Winter Davit project

Strecker25

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Nov 20, 2014
4,905
Rochester, NY
Boat Info
2002 410DA
Engines
Caterpillar 350HP 3126
My custom davits are just about done. We just have to blow up the dinghy and cut the boards. The blocks are aluminum, and the arms are SS. I'll get better pics once I have the boards cut, but I think this should work nicely. The benefits of my father owning a machine shop.
IMG_0456.JPG
IMG_0454.JPG
IMG_0453.JPG
IMG_0455.JPG
 
Looking good - I am considering this type for my 340SDA but I have been concerned about the height of the swim platform. Do you think something like this will work with the added height?

You might also want to consider adding a rubber (?) foot under the inside of the arm to prevent bouncing on the platform and/or to prevent unnecessary additional flex.

-Kevin
 
Looking good - I am considering this type for my 340SDA but I have been concerned about the height of the swim platform. Do you think something like this will work with the added height?

You might also want to consider adding a rubber (?) foot under the inside of the arm to prevent bouncing on the platform and/or to prevent unnecessary additional flex.

-Kevin

Great idea on the foot, otherwise it won't be level

I know your boat well as a good friend has one. I think the system would work just fine, but the required torque to lift the dink up will be quite a bit more that for ours since your angle would be much steeper. I think it would depend on the dinghy and engine combo. Ours is an airfloor zodiac with a 9.8 2 stroke, so total weight is under 200#. I can push it around quite easily. A RIB or 4 stroke might be tougher
 
Great idea on the foot, otherwise it won't be level

I know your boat well as a good friend has one. I think the system would work just fine, but the required torque to lift the dink up will be quite a bit more that for ours since your angle would be much steeper. I think it would depend on the dinghy and engine combo. Ours is an airfloor zodiac with a 9.8 2 stroke, so total weight is under 200#. I can push it around quite easily. A RIB or 4 stroke might be tougher

That's what I was thinking - might be easier retrieved with two people. My intended use would only be for trips where we would load before leaving and launch at destination and keep tied up. I already have the weaver mounts but no hardware and I think this method would be easier than the hooks and storing vertical. I don't have a dink yet but don't want anything to big either (probably around a 9 foot).

I like keeping my swim platform free and clear and this type allows removal and storage.

-Kevin
 
That set up looks a lot like the “Dinghy Ramps” that I have for my boat. They work really well, and yours should too.
The only problem a I have with mine are my Dinghy and Motor Combo are heavy and a PIA to lull up. Dinghy weighs about 130 and the 4 stroke 9.9 weighs over 90 so it’s a 2 man job.
I’m probably going to keep my eyes open for a good used lighter Dinghy and smaller 2 stroke to make it easier.
Once up though, it’s a nice setup as long as you strap it down nice and tight.
 
That's what I was thinking - might be easier retrieved with two people. My intended use would only be for trips where we would load before leaving and launch at destination and keep tied up. I already have the weaver mounts but no hardware and I think this method would be easier than the hooks and storing vertical. I don't have a dink yet but don't want anything to big either (probably around a 9 foot).

I like keeping my swim platform free and clear and this type allows removal and storage.

-Kevin

Same for us, it’s a 30’ boat in a 30’ slip so I don’t want to leave it on all the time. We hang at the dock a lot too so getting in and out of the boat through the transom is important.

I’ve seen similar Davits available on eBay for like 500-600. Honestly, after how much time we spent making them I probably would have been better off just buying them, but what’s the fun in that.
 
Same for us, it’s a 30’ boat in a 30’ slip so I don’t want to leave it on all the time. We hang at the dock a lot too so getting in and out of the boat through the transom is important.

I’ve seen similar Davits available on eBay for like 500-600. Honestly, after how much time we spent making them I probably would have been better off just buying them, but what’s the fun in that.

Sometimes the project is the fun part - even if it takes longer and costs more. It does leave you with a sense of accomplishment and lots of stories to talk about around the dock.

-Kevin
 
Almost ready for install. Used pine boards to mock up before cutting the starboard. These should really work nicely, and the plates are evenly spaced so I can orient the dinghy facing either direction. The tape on the table represents our platform.

A966F9D2-356F-4667-AA5B-865AAE9261AB.jpeg
0B0E70C0-F08B-470A-BB6D-2451993FF63E.jpeg
0C1F05A1-25EE-437F-A7E3-7AF39B814925.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • BD2FEAFF-838E-4723-B38C-BA035EDF9996.jpeg
    BD2FEAFF-838E-4723-B38C-BA035EDF9996.jpeg
    155.2 KB · Views: 278
  • 0107E36C-551E-4497-BBC4-6F5029A716F0.jpeg
    0107E36C-551E-4497-BBC4-6F5029A716F0.jpeg
    111.6 KB · Views: 267
  • 4EB14AA9-4FEE-4BE5-841C-F598D92736AC.jpeg
    4EB14AA9-4FEE-4BE5-841C-F598D92736AC.jpeg
    83.4 KB · Views: 277
That's looking great!

Would it be a good idea to bias them towards the rear to split the weight of the motor a little better?
 
That's looking great!

Would it be a good idea to bias them towards the rear to split the weight of the motor a little better?

I’m still thinking about that actually. I really want them to be symmetrical so I can put the motor on either side (the dink is slightly wider than our boat) right now I have them 20” from the edge of the platform, I might be able to get it to 15” which would support right under the dinghy transom. I’m going to do another mock up once the starboard is cut but with the motor on it as well
 
I installed a pair of Naughtly Davits with rollers, even with the rollers it was tough lifting the RIB onto the swim platform. Every time I would get the stern up I would try to help my wife lift her end of the dinghy. As I helped her the stern always went back into the water. The total weight with a 6 hp Yamaha is 140lbs.

After a few try’s and needing assistance from other boaters I decided to install a winch in the lazarette, now I can pull the Dinghy out of the water by myself. I thru bolted it to the floor of the lazarette and installed a roller high enough to get the correct angle. I also changed the steel cable to polypropylene rope and made a harness to lift it. The winch also has a tethered remote. Everything was less than $200.

Bow Tie
 
Last edited:
The machined aluminum looks great. I made a test set last year out of stainless for my RIB. The one suggestion I have is this. Mine is exactly like yours in that the two boards can tilt straight up. You are going to find it harder to pull the dink UP and in. If you make a stop so the boards remain at a shallower angle to the water, say 30-45degrees, you will then have more of a sliding motion. Just my experience. Then again my dink is heavier. But your workmanship is awesome!
 
The machined aluminum looks great. I made a test set last year out of stainless for my RIB. The one suggestion I have is this. Mine is exactly like yours in that the two boards can tilt straight up. You are going to find it harder to pull the dink UP and in. If you make a stop so the boards remain at a shallower angle to the water, say 30-45degrees, you will then have more of a sliding motion. Just my experience. Then again my dink is heavier. But your workmanship is awesome!

Great tip, we can easily do that. What are your boards made of? I wasn’t sure if starboard would have any buoyancy so I have to test that. If not, the stop makes a lot of sense. Our total weight will be about 175lbs including motor and fuel
 
Originally I tried Azek. It broke. I went to starboard and it has been holding up. 10' rib. 15hp Mercury. Over 200lbs I would guess.
 
"limit straps" may serve you better and be easier/cheaper to manufacture than hard stops.
 
Very nice work. Riptides suggestion of an angle stop is very good. The Starboard will sink so maybe you should incorporate some type of lanyard to prevent all of you nice craftsmanship from getting lost to Davy Jones. I'd like to see some of the sharp edges rounded to make them look more custom.
 
Don't pay attention to the materials. These are just a mock set to make sure they work and I don't want to change anything. I plan on having them done in stainless and starboard soon. I'm just posting to show how I angled the ends so the boards would not go all the way to 90 degrees and stay at an angle. I ran them last year and like the way they work. I use a pulley system to pull the dinghy up on the ramps. I hook the eye of the line on the cleat of the boat and then through a pulley that I clip to the dinghy , then back through another pulley that I clip to the same cleat on the boat. I have one set up on each side of the boat. The wife gets the bow and I get the aft / motor end. Once you have it set up it all stays together so you don't have to reeve it up every time and all you do is unhook it and stow it. I was a crane operator ( now operations manager for the crane company ) so thats where the pulley idea came from. The more pulleys you reeve through the easier it is to pull up.
 

Attachments

  • 20170813_191750.jpg
    20170813_191750.jpg
    129.8 KB · Views: 296
  • 20170916_205213.jpg
    20170916_205213.jpg
    131.1 KB · Views: 290
Some of the pics didn't post. Here's more.
 

Attachments

  • 20170813_191811.jpg
    20170813_191811.jpg
    153.5 KB · Views: 280
  • 20170813_191825.jpg
    20170813_191825.jpg
    122.8 KB · Views: 286
  • 20170813_191829.jpg
    20170813_191829.jpg
    91.2 KB · Views: 281
EZ. For $80 a friend of mine bought a harbor freight remote controlled electric winch. He mounted it in the trunk area and runs the cable out of the haus pipe and uses it to pull the dink up on the davits. The winch is not marine grade but has lasted 5 years thus far.
 
EZ. For $80 a friend of mine bought a harbor freight remote controlled electric winch. He mounted it in the trunk area and runs the cable out of the haus pipe and uses it to pull the dink up on the davits. The winch is not marine grade but has lasted 5 years thus far.

I have thought about a winch in the truck, but haven't got that far yet. I keep all my fenders in there and not sure if I want to give up the room no more than I use the dinghy.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,748
Members
60,928
Latest member
rkaleda
Back
Top