Smart Dinghy and Davit Choices

[rickw]

i am going from fla to the bahamas. i hav a island packet 27'. i do not have a dingy or davits. i used a roll up inflatable last year and lashed it on deck, but i really did not like that set up. i would appreciate recomdations on the best system to carry a dingy -- what size and type of dink-- etc. the transom of mine is about 3 feet above water line and the stern is 8 feet. also i have heard of sailrs not using davits but, raising an inflatable pontoons and tieing off to the stern cleats?

[Hud3]

Hi, Rick, and welcome to Cruisers Forum.

I have Kato davits on my IP 380, and a 75 lb 9.5' Achilles inflatable floor dinghy. Works for me because I can easily handle it's weight and the 44 lb 5 hp Tohatsu engine. Carrying the dink on the davits is OK in protected or semi-protected waters when the weather is stable, but I always deflate it, roll it up and lash it securely on deck for Gulf Stream crossings and any other offshore passages.

[Bash]

...rolling it up and lashing it to the deck is probably the best bet for your boat when crossing the Gulf Stream, even if you do have davits.

[imagine2frolic]

Give a nesting dink a thought for the foredeck over the hatch.....i2f

[Cheechako]

You will love davits, definitely in my top ten list of cruising items. A 9 ft inflatable will carry a lot and is very stable unless you want to plane around fast in it.. best and safest advice is as noted above if you are crossing the gulfstream or mona passage etc. I never took mine off the davits however from Florida to Trinidad back up to PR and Back down to Trini with no issues! However, I am anal about wx forcasts and planning, and also, it may depend on your particular boat, how far off the water the dink would be etc.

[imagine2frolic]

A 27ft IP doesn't leave much clearance I would think?.......i2f

[GordMay]

We made over a dozen Gulf Stream crossings, towing our dinghy.
The practice of towing your dink certainly isn’t recommended, but sometimes you have to compromise. I always kept a saw-tooth knife handy, and came close to using it once - you have to be prepared to lose the dink in (actually, just prior to) extremis.

[psteele235]

"you have to be prepared to lose the dink in (actually, just prior to) extremis"

I think that is probably when I would need mine the most!

[Vasco]

After towing a dink for fifteen years I finally got a set of Ocean Marine davits on my CS36 and hung a 11 ft RIB and a 15 hp Yamaha on it. Did a couple of crossings to the Bahamas with that. You need good ratchet tie-downs so as to prevent shock loads. What a difference from towing a dink (without the motor on it) , no more constantly checking behind to see how the dink was doing and about a half a knot faster. For trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean via the island chains many cruisers keep their dinks on davits. On "Breathless" I have an arch and keep my 10' 06" RIB and 15 hp Yamaha on it all the time. Just got back across the stream in fairly rolly conditions and everything was fine. That's the tenth crossing with this set-up, so far so good.

[Dune]

I am thinking of making a dinghy system that will carry a small inflatable (on its side) that will convert to a swim platform when lowered with the dinghy afloat. I am trying to anticipate any conflicts with this system. I plan to use the mizzen boom to raise and lower the apparatus for stowage and deployment. My biggest concern would be shock stress and strength of the apparatus and stability of the dink. Anyone ever seen anything like this? A picture is worth a thousand words.

[Portobello]

I will never tow again after I had an awkward experience when my dinghy capsized. I now have a roll up inflatable that i deflate and store inside if I am making any open water passages - a pain - but better than the alternative!

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Dune

I am thinking of making a dinghy system that will carry a small inflatable (on its side) ... Anyone ever seen anything like this? A picture is worth a thousand words.

There are several manufacturers making tip-up dinghy brackets, including:

➥ Burke Brackets Davits for Inflatable Dinghy's have many impressive feature Davits Innovators, Our davits are practical, convenient and easy to use.

➥ Davron Marine Products (Dinghy-Tow)

➥ davits, davit, the greatest davit system for inflatable boats

➥ http://www.americanriggingsupply.com...ccessories.pdf

[Northeaster]

Great links Gord! Thanks!
Don't want to steal the thread, but our boats are similar sized, so thought we all may benefit!!

I have a 30'er, with a slightly reversed transom (near vertical), and a 9'6" inflatable.

I have been considering buying, or making something like in Gord's 1st link, or 3rd link (model 6000) that holds one side of the inflatable low on the hull (sideways), while the other side is winched up, so the inflatable is held on it's side, in the vertical postion.

If anyone has this type of setup, or links to other products / pics, please post them. Most of these type brackets are shown on boats with swim ladders. I would mount the brackets low on the hull, with backing plates of course.

pic of the transom:

[imagine2frolic]

All About Seaweed

Nestaway Boats Ltd - 8'2`` Nesting Pram Dinghy

nesting dinghy on bow - Google Search

As you can see you can motor, sail, and row them......i2f

[Northeaster]

I think that the nesting models are a great solution for some.

For myself, however, I just want a quick way to get the inflatable up against the transom, out of the water, while day sailing and occasional longer cruises. I do not really have a need to put it away on deck, as in larger crossings.

1st, I will try just lifting it vertically against the transom, to see how if fits. If it is not too large, I may buy, or make some type of hoop or bracket to hold it there, a few inches out of the water.