Dingy storage, stern or foredeck?

[Captain Gadget]

We just recently purchased our 1998 H340 and of course most of the extras have been stripped including the dingy. I noticed the previous owner left his Weaver Snap Davit brackets on the stern of the boat where he probably stored his inflatable.
I like the idea of the Weaver setup but am concerned that a 10.5 ft. inflatable will be too large here and I love the stern access to the boat both on the water and when docked stern on.
My other alternative of course is to hoist it up to the foredeck using the spinnaker Halyard thereby losing deck space, covering the forward hatch and making it difficult to access the anchor locker.
My question is of course, "which would be the preferred method of storage used by other hunter owners? I have never used the Weaver Davit system and am unsure of the pros and cons.

 

[Bill Roosa]

things to consider

Foredeck visibility. I know when we put ours on the foredeck the first mate cannot see forward to the horizon. She is 5'1" so this may not be an issue but you'd want to check before hand
stern visability. Same issue
stern nav light. Does the placement of the dingy block the stern light?
docking stern to with a dingy. Can you get to all the lines and also fend off with the dingy on the stern?

 

[Steve Dion]

Bill: Consider getting the first mate a booster seat for the helm position. The ones that they sell on the site from Bottom Siders give about 4" of boost. Helps provide better visibility for everyone and easier on the tushy too.

 

[RForst]

I know it slows us down, but we just tow the dink. Then up on the foredeck for storage until the next cruise. I looked at davits (block the view astern) and leaving it on the foredeck (takes ups too much space) but I have probably decided to just keep towing.

 

[Captain Gadget]

re storage

I never thought of the stern light being covered, which of course, it would be, and I know I would lose visibility forward with it on the deck. Forward visibility is always a problem and why make it worse?
Maybe RForst is right. Just tow it.
I suppose if the seas could be bad one could put it on the deck and prior to docking put it on the deck as well. We usually dock stern on anyways as our hunter steers great in reverse and the over deck visibility would not be as much as a concern.
Its great to get someone else's point of view.
Any other comments?

 

[Mike H.]

We only inflate ours when we need it. I sleep with it in the aft stateroom. I must admit, we haven't officially used it yet. I plan on inflating it and putting in the floors on the foredeck when the time comes. Then use the spinnaker halyard to lower it into the water. The engine resides on a block on the aft rail.

I see problems ahead for my system, (or lack thereof).

 

[heart of gold]

I have an 8ft and, as you can see, I keep it on the fore-deck and use the spinnaker halyard to bring it up. I usually just toss it in. 6hp sits on the stern rail....I been thinking though that the swim ladder might make a good tool for storing the dink on. I've seen something similar for lifting outboards. What I was thinking was, with the engine removed, bring the dinghy up to the stern at 90*, lay the ladder on top, lash it round about,then haul it up with a halyard. It weighs at most 60lbs empty. Just thinking thats all.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Dinghy on the stern but different approach

I admit to towing the dinghy (never with the outboard on) when cruising calm inland waters. But I needed a way to store it to go through the locks of the St-Lawrence Seaway and when sailing offshore and I did not want davits nor did I want to store it on deck.

My solution was to install a second halyard (like a main spare halyard) and hoist it to the railing on the stern. It does cover the stern light but when sailing at night with the dinghy hoisted up, I put a light on it that acts as a stern light.

If anchored or at the dock and needing to access the stern ladder, I simply detach it from the railing and bring it to whatever side is convenient, still hoisted but out of the way.

 

[RForst]

Since my last reply, see above, I found this link in Cruising World. Sort of "half towing".
http://www.dinghy-tow.com/

 

[Captain Gadget]

Re: Dinghy on the stern but different approach

I like your idea Claude! I have a spinnaker halyard but it is on the opposite side of the mast, not sure if it would work.
How did you attach the new halyard?

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Halyard to hoist and keep dinghy out of the water.

Should have mentioned that the masthead of my boat has 2 sheaves at the front for jib and spare (my spinnaker is hoisted from a sheave installed on a bail above the headstay), and 2 at the back of the mast. One of these is for the main halyard and I installed a second halyard inside the mast (now have a total of 4) for the dinghy.

I obviously also have 4 sheaves at the base of the mast. On the picture, the halyard with green specks going up alongside the mast is the one for the dinghy.

I still have not run that 2nd halyard to the cockpit so in the mean time I hoist the dinghy with the main halyard and when in position, secured to the railing, I simply attach the 2nd halyard to the webbed slings on the dinghy, secure it to a cleat 2 feet above mast base and remove the main halyard.

 

[Captain Gadget]

Perfect! I sure appreciate your input. It gives me a lot of ideas to try out as soon as spring is here.
I like it!

 

[rfrye1]

Think about Davits

Pharm-
I have done all 3. Towed it ("slap-slap-slap"), on the foredeck (can be a pain/dangerous if you need to get up there in a hurry in weather, especially a 10.5' dink), and if you strap it on the stern, I think the 10.5 will drag when heeled over, not to mention the stern light.

I bit the bullet last year and installed Gaurhauer davits. Should have done it several years ago. Also bought a new RIB at the same time. Takes me 2 minutes to launch or stow the dink, BY MYSELF.
Good luck.
Bob