2018 260DA Dinghy mounting

fishnet99

New Member
Feb 3, 2018
6
Boat Info
2018 260DA
Engines
ECT 6.2L (300HP) MPI BR3
I've been through the numerous threads on mounting a dinghy (and they've been a great help,) but they almost all seem to cover 30'+ boats. With it's relatively large swim platform, I'm thinking I can squeeze one onto a 2018 260DA.

We currently have a West Marine PRU-3, which has served us well for the last 4 or so seasons and I'd love to keep it another season or two. I've considered laying it right on the swim platform and tying it off to the aft cleats, but am concerned about the safety of my wife while docking as it would be a major obstruction. I wish I could just offload my wife and the dinghy prior to docking, but, unfortunately, that's not an option.

I've discounted the weaver davits as I think the vertical mounting of the dinghy would obstruct the view while backing into the slip. Additionally, it would also require me finding a spot to store my Suzuki 2.5 HP outboard with the 260DA's already limited storage.

This has me thinking an Achilles HB-240AL on a Nautley DinghyRamp HD might be the best option. Has anyone here done this or something similar on this size boat? Will it look absurd? I want to make sure I make the right decision before drilling any holes in this pristine vessel.

As for the dinghy's intended use, it will be used several times just about every weekend to shuttle myself, my wife, and two young kids (7 & 5) ~100 yards to shore while anchored or moored as well as just putting around. We'll occasionally do 40+ mile stretches in the 260DA so towing it isn't ideal for me. I'd also like to get my kids proficient at handling the dinghy, but the lack of tracking on the PRU-3, due to it's flat bottom, has proven a bit challenging in past seasons. Of course, if they can master the PRU-3, they'll be able to handle anything!

Any additional insight anyone has into the 2018 260DA will be welcomed as I've seen very little posted about this model aside from Sea Ray's marketing materials.

Thanks!
 
Have you considered a "Dinghy Sling"? They are cool dinghy device and give you many options on how you transport the dinghy. You can keep the motor on during transport and keep it more horizontal so as to not obstruct your vision. Easy to use, no drilling.
 
I use my dinghy to shuttle kids and a wife around as well. Having that thing has been the best money I've spent since investing in our 340.

I didn't want davits on my platform because of the aforementioned kids. We use our swim platform extensively when anchored when we're not at the beach.

I bought the sling mentioned above, used it for half a summer and then returned it to my garage where it will rest until I find time to take photos and try to sell it. For me the easiest way to manage our dinghy is with two (2) half inch dock lines. I leave them permanently attached, one on a D ring in the front of the dinghy and one on one cleat in the year. Pull the dinghy up on the platform, engine and all, tie to the cleats at my transom and away we go. I've travelled long distances and have had the boat in 3-5' waves with this configuration, zero issues.

When the weekend is done I remove the engine, pull the dinghy on it's side and add another line on the bottom to prevent wind from moving it around during the week. Done and done.
 
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I use my dinghy to shuttle kids and a wife around as well. Having that thing has been the best money I've spent since investing in our 340.

I didn't want davits on my platform because of the aforementioned kids. We use our swim platform extensively when anchored when we're not at the beach.

I bought the sling mentioned above, used it for half a summer and then returned it to my garage where it will rest until I find time to take photos and try to sell it. For me the easiest way to manage our dinghy is with two (2) half inch dock lines. I leave them permanently attached, one on a D ring in the front of the dinghy and one on one cleat in the year. Pull the dinghy up on the platform, engine and all, tie to the cleats at my transom and away we go. I've travelled long distances and have had the boat in 3-5' waves with this configuration, zero issues.

When the weekend is done I remove the engine, pull the dinghy on it's side and add another line on the bottom to prevent wind from moving it around during the week. Done and done.
Was there a problem with the sling setup? I. Am looking to use that system on my WE300. My concern on a conventional Davit system was also not having any obstacle on the swim platform for the kids or wife to have to work around.Thanks
 
Was there a problem with the sling setup? I. Am looking to use that system on my WE300. My concern on a conventional Davit system was also not having any obstacle on the swim platform for the kids or wife to have to work around.Thanks

It's possible I have the perfect swim platform to make the dinghy sling non-useful. It's low enough to the water that I can't sling the dinghy off the back of the platform without dragging the bottom in the water. So that configuration proved uselesse. And sadly, that configuration is exactly what I wanted from the dinghy sling.

Using the sling on top of the swim platform was my only real option. At this point the sling loses 162% of its convenience factor. It is 358.9 times easier to use dock lines to secure a dinghy to a platform than to struggle with the sling in this configuration. Getting the dink over the floating sling, roping the ends back around, pulling it up and securing it, whether horizontal or vertical, was pure unadulterated frustration. The fact that I didn't fall into our putrid marina water every single weekend whilst executing this emasculating process is an absolute miracle. It is also evidence of the fact that I only slung my dinghy in the mornings, sober and properly rested. An attempt at slinging your dinghy after enjoying any reasonable quantity of adult beverages would, without question, become campfire fodder of legendary proportion. You'd want the Youtube rights for certain. Ask for help? Almost unimaginable. Navigating the web of nylon is bad enough with one idiot owner/operator trying to suffer through it. Adding another able bodied human to this process would have most definitely been divorce inducing.

Hey - I have a very lightly used Dinghy Sling in mint condition for sale if you're interested! ha.
 
LOL! All depends on the asking price. Thanks
 
Thank you for all your responses! Yes, even yours mtnandy ;) (I must admit, I was expecting to face several responses with that sentiment.)

I appreciate the dinghy sling thought gdavis67, but had seen it before and immediately had visions of Stee6043's experience.

I think I may just do a season of strapping the "dainty dinghy" with docklines as Stee6043 referenced and see how that goes.
 
When we had our 260DA, we had a small inflatable that I would turn upside down on the bow for running. When on the hook, she was tied off to a cleat.

Bennett
 
Thanks Bennett.
Yes, I think it would fit up there nicely and likely without sacrificing much visibility. My only concern with that was where to put the Suzuki 2.5.
I'd toss it (secured) in the "engine room," but with the built in gas tank, that's a 5 o'clock news story waiting to happen. I may be able to secure it under the aft bench seat, but that's almost the only cockpit storage (and it has the extinguisher port to the "engine room" so any fuel/fumes leaking could possibly find their way down below.) We don't take the dinghy far so I suppose I can forego the Suzuki engine if push comes to shove.

Thanks again for the ideas!
 
Not to spend your money, but look at the Torqeedo Travel 3HP. I have an older one of these and it's fantastic. The whole thing weighs 30lbs - 10lbs of that is the removable battery pak. When you don't need it, throw it in the cabin - no oil or gas to deal with!
 
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This is my setup on a similar sized boat using weaver Davits. It works well for us.

I made up a 4:1 purchase block and tackle to lift the dingy. It's attached to a d-ring glued to the outer tube. On the boat I installed a pop up cleat so the walkway is clear to port when the dingy is on edge. When tipped all,the way forward it covers the engine.

The 15 hp motor sits on St. Croix removable motor mount.



IMG_1886.JPG


IMG_1887.JPG


IMG_1888.JPG
 
I have had the weaver system in my last two boats. I did the same block and tackle system to pull it up. I like it because of two main things.

1 the platform is open to walk across while the dinghy is mounted. I have two stand off bars mounted low on the transom so easy to setup over.

2. I made sure on both boats that the mounts are at the height where the dinghy is level in the water when down in the water and clipped in. This makes it a very stable platform to step into. Works great getting the dog in and out and also my wife is comfortable as well. She has MS so a stable spot to step in makes a huge difference. It also means a very stable platform when lifting my 8hp Yamaha outboard into the dinghy and mounting it. I would not want to do that with the dinghy bobbing around.
 
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She has MS so a stable spot to step in makes a huge difference. It also means a very stable platform when lifting my 8hp Yamaha outboard into the dinghy and mounting it. I would not want to do that with the dinghy bobbing around.

I have the same situation with my wife, and the weaver davits make a big difference. It's also why I bought the AB Ventus: Unlike most RIBs of it's size the inside floor is flat, making standing a much more stable affair for her. And for me when mounting / dismounting the engine but that's just a bonus.
 
I have the same situation with my wife, and the weaver davits make a big difference. It's also why I bought the AB Ventus: Unlike most RIBs of it's size the inside floor is flat, making standing a much more stable affair for her. And for me when mounting / dismounting the engine but that's just a bonus.

Your pictures show it perfectly. Very similar to mine, but I have the weaver stand-offs to hold the dinghy up. One other thing is that I have the Weaver "Arm" attached to the transom of the dinghy rather than the pad mounts. It really helps hold it solidly, including when I leave the outboard on the dinghy while running (which I sometimes do - yes I know there is risk of water dripping down the exhaust into the cylinders).
 
One other thing is that I have the Weaver "Arm" attached to the transom of the dinghy rather than the pad mounts. It really helps hold it solidly,

The Weaver arcs are nice. I would have liked to use one but the length and curvature of the swim platform didn't allow for that. I never really found a satisfactory way to use the Weaver stand-off brackets with my configuration either.

The block and tackle works great. The when slightly rear of center, the weight of the dingy holds it upright against the line when needed. I leave it that when when going slowly, but tip it forward at speed. If going at speed for more than a short distance I'll take the slack our of the line so wind doesn't flip it backward.
 
Thanks Bennett.
Yes, I think it would fit up there nicely and likely without sacrificing much visibility. My only concern with that was where to put the Suzuki 2.5.
I'd toss it (secured) in the "engine room," but with the built in gas tank, that's a 5 o'clock news story waiting to happen. I may be able to secure it under the aft bench seat, but that's almost the only cockpit storage (and it has the extinguisher port to the "engine room" so any fuel/fumes leaking could possibly find their way down below.) We don't take the dinghy far so I suppose I can forego the Suzuki engine if push comes to shove.

Thanks again for the ideas!


Thumbs up to what Bennett said. I carried our dinghy upside down on the bow of the 260 all the way to the Abacos and back. 2 hp Honda outboard stored in the engine room port side strapped down. No issues...although the dinghy is right heavy to lift from the water to the bow too many times...
 
The Weaver arcs are nice. I would have liked to use one but the length and curvature of the swim platform didn't allow for that. I never really found a satisfactory way to use the Weaver stand-off brackets with my configuration either.

The block and tackle works great. The when slightly rear of center, the weight of the dingy holds it upright against the line when needed. I leave it that when when going slowly, but tip it forward at speed. If going at speed for more than a short distance I'll take the slack our of the line so wind doesn't flip it backward.
Here is what my set up looks like. There are two stand off bars and two lines tied to rear cleats to hold it nice and tight when underway. Not really necessary, but it prevents the little bit of bouncing from the one tube pad mount if I don't use the lines.
 

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