Snap Davits

[biscuit]

For the last couple of decades when cruising I usually tow my dinghy, but it can be a nuisance on pontoons (when I haul it onto the foredeck or deflate and stow it) and it is in danger of flipping in strong winds (only happened once). I have been thinking of fitting snap davits, and would appreciate some views of the pros and cons. of those that have used them.
I confess I am a bit averse to bolting ugly ironmongery onto the sloping stepped transom of my 34 footer.

 

[Tranona]

Popular on swim platforms of MOBOs for which they were designed. Less common on yachts like yours primarily because a 2.5m or so inflatable stuck sideways on the stern is out of proportion, catches the wind at times, interferes with rearward visibility and for some looks offensive.. Depending on the shape of your transom and size of dinghy you may well find it gets in the water when heeled as well.

 

[rotrax]

And dont forget the guy - who I know - who left his bollocks and scrotum behind when sliding into the water from his snap davit equiped swim platform.

He was rescued by the Hamble lifeboat and helicoptered to hospital.

We later went to a fund raiser for the Hamble independant lifeboat.

It was called the 'Purple Plums Ball'

Apart from that, they do suit some boats and work OK.

PS - apart from the pain and shock, his biggest concern was that his lovely and very switched on wife only called a 'Pan Pan'!

 

[biscuit]

Thanks Tran. sums it up well.
Also R, nice story, though sliding into the water from my "swim platform" never crossed my mind!

 

[Graham376]

Mate of mine hangs a large fat fender horizontally across the transom and sits his dinghy on that but, as mentioned above, it hangs out either side.