Dinghy Davits Whats the best?

Feb 13, 2014
4
Hunter 466 Oxnard CA
Hi, I just bought a Hunter 466, with a dinghy and no davits, I prefer to have it on davits and not the fore deck, I read allot about Nova Fore Spar, but they have weight limits of 300 LBS
my dingy weighs 225LBS with outboard 335 lbs, what davits are recommended to support the weight and avoid swinging with healing, or weather issue.

Bill
 
Feb 26, 2004
22,760
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
There is no "best" or at least rarely is in boating. :)

There are compromises, like removing your dinghy engine, to lighten the load.

Kato and Garhauer also make davits. A Google search may turn up a few more. Garhauer has a good reputation for relatively inexpensive but great & strong gear. I'd give them a shot.

What size & type of dinghy and what size engine, 2 or 4 stroke and weight?

Good luck.
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Other things to consider;
Will all the crew be able to see aft with the dingy on the davits. While I can see over (6 ft) the 5 ft first mate sees the dingy and sky.
Will it cover the stern light? This will require moving the stern light.
Will that make your boat longer "in the slip"? Marinas usually charge by the foot of room you take up and not the actual boat length.
How will you use the walk through with the dingy on the davits?
Davits are not that hard to make BTW
 
Jul 27, 2013
296
Hunter 37.5 1065 Rock Hall, MD
I have davits on my 37.5 legend. Because of leverage and weight limits, my davits put the dinghy about 3 feet off the cockpit floor. I makes for a nice outdoor storage area :). If it's a short trip, i keep the engine on the dinghy. Longer trips, engine on the rail. I inherited these from the PO.

One suggestion.....if you are going to have new davits made, consider future needs like solar panel mounts and/or wind generator mounts so you won't have to go back and retro fit.

Ben
 
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
The above points are all things to consider when getting davits.
We had our davits made by Ocean Marine Systems and are very pleased with the results. They custom build them for the model of Hunter you own, the size and weight of your dinghy and motor, if you want solar panels etc.. We have a 6:1 tackle on the transom end of the dinghy for the motor and only need a 4:1 for the bow. They supplied the davits to the Hunter factory after consulting with Hunter on each new model, so you can be sure they will not damage the stern rail on your boat. We can still use the swim platform, open lockers etc. with dinghy hauled up. In our case the dingy is mostly over the swim platform and have never been charged additional for a slip. They fold in when not in use or boat is hauled.

Bob
(no connection, just a very satisfied customer)
 

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Jan 10, 2012
75
HUNTER 49 MARINA DEL REY
I would check out St Croix, the blocks our built in the end of the davit so when you are pulling up you don't get a twist in the block. They have two sizes for different load requirements. They will help you with the proper way to mount them or custom make you a mount.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,665
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Hi, I just bought a Hunter 466, with a dinghy and no davits, I prefer to have it on davits and not the fore deck, I read allot about Nova Fore Spar, but they have weight limits of 300 LBS
my dingy weighs 225LBS with outboard 335 lbs, what davits are recommended to support the weight and avoid swinging with healing, or weather issue.

Bill
Unless the davits are built to Mil-Spec and the hull and structure were specifically designed for the loads I know of no davit on the planet that should have 335 pounds on it in rough weather, unless you like to break stuff....

Davits are best suited to inshore calm weather conditions...

We have Ocean Marine Systems davits but you could not pay me enough to leave the dinghy in them in rough weather.. Dinghy goes on the foredeck in rough stuff held down with SS ratchet straps, motor goes on the stern rail...
 
Sep 26, 2010
45
Hunter 410 Cheboygan Michigan
I also have an Ocean System on my Hunter 410 (2000) and have been very satisfied. I have a walk through transom and can still get into the water going under the dinghy on the stern platform. I'm also retrieve items from the two stern lockers as well.
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,737
Hunter 49 toronto
Hi, I just bought a Hunter 466, with a dinghy and no davits, I prefer to have it on davits and not the fore deck, I read allot about Nova Fore Spar, but they have weight limits of 300 LBS
my dingy weighs 225LBS with outboard 335 lbs, what davits are recommended to support the weight and avoid swinging with healing, or weather issue.

Bill
Well, this wasn't a trivial project. It took the better part of last summer to perfect it.
I wanted together best possible set of Davits for a 49, and here is what I came up with.
There are built in winches with dynema line. Approximately 10:1 ratio on them, and you can crank up the dinghy with minimal effort.
You can definitely haul up a dinghy with outboard on these, and not worry about rigidity.
FYI, I stiffened up the stern with internal 3/8" glass.
For an initial test, I put someone in a bosun's chair, and cranked them up from the water surface. Literally two fingers on the winch for cranking 150 pounds was all it took.
Fantastically successful project

image.jpg
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,737
Hunter 49 toronto
Here's a higher resolution photo

Well, this wasn't a trivial project. It took the better part of last summer to perfect it.
I wanted together best possible set of Davits for a 49, and here is what I came up with.
There are built in winches with dynema line. Approximately 10:1 ratio on them, and you can crank up the dinghy with minimal effort.
You can definitely haul up a dinghy with outboard on these, and not worry about rigidity.
FYI, I stiffened up the stern with internal 3/8" glass.
For an initial test, I put someone in a bosun's chair, and cranked them up from the water surface. Literally two fingers on the winch for cranking 150 pounds was all it took.
Fantastically successful project

View attachment 72554

Last photo was grainy,
Here's a better one

image.jpg
 
Mar 18, 2013
13
Hunter 49 Caribbean
Last photo was grainy, Here's a better one <img src="http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=72555"/>
Art I am jealous of your Davits. Mine are ocean marine and work Well and I lift my AB 9 VL with 2 stroke 15 hp the only problem is in big waves the boat is hard to secure to avoid the stress and strain of movement. Do you crank yours to the point where the boat is firm against the bottom side if the davit?
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,737
Hunter 49 toronto
Yes. That is the case

Art I am jealous of your Davits. Mine are ocean marine and work Well and I lift my AB 9 VL with 2 stroke 15 hp the only problem is in big waves the boat is hard to secure to avoid the stress and strain of movement. Do you crank yours to the point where the boat is firm against the bottom side if the davit?
I have mourned two rubber block on the dinghy which nests the width arms.
So, the dinghy locks into the Davits at full lift
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,737
Hunter 49 toronto
Extendible arms

Art I am jealous of your Davits. Mine are ocean marine and work Well and I lift my AB 9 VL with 2 stroke 15 hp the only problem is in big waves the boat is hard to secure to avoid the stress and strain of movement. Do you crank yours to the point where the boat is firm against the bottom side if the davit?
Also, if you look closely at the photo, there are arm extensions at the end of each arm. You pull these out and lock with a friction knob
This stabilizes the other side of the dinghy
 
Sep 30, 2008
88
Hunter 37.5 37.5 Norfolk
Davits on 37.5

I have davits on my 37.5 legend. Because of leverage and weight limits, my davits put the dinghy about 3 feet off the cockpit floor. I makes for a nice outdoor storage area :). If it's a short trip, i keep the engine on the dinghy. Longer trips, engine on the rail. I inherited these from the PO.

One suggestion.....if you are going to have new davits made, consider future needs like solar panel mounts and/or wind generator mounts so you won't have to go back and retro fit.

Ben


Ben,

I have a 1996 Hunter 37.5 and want to put davits on her. Is there anyway you can post a picture if the davits on your 37.5?

Thanks,

Scott
 
Jul 27, 2013
296
Hunter 37.5 1065 Rock Hall, MD
Sure I can. Next time I go to the boat, I will take some photos. I have a few sailing vids that you can see the dinghy on the davits if you would like that in the meantime. They are on youtube.

Ben
 
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Jan 12, 2011
930
Hunter 410 full time cruiser
I don't know what are Best. All I can say is that I have St Criox rotating ones and I don't like them (but my money is spent so am going to live with them)
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,737
Hunter 49 toronto
I agree with you

I don't know what are Best. All I can say is that I have St Criox rotating ones and I don't like them (but my money is spent so am going to live with them)
You have to live with what you've got.
That's why I put off installing davits for years. I just wanted to do it right, with minimal compromise. It ended up being a big job, but they are very solid.
You have to appreciate that the sterns on these boats aren't built a to take a lot of flex & strain. So you really have to think carefully on how you are going to support a fair bit of weight.
I spent a ton of effort on mine, and I'm very happy.
But,, it wasn't as simple as just ordering a pair off the shelf
 
Oct 13, 2013
129
Beneteau 37 Oceanis Platinum Edition Seabrook, TX
When my Beneteau Oceanis 37 arrives it will be outfitted with Kato Marine "Voyager" Davits. Each arm is capable of lifting 420 lbs. http://www.katomarine.com/saildavits-voyager.htm
They would be great on your size Hunter. They are usually seen on the larger sailboats like yours but I want a strong davit system that is independent of the push pits. I will also mount solar panels on them.
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,809
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Ocean Marine

I have ocean marine davits on my 2007 H-36 that came off a 410 hunter
and they are very heavy duty for sure what I like about them is the you have a option to install them so the height is so to look over and out the back with good view and my stern light is visible and access to my stern compartments also and yes can step under and out the stern and have had others come aboard while dinghy is up,I have double stainless bar to stop swinging and can secure dinghy with straps or line to secure it against the arms and double bar.
I have 9'6'' with aluminum floor and 8hp motor and usualyy sail and motor with motor on dinghy and as I said I can pull up against the arms and double cross bar with line and the dinghy stays nice with out swinging all over.
I think it is a very well built system with arms that extend out to keep dinghy
out a way from stern and not to fold up if needed.
Nick
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,737
Hunter 49 toronto
Found Ocean Marine hard to deal with

I have ocean marine davits on my 2007 H-36 that came off a 410 hunter
and they are very heavy duty for sure what I like about them is the you have a option to install them so the height is so to look over and out the back with good view and my stern light is visible and access to my stern compartments also and yes can step under and out the stern and have had others come aboard while dinghy is up,I have double stainless bar to stop swinging and can secure dinghy with straps or line to secure it against the arms and double bar.
I have 9'6'' with aluminum floor and 8hp motor and usualyy sail and motor with motor on dinghy and as I said I can pull up against the arms and double cross bar with line and the dinghy stays nice with out swinging all over.
I think it is a very well built system with arms that extend out to keep dinghy
out a way from stern and not to fold up if needed.
Nick
I know another 49 owner with OM davits, so I thought I'd look into it.
Not the best conversation I've had.
My buddy ran into a problem with his, and getting parts was not all that pleasant