Hunter 36 Dinghy Options

Oct 12, 2014
42
Hunter 36 Port Ludlow
As wondering if anyone had any advice on mounting a dinghy on a 2006 H36. Previous owners mounted theirs on the foredeck over the hatch. Is there a better way? Pics anyone?
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,068
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
There really aren't many options:

1. collapsed on foredeck
2. inflated on foredeck
3. davits
4. collapsed and stored

I can't think of any others, except for "left at home in the garage." :)
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Davits

I have Ocean Marine davits and love them.
I do have the complete Weaver davit system if you interested and planning
to put for sale here Hunter forum.
They swing up side ways off the stern of the boat.
Nick
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,939
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Dinghy Stow

Check out the "42" section in the "Boat Info" tab above with pics of how we stow our boat on the transom while underway. Did it the same way on our H28. Cruised with our dinghy this way thousands of miles without any trouble, even in heavy seas. Really like it.

I dislike the idea of davits on our boat. Saw what they looked like on a sister boat. Just too ungainly. Also, dislike the idea of towing while underway, or stowing on the foredeck, that is unless in really heavy seas.

Easy to stow and launch, too. The article covers the details.
 

ALNims

.
Jul 31, 2014
208
Hunter 356 Huis Ten Bosch Marina, Sasebo, Japan
Re: Dinghy Stow

Terry,
I noticed you had an article about a boarding step. Could you provide a photo showing it mounted?
 

ALNims

.
Jul 31, 2014
208
Hunter 356 Huis Ten Bosch Marina, Sasebo, Japan
Re: Davits

Seadaddler,
Do you have any photos of your installation you could post?
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
No

I can't seem to find any photo that is good to see
the davits but they are pretty easy to install and so many
different davits made by so many.
Give me a few days and I will find some.
I will post a photo of davits while racing but not real good and
also of when I had weaver davits that fold up on the stern.
Nick
 

Attachments

Dec 25, 2000
5,939
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Portable Boarding Step

Terry,
I noticed you had an article about a boarding step. Could you provide a photo showing it mounted?
Go back to the "Boat Info" tab under 42. There are two articles. Scroll almost to the bottom and you will see photos of the step in detail under the article titled, "Portable Boarding Step".
 
Mar 20, 2004
1,746
Hunter 356 and 216 Portland, ME
Re: Dinghy Stow

ditto! we flip our 9' inflatable up on the transom, tied to the swim handles and then hauled up and secured to the pushpit rails. easy and secure even in heavy weather
 
Oct 12, 2014
42
Hunter 36 Port Ludlow
Thanks all for the responses. What size dinghy do you recommend to be able to optimize available stern space?
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Dinghy

I have a 9'6'' and it fits on my davits with out sticking out past port or starboard
and if you don't mind spending the $$$$$ Davits are the most popular way to go.
I did the tying of the dinghy to the stern for a long time because I did not want davits but after cruising year after year with many other cruisers and see how
so much better it was to carry my dinghy on davits and having the motor on
the dinghy and my back really loves that.
I think it is all about $$$$$ and what type of sailing and or cruising yo do,tying the dinghy is so much cheaper for sure and could try it out with out spending.
I live in west coast of florida and retired and do a lot of cruising in all kinds of weather.
Just got back from 3 week trip up to Tarpon Springs and we had very cool and windy weather and anchoring out most times,when anchoring the davits really make things so much better.
I will be going to my boat the next few days cleaning it up after 3 weeks cruising and will take pictures.


Nick
 
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
We have a H356 and had Ocean Marine Systems make our davits a couple of years ago. So far very happy with the whole experience, easy to install, great support.

The dinghy sits quite high and can not move at all. It allows us the lower the helm seat, use the swim platform, and visitors can come and go, all with the dingy on the davits. At anchor or in calm weather we leave the motor on the dinghy. We have left it in the davits for gulf stream crossings. The davits also help getting the motor off the stern rail and on to the dinghy. Davits are used to haul jugs of fuel or water aboard from the dinghy especially in a chop.

We have been using a Mercury air deck inflatable, 8 ft. Size wise it was fine, with our 6 hp Tohotsu outboard it would plane with just the dog and I in it. It would collect quite a bit of water under the air deck that was very hard to get out. I was concerned about the weight if we got caught in a heavy rainstorm.

This year we will be using a 9 ft aluminum AB ultralight (75 lbs) RIB dinghy. The recommended outboard for it is 6 hp.

We usually lift the dinghy each night, so easy to do. Our friends on a Beneteau 36 had their dinghy flip up side down when a squall passed through the anchorage at 3 am. Unfortunately they did not realize it until the next morning being distracted with watching the anchor. I think they had to replace the outboard motor.

Those are our experiences. The RIBs are much harder to stow, but more comfortable and can get away with a smaller motor. It also depends on where you are sailing and how the dinghy will be used and how long you intend to keep the boat.

When not on the davits it stows fine on the foredeck using the spinnaker halyard to lift it aboard.

Bob
 

Attachments

Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Dinghy

Here some photo's of my dinghy on davits and you can see the dinghy is
tilted down one side if rain it drains and also see double bar across davits
keep the davits from moving or swinging and really like this setup better
than other davit setup and use these double bars to run lines to keep the dinghy nice and tight and very secure from moving while sailing or anchored.
Nick
 

Attachments

ALNims

.
Jul 31, 2014
208
Hunter 356 Huis Ten Bosch Marina, Sasebo, Japan
Re: Dinghy

Nick,
Thank you for the photos. What model/type davits are they? Where did you purchase them?
Andrew
 
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
Bob,
How are the davits attached?
Andrew
Andrew, I think mine are the same as Nicks, they are made by Ocean Marine Systems. They ask you about the size and weight of the dinghy, motor and so on and build them for the Hunter boat model you own. They were the supplier to the Hunter factory so know the boats well. We got a 6:1 tackle on the starboard side davit to help lifting the dinghy up with the motor on that side. They supplied all the dinghy hardware to lift the dinghy as it did not have any lift points.

The davits were easy to install. The bottom of each davit sits on a ball mount that is bolted through the fiberglass lockers in the swim platforms using a backing plate. The top of the davit is clamped to the back of the stern seat rail. They did not take long to install. Our boat was on the hard, I don't know if that makes it easier or harder. The tackles are good quality, lines were colour matched to our canvas and had eye splices to the beckets.

This is the first boat I've owned with davits so they were very patient and explained how it all worked, the options, how the dinghy should be lifted and secured, etc etc. They supply a good installation manual with diagrams and tips for use and installation.

The owner provides his cell number in case you have any questions during the install, great service.

With the dinghy back there it becomes a good storage spot for boat hooks, a brush and anything else that is light and you want to keep handy

link here, http://www.oceanmarinesystems.com/tocnew.html

Bob

(just a satisfied customer)
 

ALNims

.
Jul 31, 2014
208
Hunter 356 Huis Ten Bosch Marina, Sasebo, Japan
Bob,
Thank you for the information. Just booked marked it. I have another question. I noticed that you have the hunter cockpit cushions. Do you keep them in place while out cruising? How do they hold up?
Andrew
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Ocean Marine

First off I was told by Ocean Marine the 356 & 36 davit are different and install on the 356 is more work and the 36 install pretty easy.
I got my davits used from a 410 Hunter and Ocean Marine said they the same
as my 36 and did send me a install booklet.
I saw Jim on Java show the install on his web site and on the 356 the propane locker needs removal but not so on the 36 and installing the davits was not hard on my 36 and did a dry install before drilling the holes for the bottom holes of the davits and the only drilling needed.
Also on the install that Java on his 356 used side struts for support but with
the double pole support across the top of the davits instead of the single pole showed by Java I did not need strut supports.
I would call Ocean Marine and give your info and get a quote and they do make
different models and different options,also my davits have adjustable poles where tackle hook to to allow moving the dinghy out away from stern.
Nick
 
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
Bob,
Thank you for the information. Just booked marked it. I have another question. I noticed that you have the hunter cockpit cushions. Do you keep them in place while out cruising? How do they hold up?
Andrew
Andrew, yes, they go out when we get on the boat and get put away when we haul it 5 months later. If we are expecting a blow or big rain storm I put them under the dodger, they are 10 years old and still look good.......
I have a photo album in my profile here. It has lots of pictures of how our 356 is set up and a cruise we did last winter in the Bahamas. If you have any questions just ask.

Bob
 
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
First off I was told by Ocean Marine the 356 & 36 davit are different and install on the 356 is more work and the 36 install pretty easy.
I got my davits used from a 410 Hunter and Ocean Marine said they the same
as my 36 and did send me a install booklet.
I saw Jim on Java show the install on his web site and on the 356 the propane locker needs removal but not so on the 36 and installing the davits was not hard on my 36 and did a dry install before drilling the holes for the bottom holes of the davits and the only drilling needed.
Also on the install that Java on his 356 used side struts for support but with
the double pole support across the top of the davits instead of the single pole showed by Java I did not need strut supports.
I would call Ocean Marine and give your info and get a quote and they do make
different models and different options,also my davits have adjustable poles where tackle hook to to allow moving the dinghy out away from stern.
Nick
Nick, I think the design has changed since Java bought his. Ours have the double cross bar, no side struts. They look the same as yours. We did not have to remove the propane locker, I think I removed the swim platform shower. It was about 3 hours to install them. A lot of that time was spent looking at the position, remeasuring etc.
Bob