. Better boat speed over towing, easier & cleaner than dragging on deck. I currently have a 30' and I'm debating if that's too small a boat for davits. If you like to bring the dink & hate to drag it on the foredeck, tow or deflate it & stow, davits are the way to go. Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Added Length Warning
Ken. Before inflatables flooded the market, I bought a hard (BoatUS) walker bay type dinghy and hung it on my stern davits on my trusty center cockpit Coronado 35. We cruised the ICW and in most marina's where we pulled in for the night the two feet or so hanging off the back was counted as overall boat length by many a dockmaster. Bummer! Despite my protests, I had to shell out the dough. These davits did not swivel, which I thought was a marvelous idea, especially considering that you can nest your dinghy on-deck and swing in the davits before docking to avoid this hassle. That was back in the early-80's!! Today, I would not doubt one bit that the same goes on if not at every marina for the transient cruiser. Heck they will probably nail the cruising sailor who has a bow-sprit extending off his bow. Regardless of the aforementioned, davits were an absolute pleasure to have. The dinghy stays stable, easily accessible with a ladder and with a good tackle system (blocks for 5 or 3 to 1 purchase), lifting and lowering is easy. The vessel looks really salty and even adds value during resale. Their must be numerous models, but keep in mind one could swivel and stow inward. I never encountered any deck weakening or problem as long as I mounted the outboard on the stern rail and remembered to unplug the drain during a rain storm! Of course do not forget to plug it back too! If you decide on the davits and cruise the ICW though, budget in that extra two or three feet when forking out the coin for dockage. Regards Bob
Ken. Before inflatables flooded the market, I bought a hard (BoatUS) walker bay type dinghy and hung it on my stern davits on my trusty center cockpit Coronado 35. We cruised the ICW and in most marina's where we pulled in for the night the two feet or so hanging off the back was counted as overall boat length by many a dockmaster. Bummer! Despite my protests, I had to shell out the dough. These davits did not swivel, which I thought was a marvelous idea, especially considering that you can nest your dinghy on-deck and swing in the davits before docking to avoid this hassle. That was back in the early-80's!! Today, I would not doubt one bit that the same goes on if not at every marina for the transient cruiser. Heck they will probably nail the cruising sailor who has a bow-sprit extending off his bow. Regardless of the aforementioned, davits were an absolute pleasure to have. The dinghy stays stable, easily accessible with a ladder and with a good tackle system (blocks for 5 or 3 to 1 purchase), lifting and lowering is easy. The vessel looks really salty and even adds value during resale. Their must be numerous models, but keep in mind one could swivel and stow inward. I never encountered any deck weakening or problem as long as I mounted the outboard on the stern rail and remembered to unplug the drain during a rain storm! Of course do not forget to plug it back too! If you decide on the davits and cruise the ICW though, budget in that extra two or three feet when forking out the coin for dockage. Regards Bob
Davits to add or not add
Ken: I had davits on my C30 and I made them so they were removable. I bought them from a dock neighbor after a power boater hit one of them. When he reported the accident to the harbor police, they came and took a report and then proceeded to measure his boat and were going to charge him for the extra boat length!! He removed the davits and I bought them from him shortly thereafter. Had I mounted them I would have been in the same fix as my neighbor. When they measure me I merely take them off and have them re measure. The reason I bought them was my dingy swamped twice in high waves coming back from Catalina Island and I was getting sick of the situation. With the davits, that eliminated that problem. I could describe how I mounted the davits but it would be easier to send you a picture. If your interested send me your Email address at yankee3223@juno.com and I'll send you the photos.
Ken: I had davits on my C30 and I made them so they were removable. I bought them from a dock neighbor after a power boater hit one of them. When he reported the accident to the harbor police, they came and took a report and then proceeded to measure his boat and were going to charge him for the extra boat length!! He removed the davits and I bought them from him shortly thereafter. Had I mounted them I would have been in the same fix as my neighbor. When they measure me I merely take them off and have them re measure. The reason I bought them was my dingy swamped twice in high waves coming back from Catalina Island and I was getting sick of the situation. With the davits, that eliminated that problem. I could describe how I mounted the davits but it would be easier to send you a picture. If your interested send me your Email address at yankee3223@juno.com and I'll send you the photos.
Come on Don, post your davits pic for all to see!
Hi Don - Let's see your davits - I'll bet you came up with an ingenious installation! Thanks, Trevor
Hi Don - Let's see your davits - I'll bet you came up with an ingenious installation! Thanks, Trevor
Davits to add or not add
Trevor: One of the pictures (with the rigid dingy attached) is on my web site where I sell my books and charts so I didn't want to publish that site but I found 2 more pictures that I have elsewhere. I'll send them to Phil and maybe he could publish them. I'm pretty good at sail trim but stink at computers. How I mounted the davits was very simple. I didn't want to punch holes in the deck so I made "U" shape wooden blocks that conforn to the stern of the boat, which was easier said than done. Then I fashioned two U bolts for each davit that attach to the stanchon. The davits themselves used a Garhauer 6:1 block system, which easily lifted my 75 lbs dingy. I could have hoisted the dingy with the motor attached if I wanted to but I always removed it.
Trevor: One of the pictures (with the rigid dingy attached) is on my web site where I sell my books and charts so I didn't want to publish that site but I found 2 more pictures that I have elsewhere. I'll send them to Phil and maybe he could publish them. I'm pretty good at sail trim but stink at computers. How I mounted the davits was very simple. I didn't want to punch holes in the deck so I made "U" shape wooden blocks that conforn to the stern of the boat, which was easier said than done. Then I fashioned two U bolts for each davit that attach to the stanchon. The davits themselves used a Garhauer 6:1 block system, which easily lifted my 75 lbs dingy. I could have hoisted the dingy with the motor attached if I wanted to but I always removed it.
I made a set for my 30
I made a set for my cat 30 - use a 9 ft aqua pro . only have one pic which doesn't show them well. I use the wire topping lift (which I don't use for a topping lift as I have a solid vang) to a Y bridle which supports both ends of the davits. The vertical part of the davits is supported with a 1"ss endfitting at each bottom and a 1" bracket at the pushpit top rail. 2 1:6 harken blocks for each fall means I can hoist the dingy with one hand. I wouldn't go back to hoistng onto the fordeck for anything. I can lower the dingy , drop the engine on the transom and be away in minutes.
I made a set for my cat 30 - use a 9 ft aqua pro . only have one pic which doesn't show them well. I use the wire topping lift (which I don't use for a topping lift as I have a solid vang) to a Y bridle which supports both ends of the davits. The vertical part of the davits is supported with a 1"ss endfitting at each bottom and a 1" bracket at the pushpit top rail. 2 1:6 harken blocks for each fall means I can hoist the dingy with one hand. I wouldn't go back to hoistng onto the fordeck for anything. I can lower the dingy , drop the engine on the transom and be away in minutes.
Davits to addor not add
Mates: After years of messing with removing and installing the OB engine on the dingy by standing in the dingy and handing it up or down to someone, I found an easier way. Use the boom instead. I merely attach a small soft boom vang to boom end and tighten the topping lift. Then I attach the motor to the vang by way of a OB harness and swing the boom over the side of the boat (like a crane) and lower the motor onto the dingy. To take it off I reverse the process. Its a lot easier on your back also.
Mates: After years of messing with removing and installing the OB engine on the dingy by standing in the dingy and handing it up or down to someone, I found an easier way. Use the boom instead. I merely attach a small soft boom vang to boom end and tighten the topping lift. Then I attach the motor to the vang by way of a OB harness and swing the boom over the side of the boat (like a crane) and lower the motor onto the dingy. To take it off I reverse the process. Its a lot easier on your back also.
good point Don
I have a friend in his 70's who is out of sailing because he hurt his back and hip while standing in his dingy, which was in the water next to his boat, trying to lower a 3hp engine from his boat to his dingy. I use a crane on my radar post - my dingy davits and o/b are set up so my 110lb wife can lower the dingy then lower and mount the o/b on her own, in case she needs to use it when I am out of commission.
I have a friend in his 70's who is out of sailing because he hurt his back and hip while standing in his dingy, which was in the water next to his boat, trying to lower a 3hp engine from his boat to his dingy. I use a crane on my radar post - my dingy davits and o/b are set up so my 110lb wife can lower the dingy then lower and mount the o/b on her own, in case she needs to use it when I am out of commission.
Davits to add or not to add
Tomfoolery: Garhauer make a nice OB hoist that stands alone and they make another one that mounts on their radar mast. I was thinking of buying their system but I ran out of room on the stern so I had to come up with something else - the boom contraption.
Tomfoolery: Garhauer make a nice OB hoist that stands alone and they make another one that mounts on their radar mast. I was thinking of buying their system but I ran out of room on the stern so I had to come up with something else - the boom contraption.
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