Advice on installing padeyes in the floor of a Walker Bay dink?

Stee6043

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2015
6,706
West Michigan
Boat Info
1997 Sundancer 400
Engines
7.4L Gassers
I'm curious if any of you guys have installed padeyes or lifting hooks into the floor of a Walker Bay (or similar) dinghy?

I'm good with hooking onto the transom hooks for securing the stern of the dink but I don't have a great setup in the bow. I'm thinking about adding two padeyes to the floor. In the manual for my rig it says the highlighted area below is "reinforced for lifting" but how would you typically attach/secure lifting eyes? Simply drill a few holes, 5200, use SS hardware and be done? I don't think I can access the cavity to install a backing plate and use nut/bolt.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Padeyes similar to this:
upload_2022-3-7_16-47-56.png


In this area on the dink (between bow seat/anchor locker and the console):
upload_2022-3-7_16-48-43.png
 
I'm curious if any of you guys have installed padeyes or lifting hooks into the floor of a Walker Bay (or similar) dinghy?

I'm good with hooking onto the transom hooks for securing the stern of the dink but I don't have a great setup in the bow. I'm thinking about adding two padeyes to the floor. In the manual for my rig it says the highlighted area below is "reinforced for lifting" but how would you typically attach/secure lifting eyes? Simply drill a few holes, 5200, use SS hardware and be done? I don't think I can access the cavity to install a backing plate and use nut/bolt.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Padeyes similar to this:
View attachment 122107
our WB Venture 14 came with the hooks already in the floor. we have never used them though. However I do tow it with 2 hooks towards the bow on the bottom.
I would recommend calling Walker Bay and get their thoughts sir.
In this area on the dink (between bow seat/anchor locker and the console):
View attachment 122108
 

I may call Walker Bay. But the folks here are probably more knowledgeable :)
 
What’s the purpose here? To lift the tender? If that’s the case, I’d be putting lifting eyes next to those speakers, and not trying to lift something attached to the floors.
 
What’s the purpose here? To lift the tender? If that’s the case, I’d be putting lifting eyes next to those speakers, and not trying to lift something attached to the floors.

The purpose is to give me better attachment points when securing it to my swim platform. The location of the tow eyes on the tubes are not particularly useful with my davit setup. I would like something internal to the boat if possible, hence this thread.

The actual console on this dinghy (and I assume most?) is not structural. They just drop these consoles in and add a couple bolts. Definitely not something you'd want to lift/tie to or from.
 
The purpose is to give me better attachment points when securing it to my swim platform. The location of the tow eyes on the tubes are not particularly useful with my davit setup. I would like something internal to the boat if possible, hence this thread.

The actual console on this dinghy (and I assume most?) is not structural. They just drop these consoles in and add a couple bolts. Definitely not something you'd want to lift/tie to or from.

I guess I’m confused then. How do you attach a boat to a platform from the INSIDE of the tender?

My tender is secured to my sealift by 2 lifting eyes at the transom, and one on the bow.
 
I guess I’m confused then. How do you attach a boat to a platform from the INSIDE of the tender?

My tender is secured to my sealift by 2 lifting eyes at the transom, and one on the bow.

I've got a Hurley H30, and an extension. The davit is great but the dink can be quite unwieldy once in position. The davit is slicker than $hit and rotates, by design. Securing the tender has become blackbelt levels of merlinspike.

I'll use the floor hooks to help stabilize the bow of the dinghy. Wrap a strap from the hook, over the tube, straight down to the platform. As it is now the bow hook is about the only thing I can use up front. And that's not enough, the dink can still swing until I add my 83 other straps.

51185834155_ade09c6727_h.jpg
 
I got ya now. Thanks. So, I wouldnt just use 5200 and screws with those D-rings and expect it to last. I used these stainless snap togglers when I installed my console helm in my tender and they work great, and are strong. Problem is they take a 1/2” hole to install them.....so they won’t work with the Drings you photo’d. Now, you could use some stainless eye bolts that go down into the snaptoggler. I dunno if it would work for what you’re looking for, but would be pretty strong I’d think.

Can you get to the inside of the hull from that bow compartment? Why not add some more external lifting eyes, like the one at the bow? I was gonna add some on my tender too.....out towards the tubes.....I didn’t need to once I got it all strapped up though. I also have my tender on a Sealift, and not a Hurley.....so I believe yours hangs off the back of the swim deck more.
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=2421035
 
Also, I use these stainless “straps” instead of straps. Much more stable. Easy to make with Amazon parts. Except the cable.....that I did locally....but you catch my drift.
7D703807-FBF3-4F86-9086-05868394F051.jpeg
3C04F903-27A0-496D-BAD3-5EEFC0C4DE79.jpeg
 
I've got a Hurley H30, and an extension. The davit is great but the dink can be quite unwieldy once in position. The davit is slicker than $hit and rotates, by design. Securing the tender has become blackbelt levels of merlinspike.

I'll use the floor hooks to help stabilize the bow of the dinghy. Wrap a strap from the hook, over the tube, straight down to the platform. As it is now the bow hook is about the only thing I can use up front. And that's not enough, the dink can still swing until I add my 83 other straps.

maybe slightly off topic, but I have an h30 davit I need to put on my 97 370 DA. How do you know where to mount it? I’m probably not doing the extension like you have. I’d just like a good idea of where to mount laterally. My dink is just a West Marine 310 (think it’s 10’2”) with a Mercury 9.9.
 
Last edited:
@Stee6043 I also have the H3O on my platform. I have it attached pretty much like @flyboycj84 does, except I also have straps from the inside lifting rings, one fore and one aft that attach to the transom as well. This helps keep the dinghy stable when the boats comes off of plane and the water rushes underneath it. At least it makes me feel better.
 
Also, I use these stainless “straps” instead of straps. Much more stable. Easy to make with Amazon parts. Except the cable.....that I did locally....but you catch my drift. View attachment 122165View attachment 122166

I think you may have posted your strap setup before and I loved it. I had all the SS gear in my Amazon wish list ready to go. But once I had my davit installed I realized it wasn't going to work quite like I thought. My biggest challenge is that all of my anchor points are forward (big boat forward) of the keel of the dinghy. It's a problem that I think is unique to us using the Hurley extension to push the dinghy way back off the platform. The keel of the dink is out over the water. And you can't strap to the extension itself for a number of reasons. First world problems, to be sure.

Your toggler link might be my ticket. Thank you for that. I don't believe there is any access inside the hull of my dinghy. I may just call Walker Bay and ask. But those togglers look slick, even if a bit invasive. Thank you!


This is what I'm dealing with in terms of the position of the dink vs my platform.

upload_2022-3-9_8-5-48.png
 
maybe slightly off topic, but I have an h30 davit I need to put on my 97 370 DA. How do you know where to mount it? I’m probably not doing the extension like you have. I’d just like a good idea of where to mount laterally. My dink is just a West Marine 310 (think it’s 10’2”) with a Mercury 9.9.

The folks at Hurley will tell you, if you ask nicely :)

They will take the size of your dinghy vs the size of your platform and suggest the proper offset. Ultimately, the davit goes as far aft on the dinghy as possible. The motor/transom ends up directly over the H30 on my setup.

upload_2022-3-9_8-8-23.png
 
@Stee6043 I also have the H3O on my platform. I have it attached pretty much like @flyboycj84 does, except I also have straps from the inside lifting rings, one fore and one aft that attach to the transom as well. This helps keep the dinghy stable when the boats comes off of plane and the water rushes underneath it. At least it makes me feel better.

Yeah, this is what I'm trying to accomplish as well. I don't have inside lifting rings anywhere other than the transom...
 
Bumping this thread, I completed my new platform install a few months ago and we've now found a new dinghy that we're purchasing (AB Inflatable 10 VSX with a 20hp Tohatsu). I've been in contact with Hurley about purchasing their H3O+ with Extension (likely opting for the powered winch, thoughts on that?), so I'm working out mounting and tie down options now. I'd like to avoid drilling hundreds of new holes in the pristine new platform, but will do what I need to.

My platform included popup cleats on the sides that I was thinking I would use as tie downs - using the lifting hooks on the inside transom of the dinghy and then the bow eye. Does that sound like enough, or should I plan on adding another somewhere? I did also opt for the removable swim ladder handles, and could probably fab up something that I could repurpose the hole for that as a tie down.

Platform.jpg

Good to know that Hurley will give the extension offset location, I'll get back in touch with them on that. How easy/difficult is it to remove the davit (leaving just the extension) if it's not being used?
 
Bumping this thread, I completed my new platform install a few months ago and we've now found a new dinghy that we're purchasing (AB Inflatable 10 VSX with a 20hp Tohatsu). I've been in contact with Hurley about purchasing their H3O+ with Extension (likely opting for the powered winch, thoughts on that?), so I'm working out mounting and tie down options now. I'd like to avoid drilling hundreds of new holes in the pristine new platform, but will do what I need to.

My platform included popup cleats on the sides that I was thinking I would use as tie downs - using the lifting hooks on the inside transom of the dinghy and then the bow eye. Does that sound like enough, or should I plan on adding another somewhere? I did also opt for the removable swim ladder handles, and could probably fab up something that I could repurpose the hole for that as a tie down.

View attachment 126664

Good to know that Hurley will give the extension offset location, I'll get back in touch with them on that. How easy/difficult is it to remove the davit (leaving just the extension) if it's not being used?


How high off the water is your platform? I started with the manual winch on my H30 but I left it on a couple of times and it was a rust bucket in no time. Instead of replacing we got a powered winch that worked great until one day it didn't, turned out to be a remote issue but easily fixed. What I found was we needed to leave and I just hauled the dinghy up by hand, I actually found it easy enough I did that 80% of the time from then on.

I would not use the popup cleats, I would bite the bullet and properly through bolt eyes where they should go. Its amazing the amount of force applied to those straps when its rough out, those cleats will be in two parts in no time. I didn't fully latch one of my Hurley straps on a rough day, the hook opened up enough it could never close again. My dinghy was 250lbs fully rigged with fuel yours will be double that force.
 
Bumping this thread, I completed my new platform install a few months ago and we've now found a new dinghy that we're purchasing (AB Inflatable 10 VSX with a 20hp Tohatsu). I've been in contact with Hurley about purchasing their H3O+ with Extension (likely opting for the powered winch, thoughts on that?), so I'm working out mounting and tie down options now. I'd like to avoid drilling hundreds of new holes in the pristine new platform, but will do what I need to.

My platform included popup cleats on the sides that I was thinking I would use as tie downs - using the lifting hooks on the inside transom of the dinghy and then the bow eye. Does that sound like enough, or should I plan on adding another somewhere? I did also opt for the removable swim ladder handles, and could probably fab up something that I could repurpose the hole for that as a tie down.

View attachment 126664

Good to know that Hurley will give the extension offset location, I'll get back in touch with them on that. How easy/difficult is it to remove the davit (leaving just the extension) if it's not being used?

I wouldn't think for one more second about the powered winch. It's an absolute must-have. Worth the upgrade. One handed operation...priceless.

You're going to want more tie downs for sure. You'll find that the dinghy is rather unwieldy on the H30. Not only are the rails slicker than $hit but the whole thing rotates. Almost unlimited ways for the dink to move around and fly off once you have it up.

Last year I only had padeyes at the two most outboard "red marks" below (which are actually on the face of the platform edge) combined with the transom hooks on my Sea Ray. It was a PITA to strap the dinghy and it still moved way too much in a little chop. This year over winter I have added padeyes to the three "red marks" on the actual platform surface. I have not yet tried it but I do expect this to be more stable. With two padeyes closer to the port tube, and closer to centerline of the big boat, I hope to be able to apply more "downward" pressure on that tube.

upload_2022-5-17_13-9-12.png
 
Good to know that Hurley will give the extension offset location, I'll get back in touch with them on that. How easy/difficult is it to remove the davit (leaving just the extension) if it's not being used?

And on removing the davit - it's not easy. I had grand ideas of using the extension for a grill mount when not using it for the dinghy. I even bought the Hurley attachment for the Magma grill. I haven't used it once. The davit is heavy and not easy to move around or store...
 
I wouldn't think for one more second about the powered winch. It's an absolute must-have. Worth the upgrade. One handed operation...priceless.

You're going to want more tie downs for sure. You'll find that the dinghy is rather unwieldy on the H30. Not only are the rails slicker than $hit but the whole thing rotates. Almost unlimited ways for the dink to move around and fly off once you have it up.

Last year I only had padeyes at the two most outboard "red marks" below (which are actually on the face of the platform edge) combined with the transom hooks on my Sea Ray. It was a PITA to strap the dinghy and it still moved way too much in a little chop. This year over winter I have added padeyes to the three "red marks" on the actual platform surface. I have not yet tried it but I do expect this to be more stable. With two padeyes closer to the port tube, and closer to centerline of the big boat, I hope to be able to apply more "downward" pressure on that tube.

View attachment 126752
Thanks for the details, I thought that would be the case re: the power winch. For the tie downs, that's interesting, so you think you will need to use all 5 of those tie downs? Are all but that middle one on the edge/lip of the platform? I had 2 of them on my old platform and using the H2O, those worked pretty well, but that davit system didn't rotate like the H3O does. I wish Hurley had some kind of a locking pin to prevent rotation once the dinghy is on and rotated back into place.
 

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