Whats the best davit system?

Doc O Rock

Active Member
Mar 23, 2016
448
Belle Maer Harbor, North Channel Yacht Club
Boat Info
1999 380 Sundancer
Engines
twin 7.4 Merc
take a look at the Hurley H3O. Only takes four bolts and you can hold up to a 600 lb dink/pwc

I just installed one a few weeks ago. Absolutely love it.
 
There are many options out there, so people seem to develop a preference depending on their usage and obviously the style of boat. For a swim platform tilt style, I think the Nautley and Hurley systems, along with some custom made knock offs of a similar style seem to work well. They allow you to keep the engine on the boat, and travel with the dink level on the platform.
Here's what it looks like on the back of my 340DA with a 9' 6" Highfields aluminum RIB and the Nautley system.

Cheers - Ron
IMG_20170521_064329258_HDR.jpg
 
There are many options out there, so people seem to develop a preference depending on their usage and obviously the style of boat. For a swim platform tilt style, I think the Nautley and Hurley systems, along with some custom made knock offs of a similar style seem to work well. They allow you to keep the engine on the boat, and travel with the dink level on the platform.
Here's what it looks like on the back of my 340DA with a 9' 6" Highfields aluminum RIB and the Nautley system.

Cheers - Ron
View attachment 49472

Ron,
What engine do you use with your Highfields?
Looks like what I'm looking for.
Jim
 
I have the trick davits and do NOT like them. After watching the videos on their web site I was trying to understand how that little girl could pull that dinghy up so easily. My wife and I tried every way we could think of without success. I called the manufacturer and expressed my frustration over my lack of success. I spoke with the owner. I was asked where I bought them. I told him they were on the boat when I bought it. He told me I was not a customer of his and that he would not help me. I would stay as far away from these guys as I could if I were you.

I did end up buying a small block and tackle and was able to overcome their poor design
 
I'm am selling these custom made ones. Fraction of the cost and worked better if you ask me. Only used one summer.

Finally had a chance to try my new davits out...all I can say is I'm extremely pleased with how well they appear to work. I have not installed the tie downs yet so no ride. But they are solid and I like how I can still keep my boat backed in my slip.








 
I have a SeaWise davit system that I can't use with my current boat/dinghy. It's for sale at a cheapo price. If you are interested, PM me.
 
Ron,
What engine do you use with your Highfields?
Looks like what I'm looking for.
Jim

Jim, it's a 4 stroke 6hp Merc. That was the biggest they make with the self contained fuel tank a couple years ago. You can connect a separate tank, but it runs for a while on the built in one and I just run from shore to the mooring. I keep a little 1 Gal gas can in the bow locker of the dink.

The 6hp will get an adult and child on plane, but sometimes not two adults and gear. I don't really use the dinghy much except a short run to and from a mooring, so speed's not really an issue. If you think you'll go very far with it with 2 or 3 adults, you might want a 9.9hp or something like that. I know some folks do a lot more exploring with their dinghy than we tend to do. Heck, we probably go farther with our kayaks than the dinghy usually.
 
I have the trick davit system and love it. The customer service was great. I curently have a Mercury 8.6 ft air deck with a susuki 6hp on my swim platform
 
Check out Dinghy Caddy. We love it.



You can see it in the down position here, it becomes a large boarding ladder:




 
Dale custom made mine. They cost several hundred less than the mass-produced units I looked at.

And I have 4 more systems on the shelf and ready to go.......

Let me know if you'd like to know more.

Dale
 
I think I undersold "custom". At Dale's request I sent templates of the underside of the dinghy and measurements of the dinghy and platform. What I got in return were davits that perfectly cradle the dinghy and position it exactly where I wanted it on the platform. This was at a cost about 20-25% less than the off-the-shelf options.
 
I have the trick davits and do NOT like them. After watching the videos on their web site I was trying to understand how that little girl could pull that dinghy up so easily. My wife and I tried every way we could think of without success. I called the manufacturer and expressed my frustration over my lack of success. I spoke with the owner. I was asked where I bought them. I told him they were on the boat when I bought it. He told me I was not a customer of his and that he would not help me. I would stay as far away from these guys as I could if I were you.

I did end up buying a small block and tackle and was able to overcome their poor design
I question the (actual) source of this comment. I put NOTHING past one of my competitors. No one has ever been told that if they didn't purchase the system from me that I wouldn't help them. In fact, I've warrantied parts that are five years old for people that purchased a Trick Davit System already on a boat. I may have asked if the davits were purchased for that particular boat. But the people were still assisted. Jim Trethewey Trick Davit Systems
 
I have the trick davits and do NOT like them. After watching the videos on their web site I was trying to understand how that little girl could pull that dinghy up so easily. My wife and I tried every way we could think of without success. I called the manufacturer and expressed my frustration over my lack of success. I spoke with the owner. I was asked where I bought them. I told him they were on the boat when I bought it. He told me I was not a customer of his and that he would not help me. I would stay as far away from these guys as I could if I were you.

I did end up buying a small block and tackle and was able to overcome their poor design

Exactly, that's what caught my eye in their demo is my bad back & hurt just watching it...
 

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