Dinghy davit users.....the outboard?

py26129 · Apr 26, 2013

Axel

While I do not have davis on my boat, three of our friends do and they keep the engine on their dinghies while on the davits. Engines range from 6 hp to 9.9.

Matt

RECESS · Apr 26, 2013

Some put the outboard on the stern rail and mount it on the dinghy before dropping. Others keep them on the dinghy all the time.

Something to consider. Many of us cross the Gulf of Mexico from Carrabelle to Tampa. It can get snotty really fast offshore. Many people that keep their dinghys on davits put them on the forward deck tied down for the crossing. On boats our size the swells and waves can slap the dinghy around when it gets really rough. You do not want to have to try and secure it when all that is going on. Coastal Cruising rarely presents a problem. If you do some lengthy crossings, you may want to consider some alternatives than having it in the davits..

seadaddler · Apr 26, 2013

Davits

I have Ocean davits on my H-36 with a 9'6'' aluminum floor and 8hp motor and always leave the motor on with 6-1 on the motor side aand 4-1 on front,but my Ocean davits have a double bar support that keeps the davits from moving and when traveling I add support lines to keep the dink tight up against the davits and no swinging.
Ocean install manual said not not to make the davit arms perfectly parallel with each other and let the arms either point inward or outward for better stronger lifting and support.
Nick

centerline · Apr 26, 2013

AXEL said:
Thanks for the comments. I will have to see how well the boat sails with the dink on the davits. But that's not an issue. I don't mind towing it. Although I prefer not to tow with the engine on. Right now I am more concerned about what to do with the engine while the dink is docked during the week while I'm not using the boat. I'm thinking either way I'm going to have a bit of a conflict. Storing the engine on the dink is easy work however as mentioned I don't like to tow with the engine on. Taking the engine off and towing every time I go out will be a pain. If the boat sails well in most conditions (in the bay) with the dink and engine on the davits that would be the best scenario. Just not sure it's gonna happen.

what is it that you dont like about leaving the motor on it when towing it?....
when the dinghy is already in the water being towed behind the boat, the motor should be "stored" on it and tipped up, and that is the most natural time for it to be on there as its ready for instant use...
it makes little difference in the towability or hull restriction thru the water, but only the time it takes to set it up every time you want to use it, and the risk of dropping the motor while handling it every time.....

thinwater · Apr 26, 2013

Definatly go 6:1 on both ends, with cam cleats. MUCH better.

My back is worth more than the engine. I wouldn't take it off on the davits, never have.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2009/06/hoisting-dingy-with-engine-in-place-can.html

___

That said, my boat is a cat and the dingy rides better on the davits (high and between the hulls) that it does on the deck; if it needs to come off the davits, it's going to need to be below.

windward54 · Apr 26, 2013

centerline said:
what is it that you dont like about leaving the motor on it when towing it?.....

I've had a few friends have their dinks flip over while towing with a motor attached.

When it came time for davits, I wanted ones that would support the dinghy and engine. That's why I went with the Garhauer. The davits had double bar and additional deck support braces. And 6:1 blocks are standard so my back thanks me. But even with that, I strap the dinghy down tight against the rails to prevent swaying. It's a lot of weight moving around. And I only do this near shore. Anything long distance, and the engine is going on the rail mount.

Lost Parent · Apr 26, 2013

Post lots of pictures when done some of us are thinking of tdoing the same thing

windward54 · Apr 26, 2013

AXEL said:
There are challenges to how to fit a cover on over the slings.

I gave up on covers and went with chaps. More money, but I never have to take the chaps on or off. And when it looks like rain, I pull the transom plug and tilt the aft end down.

Tom J · Apr 26, 2013

AXEL said:
I'm installing a set of St Croix davits on my C30 this season. It will be supporting my Achilles 9.5 (aluminum floor) dink. Prior to the davits I stored the 6 hp Johnson on the stern rail. Now I'm wondering what my options are with the dink in the way. I could tilt the outboard up on the stern rail. It would look a little funky but it should allow clearance for me to pull up the dink. I could also leave the engine on the dink. I'm not keen on hanging the outboard off the side of the stern rail. I'm afraid of catching a piling while docking. What do you davit users prefer?

We hang our little 3.3 Mercury on the stern rail behind the perch seat, on the side where the bow of the dinghy is when hanging in the davits. Our dinghy is a Walker Bay 8, so we have more room to do this than you do. I don't know if you can tilt your outboard up when it is on the stern rail. Ideally, you want the dinghy high and tight to the davits. The dink would most likely be as high as the stern rail.
We only leave the outboard on the dinghy when we are anchored overnight, and are hanging the dinghy for security and to let it dry out. I agree about hanging the engine on the side rail. It would definitely attract pilings. This is a worthwhile project that you will really appreciate.

RAD · Apr 27, 2013

G,
you should check out Barry's davit set up and talk with him.....I helped with the davit installation and it was pretty easy and I believe he keeps his outboard on the dink at all times
RAD

ITMaster · Apr 28, 2013

Davits & Dink

I have a set of Kato with a spreader bar that puts the ends of the davits outboard. A lot of the time I leave the motor mounted on the dink and hoist it up (6:1 on both sides) and tie the dink off so it won't move. It rides solid the way I tie it off. Sometimes, I will pull the motor and leave it mounted on the motor mount on the rail and tie off the dink, depends on how I feel. The only way I tow it is for a very short distance like if I am moving to a different anchorage 15 or 20 minutes away.

seadaddler · Apr 28, 2013

Floor

I drilled and used riverts to anchor stainlees loops on the aluinum floor and made proper length cable from WM for attaching the 4-1 hooks to the bow for lifting the dink and never really tow any more.
The dink with motor and gas tank is 24/7 on the davits.
Nick

Gunslinger33 · Apr 28, 2013

Since my wife and I have a rule (well, a soft rule) that everything on the boat should have at least two uses, we found that The perfect solution for my boat

Gunslinger33 · Apr 28, 2013

Since my wife and I have a rule (well, a soft rule), that everything on the boat should have at least two uses, we found that having a swing up transom mount for the outboard is the perfect answer. It gives us a place to store the dinghy motor, is an easy place to lift it from to put on the dinghy, and gives us the option to use it as a standby motor if the main engine won't start.

Dinghy davit users.....the outboard?

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