Storing Dinghy on Long Passages

[mifi601]

Hi all,

finally, after years of 'just looking', found and bought the 'dreamboat' and am about to take her from the North of France across the Biscaya to Portugal, where I will keep her until we go on 'The Trip' next winter.

The previous owner said he always carried the dink on the davits, even across the Atlantic. I am a little wary about that, as I have been in seaways, where a wave definitely could hit the davits and most certainly would not only take down the dinghy and solar panels, but most likely tear a nice hole in the boat.

What do experienced cat cruisers (this is my first multihull) do? I have a 10' RIB on a 39' 1993 Catana. Where would you stow the dink if not in the davits?

[Jimbo485]

We are on a cat and place our dinghy upside down in the davits. Worked fine to ensure that there is never water inside the dinghy, whether through a pooping or rain.

I don't think we saw any cat place their dinghy on the foredeck, but I guess that is the logical place if you dont want to use davits. The foredeck, not the trampoline.

[mifi601]

Not the trampoline, that's for sure ..

I am not sure, there is enough space or even 'a' foredeck ... and the cabin top is out of the question, since all the lines run there.

Turning it around will prevent water (weight) from being in there, but the surface area is still the same on impact.

[bigpuff]

i delivered a 42ft. cat up to fiji a couple oy years past,the ouwner said he allways carred the dink in the davits with the bung out,i did but deflated it and turned her upside down and lashed it in place,all went well'less windage,had 50kts last 2 days.

[mifi601]

do you have a dedicated place for the outboard, as in somewhere inside, or just mounted on a pushpit?

[Jimbo485]

Dedicated place for the outboard next to the davits.

[tamicatana]

First, see your PM for congratulations!

I'd stow it. I did a short Gulf of Mexico crossing and had a Walker Bay 8 on my davits and it took a little water. I wouldn't have wanted that dink out there in anything bigger, I can tell you that.

Congrats on the Catana

Is it possible to lash it down next to or near where the liferaft is?

[monte]

we sailed our lagoon 380 across Biscay and down the Portugal coast to the med last year with it on the davits and the outboard on the dinghy. All ok if you secure it from chaffing. Congrats on the new cat, looks great

[Intentional Drifter]

It looks like you have a swim step between the hulls, like our St Francis 44. On passages, we would take off the outboard, leaving the dink inflated, and then turn it 90 degrees (such that the keel of the dink was pointed aft). The lower tube was then resting on the swim step. We had padeyes in convenient locations so we would then lash the dink in place. We liked that method as it left the dink inflated (just in case), took the weight off the arch davits, was easy to get off (we cut just cut the lashings in an emergency), and it served as a bit of a barrier in case of pooping (which never happened).

ID

[belizesailor]

Have padeyes on my foredeck to lash down dink. Have not used them in a long time...for short near coastal I just use the davits. Also have a motor mount on stern rail.

I would probaby use the foredeck again for extended time offshore, but for shorter (1-3 day) near coastal I use the davits.

My rationale is that I am more confident in calling a short weather window and getting pooped on a cat is not likely in most condition (cats are more likely to ride up and surf...which of course can present other issues). Only ever had water aboard from astern on a cat once...that was in about 15' following seas and one collapsed at the stern just right...water came up the stern steps and into the cockpit but not huge amounts...maybe 5 gallons.

[Cheechako]

I would just carry it on the davits with the plug out to drain any incidental accumulation. On a long crossing take the motor off maybe. It's pretty secure and high up there. Worst case scenario? storm of the century? just cut her loose!

[mifi601]

Thank you all!

As I mentioned I come from a mono and I have been pooped and have lost a dink strapped to padeyes on the foredeck (don't ask), so rather err on the safe side. I like the 3 day forecast idea (is also mine). Als I am lazy and the dinghy is indeed very high up. And worst case, cut her loose also sounds good!

Biscaya here I come

[dan360]

We take the engine off and store it in an engine room and then use ratchet straps to secure the dinghy tight to the davits so there is no load on the lifting lines from the davits.

We have a 2:1 pulley connected to the shackle that connects to the dinghy. The dinghy swings a little (it hangs down maybe 8"), and in a big following sea the sea will pick up the dinghy occasionally if you leave it to swing. Note that in this config we tie the dinghy bow and stern to cleats on our Cat, but there is still enough movement to be a problem in a big sea. Between islands and day sailing its totally fine, but just big offshore stuff, the seas are big enough to be a problem.

On one crossing one pulley shackle was essentially destroyed - fortunately it didn't fail completely other wise we'd likely have to have cut the dinghy away.

Since that we now use the straps - as well as lifting the dinghy that last 8", since our davits are at an angle, the dinghy is at a 25-30 degree angle. Following seas now don't do anything to the dinghy, even when the waves are coming up the transom steps into the cockpit.

[Palarran]

When I read the title of your thread I was ready to recommend you remove the dingy and lash it to your cabin top, until I saw your davit configuration. If a wave rips your dingy off those davits, the loss of the dingy will be a small concern. It's a good and high setup.

FWIW, I wrestled with this a lot when we made our Atlantic crossing and finally followed the advise of a catamaran delivery captain to just lash it to the davits. We got broadsided by a huge wave on port which hit the dingy and bent the aluminum arch which I had tied the dingy too. We bent it back easily enough but the power of that wave was incredible. Shoved us sideways about 15'.

Also, if you don't have open ocean tramp netting, I would get some. Both of my tramps were torn off. It was quite exciting going out on my center gangway to retreve and lash them.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by dan360

We take the engine off and store it....and then use ratchet straps to secure the dinghy tight to the davits so there is no load on the lifting lines from the davits.

.....Since that we now use the straps - as well as lifting the dinghy that last 8", since our davits are at an angle, the dinghy is at a 25-30 degree angle. Following seas now don't do anything to the dinghy, even when the waves are coming up the transom steps into the cockpit.

That is also what I would do with your high davit set-up for offshore.. primarily to harness tender with straps around the hull and to lock it in place with the plug out to prevent chaffe.

If conditions got bad enough that you are worried about your tender or solar array from following seas, you are probably using a sea anchor and turning head to sea