Mounting a new inflatable dingy

[Jim Seamans]

I just recently purchased a new inflatable dingy and will be hanging it from the davits. Since the inflatable didn't come with any hanging points in the bow, I was wondering what the best(?) way is?

A single pad eye in the bow or two pad eyes with a bridle?

I have ordered two pad eye kits that will be glued to the inflatable, just wondering which way will be the recommended install?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Two pad eyes would give you a better

way to balance the dinghy.

 

[sailaway78]

I would go with two

IMHO, I would use two. As Stu says, it will allow you to better balance things, and also be considerably stronger than a single attachment point. Some more info. A dinghy on davits makes a pretty good depository for full trash bags when offshore, or on longer voyages. Would also be interested in how the glueing on process goes. I am going to have to add an eye to my dink after an encouter with the painter, while backing down on anchor. Have considered having mine done by a professional shop, but that is admitting defeat. So going to give it a try myself, and then admit defeat if necessary.

 

[Jim Seamans]

BTW,

its a hyplon Mercury 270 I got at the Baltimore boat show in January. Mercury gives good instructions on how to add the pad eyes. Believe I will place two of the them and add a bridle for the sling attachment. Transom is a no-brainer.

Thanks Guys just want to be sure. Walking around the docks I see about a 50% mix of them hanging with one or two..

 

[catsailor]

The problem with hanging from the pad-eyes is when you lose pressure....

I just recently purchased a new inflatable dingy and will be hanging it from the davits. Since the inflatable didn't come with any hanging points in the bow, I was wondering what the best(?) way is?

A single pad eye in the bow or two pad eyes with a bridle?

I have ordered two pad eye kits that will be glued to the inflatable, just wondering which way will be the recommended install?

First, use 2. That the way mine is set up, and it works OK. You may need a spreader bar, depending on davit height.

Second, you didn't say what the floor was. Roll-up? Sport boat with larger pieces? Hard? For the latter 2, consider attaching lift points to the floor also. That way you spread the pressure if the dingy gets a bit soft.

And make certain you hang it such that the water can drain!

 

[Stephan]

I just recently purchased a new inflatable dingy and will be hanging it from the davits. Since the inflatable didn't come with any hanging points in the bow, I was wondering what the best(?) way is?

A single pad eye in the bow or two pad eyes with a bridle?

I have ordered two pad eye kits that will be glued to the inflatable, just wondering which way will be the recommended install?

Hi Jim,

Attached is an image of what your davit-eye install should look like when completed. Start by determining how far apart the davit arms are. In lieu of d-rings eyes astern, you can put eye-bolts thru the transom (just seal it well).

The attached image is of a Hypalon Mercury-Quicksilver that is built for Australia and New Zealand. Not sold this way in the states, but I get them from time to time.

If you like, I can send more images if it will help. Just drop me a line.

Stephan Lance
Defender

 

[Ed Schenck]

My old Avon has eyebolts in the transom. How will your new dink hang in the stern Jim, from the transom or tubes? I think that I like the transom method.

 

[Eric M]

A word of caution about lifting a dingy from any glued on pad eyes. I used one of the pad eyes on the top of my zodiac for a spring line to control sway of the dinghy on a trip home from the Bahamas last summer. 36 hours later the pad eye had completly seperated from the boat. This occured, dinghy only, motor was hanging on the stern rail.

 

[catsailor]

Exactly my point re floor attachment.

A word of caution about lifting a dingy from any glued on pad eyes. I used one of the pad eyes on the top of my zodiac for a spring line to control sway of the dinghy on a trip home from the Bahamas last summer. 36 hours later the pad eye had completly seperated from the boat. This occured, dinghy only, motor was hanging on the stern rail.

Though the attachment of pad eyes is "good", it is not bomb-proof, and I have noticed edges peal up on mine.

Also, I did not explain this: the use of a spreader beteen the 2 bow eyes instead of a bridle reduces the force and places it in shear rather than tension, which is better. A bridle increases the force because of the angle, and makes it a straight pull-out.

A spreader can cause a chafe problem if it is down low on the tubes, but wear patches and smooth ends will handle that.

 

[Ron20324]

My Maestral inflatable with hard floor came with u-bolts on the transom with the loops on the outside of the transom. Inside the transom I cut off one of the u's studs, then put an eye nut on the other stud. This is on both port and stbd. You WILL need a spring line on the dingy when hanging on the davits, and the eye nut is a good attachment point. In the bow there is another u-bolt thru-bolted for the towing line on the bottom, outside of the dingy. On this one also, inside the boat I put an eye nut to tie the gas can and other things to. Or a second painter. Or a tether for the life vest.

The dingy hangs nicely on a three-point wire hanging bridle, but your davits is a different case. I'd forget the glue-on padeyes as they are expensive and doomed to break lose sooner or later- when your boat is depending on them...