Lifting dinghy out of water without davits (ketch rigged)

demonboy

demonboy

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We have an old style Tinker Traveler and a 43ft (13m) centre-cockpit ketch with a swimming platform at the back. We don't have davits.

Anyone got any recommendations on how we could rig up a hoist to lift the dinghy out the water at night? It doesn't have to come on deck (too much hassle to do on a daily basis), just a foot or two off the water.

Using halyards off main and mizzen seems the obvious choice, lifting it up the side of the boat. Alas we have a rubbing strake with protruding screws making it a puncture potential solution. Even if we could get round that problem surely having it on the side of the boat isn't ideal when the wind picks up. I suppose it could be tied to the shrouds.

Ideas/pics appreciated.
 
Hehe. Funnily enough SWMBO has already come across your contraption, John. I reckon I could knock one of those up no problem (we're in Turkey so material is quite cheap). What about when the wind picks up though? Doesn't it swing about?

I should also mention that we have solar panels mounted on the pushpit either side (like dodgers). Using the mizzen boom may be an issue as it hangs over the side of the panel.

The spinnaker pole option? It's a bit far forward of the boat so won't wind be a problem?

I'm thinking maybe to use your harness idea but fixed to a halyard off the back of the mizzen mast, the same one we use for the passarelle, and lift it up so one side of it sits on the swimming platform.
 
We just lift ours, using one man power + one woman power, up over the guard rail, and stand it on its side on the side deck. Mind you, ours is only an Avon Redcrest, and we seldom use the outboard, so it's quite light.
 
If you have access to a copy of "On Going to Sea in Yachts" by Conor O'Brien you might find an answer in chapter XIV. He describes techniques for hoisting a heavy [wooden] dinghy inboard either upright or by capsizing it over the rail. He also sometimes carried his dinghy lashed on its side, outside the main shrouds.

If you don't get any better suggestions, I could copy the relevent pages and diagrams and email them to you
 
Hi John,

Yes, potentially that's an option. There's the minor issue of a ladder to one side of the platform that might get in the way but we could move it.

This could be the answer...
 
On my Ketch we use a spinnaker halyard attached to a 3 point bridle to lift the rib. I only need to lift it clear of the water to stop weed growth and deter the buggers who would like a rib. Have your local rigger make the bridle from wire, make it fairly long and shackle to the dinghy. It has to be long enough that a perp standing in their dink can't cut the halyard. I generaly lift the rib by myself even when I lift it onto the foredeck, it is a pain stopping lifting and pushing it outboard and then winching again. Must try the spini pole as a jib boom next time.
 
I'd be interested in that info, could you email to the address below? If you like I can upload to some Hotmail space for folk to download? Many thanks.

salty john, I'm interested in your kit. How long would it take to get to Rome, and total cost delivered?
 
Cangaroo-1.jpg
Our Opi on an MG spring 25- wooden arms slot onto transom of Opi and rest on bathing platform. Raised up by a block on the backstay using a rolling hitch.
 
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