Boat Davits

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Sailfree

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One of the disadvantages of our Deck Saloon is the small cockpit locker. Can only get a roundtail inflatable in it that take 3 people.

Would like to fit Davits but they would only be used while cruising and larger inflatable (say for 5 people - 4m?) hung on them while away but they would be removed (pin arrangement?) or swung inwards for berthing in Marinas.

Jeanneau boat not built for Davits - so would probably need strengthening at rear and possibly tied back to rear handrail.

Can anyone recommend a SS Davit with simple pully hoist system for this purpose?

For a 4m inflatable I expect the Honda 2HP will be underpowered so may need a 4HP it would be good if Davits could lift inflatable plus engine. Any thoughts or experiences please?
 
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I hope I'm wrong on this, but I think you'll hate davits on a sub-50-60' yacht. They are expensive, vulnerable in a seaway and can actually detract from the appearance and value of a boat.
 
dom said:
I hope I'm wrong on this, but I think you'll hate davits on a sub-50-60' yacht. They are expensive, vulnerable in a seaway and can actually detract from the appearance and value of a boat.
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I have to disagree with that. We've davits on our 12m yacht and wouldn't go back to having to inflate/deflate. And I really don't like the dinghy upturned on the foredeck when underway as is often seen. I wouldn't tow it either. Cross channel we always stow below decks. We can slide the davit arms out from the shoes if necessary so loa is just hull length.

Davits get my vote, it is expensive though.

Rob
 
Robih said:
And I really don't like the dinghy upturned on the foredeck when underway as is often seen. I wouldn't tow it either. Cross channel we always stow below decks. We can slide the davit arms out from the shoes if necessary so loa is just hull length.

Rob
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Sounds line a neat solution - I often tie the dinghy to the foredeck cross channel and it's nearly been pulled off by waves/flying sheets on many an occasion!

But ...Sailfree says he's nowhere else to put his dinghy when offshore. Suppose he could bung it in a corner down below somewhere when the weather gets a bit hairy.
 
Rob,

What davits did you buy please?

Idea is to leave the inflatable usable on the back. Don't want to store it inflated over the forecabin unless necessary for a marina. Intention is to anchor off more and just use inflatable to get supplies.

Once back in UK marina all would have to be removed.
 
Sailfree said:
Rob,

What davits did you buy please?
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Sailfree,

Here are a couple of photos. The first shows the davit "shoe" which is bolted through the transom. As you can see the foot of the davit arm is then slid in to the shoe and a bolt secures the davit arm in place. The second gives a general impression of the davits on the transom. They are Simpson Davits, I believe that Company was bought out by another whose names escapes me. The modern versions tend not to be removeable but revolve so that the arms can be stored athwartship thereby minimising LOA.

Ignore the end of the cable-tied boat brush on the first photo - i was using it as a mock up for fitting a windgen - which I never did in the end.

Hope that helps. It is s good setup and works well for us. We have a 2.8m Avon air deck inflatable dinghy, we generally remove the outboard before hoisting the dinghy.

rob

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h7k3j6c9be230fh/Davit shoe.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kgx10fiosv2lwjt/Davits.jpg
 
dom said:
I hope I'm wrong on this, but I think you'll hate davits on a sub-50-60' yacht. They are expensive, vulnerable in a seaway and can actually detract from the appearance and value of a boat.
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I will also add a vote of total disagreement to that suggestion.

We have davits on our 11.8 metre boat and I think they actuall improve its appearance. It's made a deal of difference to our style of cruising. We are much more likely to spend nights at anchor or on a mooring as the dinghy complete with o/b is ready to go in seconds. The o/b stays in the dinghy and the whole thing can be launched and away in seconds.

I will put in a plea for decent sized and spec'd davits. Ours are high out of the water and conditions would have to be of almost survival type before carrying the dinghy in the davits was a liability. One of the requirements in the davit fitting guide for ours was that the whole load of the dinghy must be capable of being taken by one davit. Ours are rated 85kg and are substantial bits of cranage on the back of the boat.
 
I like the idea of davits and think they look tidy.

However we are currently based in the Med and a dinghy on davits would be like hanging your car across your front door. So we go for the rib on the foredeck and with a couple of attachments we never had any problems with it lifting in nasty weather.

Our main use of the spinnaker pole is as a derrick to lift the rib then swing it inboard which is a quick process given the semi-permanently rigged harness we've fitted under the dinghy. In marinas we hoist the bow of the dinghy up a foot or three to act as raincover/wind scoop and allow the fore hatch to open fully.

Davits more convenient for hoisting of course.
 
RupertW said:
I like the idea of davits and think they look tidy.

However we are currently based in the Med and a dinghy on davits would be like hanging your car across your front door. So we go for the rib on the foredeck and with a couple of attachments we never had any problems with it lifting in nasty weather.

Our main use of the spinnaker pole is as a derrick to lift the rib then swing it inboard which is a quick process given the semi-permanently rigged harness we've fitted under the dinghy. In marinas we hoist the bow of the dinghy up a foot or three to act as raincover/wind scoop and allow the fore hatch to open fully.

Davits more convenient for hoisting of course.
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We were concerned about the problem of stern mooring. Our davits have 'semi vertical' struts with extra winches for positioning a passerelle. Perhaps one like http://www.yachttekltd.co.uk/passerelles/nemo-passerelles/. I'll try and post a picture of the davits when ivd got a moment.

The dinghy davits can be partly retracted and naturally the dinghy wound have to be either deflated of moved to the foredeck if we start going places where med style stern to mooring is required.
 
john_morris_uk said:
We were concerned about the problem of stern mooring. Our davits have 'semi vertical' struts with extra winches for positioning a passerelle. Perhaps one like http://www.yachttekltd.co.uk/passerelles/nemo-passerelles/. I'll try and post a picture of the davits when ivd got a moment.

The dinghy davits can be partly retracted and naturally the dinghy wound have to be either deflated of moved to the foredeck if we start going places where med style stern to mooring is required.
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Passarelle looks good - we just use an old plank as the cost of passarelles seems so much and I find doing chores in warm weather to be much less of a hassle than at home. But a pivoting folding one would be a lot easier. The one davit we might get is little one to drop the outboard into the rib.
 
Davits are great. Claymore is 30ft and we are very happy with our davits. The dinghy is always inflated and therefore ready for action should it be needed. One of our MoB strategies involves lowering the dinghy and rolling the unfortunate into it. We have never been charged extra anywhere for our increased length. Its a handy place to store fenders should we choose and we do not suffer from reduced boatspeed as those who choose to tow their dinghies must. Finally launch and recovery are very straightforward and easily done singlehanded.
 
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I have a home made version of Davron Marine Products dinghy tow, bought the snap hooks from them and made the rest. Great for empting the west coast rain out. Easy to use, leave the engine on a lot and in rough conditions lift the nose right out the water as per the Davron viedo. In Lochinver paying dues at office the harbour master looked at his video camera and said he would have to charge me for total length including the dinghy so I removed it by pulling it up to the vertical.

http://www.dinghy-tow.com/about.htm
 
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