Getting outboard from Boat to Dingy(dinghy)

[Pagetslady]

Never sure whether Dinghy or Dingy is correct, but any way how do you get your outboard onto your dingy when it is launched. I have my dinghy on davits on the transom of my Westerly Corsair and the transom is around 4ft out of the water. At the moment I use one of the Davits and lower the motor into the water, then get aboard the dingy lift it onto the transom of the dinghy, to remove I attach the motor to the davit rope lift the motor off the dingy whilst hanging onto the end of the lifting rope climb back on board and raise it until I can lift it onto a bracket on the push pit. Its had a few dunkings but still gives great service, I have a safety line attached all the time. My davits are fine for lifting the dingy but I think they are over pressed with the motor attached.
It has struck me that one of these brackets that smaller yachts use when they dont have an inboard so use an outboard bracket that lifts the engine clear of the water when sailing and drops it down into the water when they need to motor, what is the range between up and down, If I had a bracket on the transom which would lift it well clear of the water but would drop it into the water sufficient to use as an auxiliary when needed but could also be lifted from the bracket and put onto the dingy from the lower position, when I am on board the dingy.
Mike

 

[johnalison]

Only dinghy is correct.

The short answer to your question is "with difficulty". For reasons of space I am stuck with a transomless inflatable and a 2hp 4 stroke Suzuki is as much as I can manage. Usually, with the assistance of my crew I stand on the stern platform and receive the o/b which is clipped to the pushpit. The dinghy is tied in tight to the stern and the o/b lowered onto the bracket, and the procedure reversed when taking it back again. It is not really satisfactory but we don't do it that often and are thinking of getting a "crane" which would fit nicely onto the radar pole.

 

[Coaster]

Different dinghy and outboard set-ups will obviously be suited to different arrangements. But if you have to put the dinghy into the water first and then mount the engine I suspect there will always be some difficulty where the average sailing boat is concerned. It's one instance where a large, mobo-style bathing platform can be handy.

Johnalison, we have a 34' boat with a babystay. We deliberately bought a short (2.4m) inflatable with a solid transom, airdeck floor and large tubes. Unless making a long passage or unless there's bad weather forecast the dinghy remains inflated and sits upside down above the forward part of our coachroof with the transom against the babystay. Having chosen the right size there's adequate space for anchor access etc.

To launch the dinghy we simply turn it the right way up, add a bridle, oars and (if required) outboard, hoist on the spinnaker halliard and lower to the water. Consequently there's no need to wrestle with separate lowering and securing the outboard.

It will be no comfort to the OP (sorry) but I can't see the point of davits unless they're able to properly carry the dinghy with its usual ancillaries in place.

 

[VicS]

It has struck me that one of these brackets that smaller yachts use when they dont have an inboard so use an outboard bracket that lifts the engine clear of the water when sailing and drops it down into the water when they need to motor, what is the range between up and down,

This type of bracket
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . About 13" IIRC but not all lift quite as much.

Maybe those for larger engines lift a little more but you need to match the bracket (power of springs) to the motor.

BTW it is dinghy (pronounced ding'gi) ... dingy means dull or dirty looking and is pronounced dinji

 

[Ubergeekian]

Never sure whether Dinghy or Dingy is correct, but any way how do you get your outboard onto your dingy when it is launched.

If necessary, by unclipping the bottom end of the mainsheet and using it with the boom as a crane.

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

If necessary, by unclipping the bottom end of the mainsheet and using it with the boom as a crane.

That's what I did this summer. Works quite well, I thought.

 

[Searush]

I have a 2/- 2hp so that I can lift it between boat & dinghy, but still tend to row 9 times out of 10 - it's good exercise & never fails to start.

 

[Old Troll]

Old Troll

I have a transom mounted bracket bolted through the stern of my 28ft yacht on which is carried a four stroke Yamaha 2.5hp short shaft outboard. The outboard is carried high enough to be above water and when in dropped position can give 3 knots in ideal conditions also is a versatile way of getting out of tight marina berths as my boat is a Vega. The outboard can then be transfered to and from the dinghy without too much heavy lifting. Interestingly I have found the raised position of the outboard bracket easier to lift the outboard on and off than the lowered position. The lighter the weight of the outboard of course the easier eg a 2 stroke would be effortless.

 

[William_H]

O/B on a bracket on the transom

I have an o/b on a bracket on the transom of my 21fter. The bracket has a height range of about 1 ft. But I have to tilt the o/b prop up to get it clear of the water. It is a swing up down type design. as different to those where the mount raises on tracks. I think a biggish boat would look horrible with an o/b on the a bracket on the back. It would look like a cheap replacement of inboard engine. Transfer of motor from transom bracket to dinghy is still not easy.
Granted an o/b on a transom bracket can aid manouvreability when o/b can be turned to act like a side thruster and of course as an auxilliary auxilliary engine. However be aware that an o/b will probably be so low down from the deck on a big boat that starting operating is difficult. (hard to reach)

I reckon you should bolster davits and leave o/b on the dinghy. Raise it all together. If you need an emergency engine tow the big boat with the dinghy. olewill

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I am not sure how the wife transfers the outboard.

 

[syfuga]

Transferring an outboard to the dinghy

We have a Caribe rib which is carried on Simpson lightweight davits, from which it can be launched easily and quickly when necessary. However, the davits are rated at around 75kg each, which is the weight of the boat. Therefore an 8 hp motor in addition would be too much for them, so we have to transfer the outboard separately.

We have a radar pole and linked solar panel gantry in lightweight S/S tube. We had a loop put on the underside of the gantry, from which we hang a 'handy billy'. The outboard has a home made web sling with a D-ring in the top, for attaching the handy billy over the centre of gravity of the motor.

Mounted separately we have a small clam cleat with fairlead, through which the handy billy tail is led. This can be reached standing in the dinghy from the water. The outboard is lifted off its mounting on the pushpit, and swings clear on the handy billy. The person in the dinghy released the clam cleat, lowering the outboard on the 4:1 purchase with one hand, while guiding the outboard onto the transom with the other. Easy peasy, and a girl could do it! Getting it off is the reverse. With a safety line on at all times, it can be done single handed.

If you don't have a gantry, a small crane out of similar S/S would do just as well.

There is a picture on the web site..

 

[reeac]

We have a Caribe rib which is carried on Simpson lightweight davits, from which it can be launched easily and quickly when necessary. However, the davits are rated at around 75kg each, which is the weight of the boat. Therefore an 8 hp motor in addition would be too much for them, so we have to transfer the outboard separately.

We have a radar pole and linked solar panel gantry in lightweight S/S tube. We had a loop put on the underside of the gantry, from which we hang a 'handy billy'. The outboard has a home made web sling with a D-ring in the top, for attaching the handy billy over the centre of gravity of the motor.

Mounted separately we have a small clam cleat with fairlead, through which the handy billy tail is led. This can be reached standing in the dinghy from the water. The outboard is lifted off its mounting on the pushpit, and swings clear on the handy billy. The person in the dinghy released the clam cleat, lowering the outboard on the 4:1 purchase with one hand, while guiding the outboard onto the transom with the other. Easy peasy, and a girl could do it! Getting it off is the reverse. With a safety line on at all times, it can be done single handed.

If you don't have a gantry, a small crane out of similar S/S would do just as well.

There is a picture on the web site..

I do much the same but with a stainless steel tubing "mini-davit" which is attached to the pushpit with suspended block and line running from o/b to a genoa winch. Been using this system for about 6 years now with never a problem. I had an article about it published in PBO in about 2005.

 

[NormanS]

Why are small outboards not designed with a top lifting eye?

 

[Salty John]

So that we can make and sell the Motor Grip and the Motor Lift!

 

[Old Troll]

Old Troll

Outboard bracket mounted on transom. I find the comment from Oz rather critical. One can pick holes in any system or method if you try hard enough. It has never occured to me that the transom hung outboard looked unsightly. The system is extremely functional and easy to use. Much superior than Scandalising about with towing from dinghies etc. Give us a break.

 

[West Coast]

I do much the same but with a stainless steel tubing "mini-davit" which is attached to the pushpit with suspended block and line running from o/b to a genoa winch. Been using this system for about 6 years now with never a problem. I had an article about it published in PBO in about 2005.

Hi - would be really interested to see any photos of this arrangement? Or a copy of the PBO article?

 

[planteater]

I have a transom mounted bracket bolted through the stern of my 28ft yacht on which is carried a four stroke Yamaha 2.5hp short shaft outboard. The outboard is carried high enough to be above water and when in dropped position can give 3 knots in ideal conditions also is a versatile way of getting out of tight marina berths as my boat is a Vega.

It also saves wear and tear on the inboard if you only need it for 10 mins to pick your way in or out of swing moorings.

 

[Stu Jackson]

You might want to consider arranging your lines from the davit to the dinghy so you can lower the outboard FROM the dinghy. That way the engine won't get splashed by hanging down before you get int he dinghy. We don't have davits, but put our dinghy in the water, then I can lower the the motor and drop it right on the transom of the dinghy, without having to lift anything once in the dinghy.

 

[LadyInBed]

I use a block shackled to the end of the mizzen and lower OB into dinghy then clime down and attach it to the transom.
Much the same as using a davit.

 

[BrianH]

Why are small outboards not designed with a top lifting eye?

IKEA has a set of two, black, webbing straps that can be adapted as a hoisting handle. The alloy-looking friction clips have a steel basis and start to look a bit rusty after a few seasons but easy to renew, the entire set costs peanuts.

For my 3.5hp Johnson I have cut short the two straps with the clips, fitting round the engine and tank before and after the drive shaft and tied them together with the surplus strapping at the top of the tank.

This makes for a balanced and safe loop to raise and lower with one hand - the loop can be cut for whatever height.