Davits and jetskis

[Blackfeather]

I am looking for a solution to carrying a jetski on a 36ft flybridge, alternating with our usual dinghy (inflatable floor). We have snap davits at the mo but obviously they won't work and I have spoken to Hurley about their cantilever ones but they say they aren't strong enough.

Are the standard winch types the only way to go? Does anyone have any experience ?

 

[Nick_H]

"Jet ski" is often used as a generic term for all PWC's, so do you mean a proper stand up jet ski, or a sit-on PWC? If a sit-on type, then forget it on a 36 foot flybridge IMO. Even the lightest old 2 stroke is over 200 kgs, and any modern 4 stroke is nearer 300 kgs, so by the time you've got the weight of a crane or davits big enough to lift it, you'll have 400 kgs hanging off the back which is too much.

A stand up jet ski is feasible, I think they can weigh as little as 130 kgs, which means you also need smaller crane/davits, so maybe 200 kgs all up, which should be just about OK, though still heavy IMO on a 36 footer.

 

[oldsaltoz]

I am looking for a solution to carrying a jetski on a 36ft flybridge, alternating with our usual dinghy (inflatable floor). We have snap davits at the mo but obviously they won't work and I have spoken to Hurley about their cantilever ones but they say they aren't strong enough.

Are the standard winch types the only way to go? Does anyone have any experience ?

Few if any 36 footers will support a jetski, most have trouble holding a rubber duck.

The design was never to carry extra weight aft, even if it was the weight on the davits would be a problem due to the heavy engineering and attachment required to hold them in place.

This doese not mean it can't be done, but you will go slower, use more fuel and look a bit odd to say the least.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[jfm]

I am looking for a solution to carrying a jetski on a 36ft flybridge, alternating with our usual dinghy (inflatable floor). We have snap davits at the mo but obviously they won't work and I have spoken to Hurley about their cantilever ones but they say they aren't strong enough.

Are the standard winch types the only way to go? Does anyone have any experience ?

As others have said, it's hardly feasible. Before giving up though, ask a ferretti dealer for the exact model name of the jetski they used to (or still) supply with the ferretti 731. It's the one that fits inside the boat, under a hatch in the swim platform, if you didn't order the spare propeller kit. This was a proper sit-on jetski, one person, and very small. Much smaller than the typical jetskis you see now which are big 4 stroke things for 3 or 3 riders

yours is like this, right? Another approach, if you like bold engineering, is cut a much bigger transom gate and finish it all beautifully in custom GRP then drive the jetski into the cockpit (on the occasions you use it, not all the time)

 

[oceanfroggie]

A PWC on davits on a 36ft boat won't work, too heavy. You would have to put very heavy weight motorised davits on, reinforce the boats transom, and probably also place vertical supports between the bathing platform and the davit arms. Even if you do put on strong enough davits as per above, the PWC will need extrnsive strapping to stop swinging movement which will put more stress on the transom mounts causing hairline grp cracks.

Reinforced bathing platform extension mount with a suitabley mounted lift could be better.