How to secure a dinghy in davits?

[Rich Stidger]

I have installed Garhauer davits on my Hunter 40.5, and now find that properly securing my Achilles dinghy requires more than just hoisting it up.Apparently it is necessary to tie the dinghy to the davits so that absolutely no movement is permitted in any sea condition.I would like to hear from anyone who knows how to do this. Pictures would be a great help. I would be happy to call anyone who would accept a call.My problems that I know about include- how to tie the dinghy to eliminate all movement and how to rig the hoist lines so that they do not chafe on either the outboard motor or the inflatable tubes. I may have other issues that I have yet to learn about.If I need to order ratchet tie-downs or other hardware, I need to do that ASAP so I will have what I need for the coming weekend.If anyone can point me to any instructions or pictures that are on the web, that would be very helpful.

 

[RichH]

Several lines need to be 'cross-tied' to prevent 'swing'

2 lines tied from the 'safety line' (along the top of the stb tube) each tied directly to the vertical/upright of the davit - purpose is to prevent the dinghy from swinging into and away from the mother-boat. 2 lines (one can be the painter already attached) cross tied to the davit arms - purpose to prevent dinghy swing across the davit or stern of the mother-boat. Take the painter and tie it to the davit arm on the stbd side (near the stern of the dinghy). Take another line tied to the stbd arm of the davit, wrap it under the pointy end of the (stbd) tube of the dinghy, ... over the stern of the dinghy then to the portside arm of the davit --- will bring the tube of the dinghy to be (up) in contact with the davit arm and also cross tied to prevent side to side swing; the cross-ties will be in the form of an "X'. If you can raise the dinghy higher so that its in 'tight-contact' with the 'underside' of the davit arms, all the better. Some davit systems have formed metal curved straps that come in contact with the partial circumference of the dinghy tube .... just touching 'most' of the upper side of the tube. But but but ... when the weather is real rough you dont want a dinghy on davits as a dinghy that gets slammed with a solid green wave or gets filled with green water .... the momentum/force of the wave will potentially rip the dinghy off its tie-downs, possibly break/bend the davit and the pushpit of the boat.

 

[Maine Sail]

Rich I'll...

Take a picture later on today. I basically use a set of stainless ratchet straps at the bow and stern of the dink to suck it up and into the davits. You already have the cross tubes to prevent the davits from moving all you need now is to secure the dink..Oh, and listen to what RichH said about rough weather. Davits are for calm weather ONLY!!!

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I'll take some pics today Rich

or you're welcome to stop by next time you're in Warwick/EastG area.I tie mine off to the transom with one line and diagonally across each other to both davits. It appears in your pictures it is high enough to avoid any possibility of being caught by a wave.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Dito on the rough weather advice

nm

 

[Buck2796]

Rich,

RichH's comments are good, ... in addition, Personally, I use 2 SS ratchet straps from either side of stern rails (attach to stern rail w/ ss jaw slides), over your 2 davit cross braces, under the dingy, and back to the same stern rail attachments. Tighten them down and they will draw the dingy up tightly under and into the davit arms.I had to, and you may still need to, prevent the entire assembly (davits w/ secured dingy) from swinging side to side by adding ss tube braces ... (in your case) from lower davit arms (maybe ~6" beyond clam cleats) to stern rails (on either side of opening, about where your GPS is on one side and comperable on the other). With the addition bracing, nothing moves While I agree with the caution about rough weather, I have on many occasions gone offshore (coastal, for up to 72hrs) with my dingy (motor attached) securily attached in the davits w/o problems. I know I'm taking a chance, but it's been my experience, even in some pretty heavy weather, that RichH's worst case senerio, is rare. Best idea is don't go offfshore when you know the weather is going to be bad. Rough sea conditions tear up lots more than just dingy/davits.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Rich, following that logic

to move the points of attachment, as ti were, in board, why nbot try this: instead of your four piece idea with attachments to the four points inside the dinghy, why not use nylon webbing from those four points to a single lengthwise pice of material, since you're installing transverse supports anyway. Same idea, just makes the "brace" one piece.

 

[RichH]

Rich S ---

The only problem that you will encounter with such a 'rig' attached to the hard flooring is that if anytime your dinghy loses air pressure (they all do eventually and especially if the night is 'cold') the floor can easily slip / pull out of the dinghy .... and that will definitely NOT happen at a 'convenient' time.My latest and greatest but still not satisfactory method of dinghy attachment is using doubled 2" tubular webbing (4" wide sling) on the bow and stern sections. The ends of the sling terminate into large D rings to which I apply light line which I 'pulley' together so that the connection distance to the davit blocks is minimal. Only problem is that any air leaks in the dinghy or radical cooling of the air results in a 'softer dinghy' and the slings arent easily 'adjustable' to take up any slack. My 'next' trial will be to add lifting eyes low down on the outside near the water line of the dinghy (Whitewater Designs ... Tie Down eyes with 2" D rings ..... glue them to PVC or heat-weld them to hypalon). http://whitewaterdesigns.com/home/wd1/smartlist/22/0;-)

 

[bob]

do you leave your motors on your dinghys???

Isnt it too much stress on the rig ????I have a 4 hp 2stroke

 

[Maine Sail]

My motor...

My motor weighs about 29 Lbs and my RIB about 105. There are many RIBS that weigh 150 lbs or more without the motor so I usually leave mine on. Remember I don;t sail with it up there if it's rough.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I agree on the motor

My Achilles weighs about 70# and my 3.5hp Nissan weighs 27#. The Garhauser davits are rated for 200# per arm or a total of 400#.There is another h40.5 owner in Narragansett Bay that routinely climbs into his dingy and he weighs 150#.I see no problem leaving the motor mounted assuming that I can keep the hoist lines from hitting it.

 

[Buck2796]

Rich,

Why not simply shorten your cross brace support tubes. This would swing the two support arms inward, moving the hoist blocks inward and, in addition, further dampening side to side movement.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Buck, I can't shorten the cross brace tubes......

because they both attach to the davit arms with TEE fittings. If I shortened the braces they would need to attach at an angle other than 90 degrees.And two of the four TEE fittings are captive on the arms so I can't change them to something that could connect at an angle.

 

[Buck2796]

Understand

I have Ocean Marine Davits, also. (cerca 2001)My cross braces telescope into each other allowing arm angle adjustment, (and have a mid connecting plate welded between them providing further rigidity).Call "what's his name" at Ocean Marine and ask him if they have another arrangement with other fittings that would allow you to do the same.