Dinghy Davits - Another Post

[stephen Penny]

I purchased my first dinghy and dinghy davits. Yesterday I installed 1¼” diameter Garhauer dinghy davits on my Hunter 386, which included struts from the stern rail to hull to resist stress from the davits on the stern rail under sail. It is a clean set up, low cost and strong. I requested Garhauer supply 2 inch spacer to install the foot of the davit to the stern hull, which Mark said he would. I plan to sail with the dinghy in the vertical position angled toward the stern. Did I miss anythingbesides a motor?

 

[Steve W]

Stephen, I've got a '97 H376 and I think the stern setup is similar, if not identical, to yours. Do you have any other pictures of how the davits are anchored to the pushpit and of the base? The pics you included are great but (at least on this computer) it looks like the left side of the pic was truncated. I'd love to see how the davits tie into the rail - and which rail. I've also got those perch seats and I've got to believe it the davits tie into the upper rail it would be real uncomfortable for anyone sitting there! If I'm the only one interested, feel free to send it to me 'off forum' to windsock1@pipeline.com

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Rick486]

You'll also need to think about how to restrain the motion of the dinghy, athwartships and fore and aft, in a seaway.

 

[SV Escapade]

You'll also need to think about how to restrain the motion of the dinghy, athwartships and fore and aft, in a seaway.

Not just in a seaway, Rick, but even in a strong or gusting crosswind in the slip. It isn't too complicated to find a way to crosstie, but I offer this only so new davit owners think about it before leaving their boat for any length of time. I learned at a neighbor's expense. I was at the marina (he wasn't) when a gust from a small squall got under his dinghy (with no cross ties) and flipped it on it's end while still in the davits. Our dinghy had crossties later that afternoon.

 

[Ron McCoy]

Stephen, Nice job! I'd like to see more photos too regarding how & where you connected the davits to the seat rails. On my H386, I purchased the Forespar davits and installed them more aft than how you did yours. The foot of my davits rest atop of the outboard area of the lazzarette while the vertical davit upright is connected to the aft portion of the seat. To increase its strength I added a hortizontal 1" SS tube between the two davits to provide a more rigid set-up (plus it helps when boarding off the stern). Since Hunter installs aluminum blanks inside the hull to thread the stern rail seat bolts, I also added small backing plates and nuts to these bolts (which didn't exist) so as to not overstress those connection points. My set-up has proven very strong. I originally had an inflatable dinghy similiar to yours which weighed about 55# (no outboard). That dinghy has been replaced with a new fiberglass rowing dinghy at 85#. Regardless of dinghy type, it's important to cross tie the boat so that it has limited movement while underway. Best wishes and enjoy your new davits.

 

[stephen Penny]

Steve,

Davits mount behind and to the side of the stern rail seat. They do not interfere with folks sitting on the stern rail seats or make it uncomfortable to sit there with the davits on each side. Please refer to photos of each stern rail seat with the davit next them.

The davit foot will mount to the boat’s stern vertical section above the aft propane lockers with a 2" spacer (please refer to the photo of the foot - Garhauer is fabricating these for me), stainless steel bolts, nuts and backing plate. The installation includes a 1¼” diameter horizontal cross bar between each davit. Boat will be tied down to mitigate movement while underway. It also includes 1" diameter struts that will mount from each side of the stern rail to the boat to mitigate stern rail stress.