Snap davits height

[John Curtis-Rouse]

Just fitted Force Four snap davits to a 2.5 Seago dinghy and a Merry Fisher 655 inboard. Finding it quite hard to moor when alone in the dinghy. The pad bows are a good bit lower than the matching hooks on the swim platform, and the only way I can get them to mate is to kneel in the dinghy and with both hands push down on the platform to effectively raise the dinghy and bows. Possible on calm water, probably not in any form of swell. Unmooring is a bit easier. There is no way I could have glued the pads any higher on the tubes, and there is of course no adjustment for height for either component. I suppose even a perfect fit for level with one person on the dinghy would be spoiled by having it loaded up to the 400 kgs max. But anyone else suffered this problem?

 

[Scubadoo]

Are you saying you can't lift the dinghy to click onto the snap davits hooks from the bathing platform? Pictures will help as I am not sure what you mean by pad bows.

 

[John Curtis-Rouse]

Thanks for your reply. Problem is coming alongside, alone. The bows are the manufacturer’s name for the semi circular rings attached to the dinghy that lift over the hooks on the platform and then snap and lock downwards. There is a height difference with the bows being about 35 mm lower than the jaws of the hook.

If I’m on the platform and the dinghy is empty it’s easy to lift the dinghy and snap the bows onto place.

No photos I’m afraid as boat is quite a way away.

Thinking of using twisted shackle to give a bit of slack and extra height to the bows.

 

[Martin_J]

Rather late to suggest but there are fittings for the transom that incorporate lower hooks...



Or even adjustable ones...

 

[Hermit]

Perhaps just get out first?

 

[John Curtis-Rouse]

Perhaps just get out first?

Fair point, but I got the snap davits to make getting in /out safer than just using rope moorings.

 

[John Curtis-Rouse]

Rather late to suggest but there are fittings for the transom that incorporate lower hooks...

View attachment 155082

Or even adjustable ones...

View attachment 155083

Thanks, Martin. I think I’ll use twisted shackles to connect, giving a bit of flexibility and greater height. Thanks for the advice.

 

[SimonD]

Thanks, Martin. I think I’ll use twisted shackles to connect, giving a bit of flexibility and greater height. Thanks for the advice.

That's exactly what we've done on previous boats with snap davits. A couple of short lines with a snap shackle to make a temporary attachment to the stern. Get out and lift onto the fittings. Puts less strain on the pads than doing it from the dinghy.

 

[John Curtis-Rouse]

That's exactly what we've done on previous boats with snap davits. A couple of short lines with a snap shackle to make a temporary attachment to the stern. Get out and lift onto the fittings. Puts less strain on the pads than doing it from the dinghy.

Thanks. That’s sound advice. I’d been wondering about the strain on the glued pads.