best way to transport inflatable with an outboard???

[liv2ryde100]

hey i have a 2005 34 sea ray sundancer im thinking about getting a rigid bottom inflatable with a 15hp mercury outboard. im trying to figure out how to transport this on my boat without installing davits. ive seen people but the boat on swim platform and tie it to the back of boat but what about the motor storage? also how do i get the motor on the boat safely when i want to use it? and ideas would be appreciated thanks!

 

[firecadet613]

Look in the dinghy subforum. Plenty of great info there.

I have a 37', not a Sea Ray and use davits with an inflatable bottom, with the motor staying on. With a rigid bottom, you're likely going to damage your boat pulling it up without davits.

A big factor is how far your platform is off the water's surface.

 

[Stee6043]

My first thoughts - 1.) your platform is high off the water, 2.) a 15hp outboard is too heavy to remove/install repeatedly, even when sober and 3.) a rigid bottom dink will destroy your platform without proper davits.

I think you'll either need to revise your dinghy plans or your davit plans (or both). In this case having your cake and eating it too is going to be tricky.

 

[my3sons]

I would advise you to research a davit system that allows you to store the dinghy with the motor mounted on the dinghy. IMO, a 15hp motor is too heavy to safely take on and off in even a light chop. Keep in mind that how much you use your dinghy may depend on how easy it is to launch and retrieve it.
You may want to consider an inflatable that is not a rib and a smaller motor if you are opposed to davits on your platform, or install a davit that uses a flatter (not a toe stubber) type mount if that is your concern.
I like carrying mine flat as opposed to a tilt up type arrangement. Everything can stay in the dinghy like Bilge pump, anchor, gas can, safety bag, basically everything that would fall out if it was on it's edge that you would then have to put somewhere else on the boat.

 

[Creekwood]

Weaver stand up davits are pretty unobtrusive. If you get a Weaver Lever outboard mount you can leave the outboard mounted, but a RIB with 15hp is pretty heavy to tip up without a serious block and tackle set up.

If you want to take it off and use weaver davits, its pretty easy to rig up an outboard stand for the swim platform as long as it keeps the powerhead out of the splash water and can be secured while underway. Then when you get where you are going, you stow the stand somewhere (maybe in the bilge).

I like the Weaver system because it leaves the swim platform open while underway and the dinghy doesn't fill with rainwater.

 

[370Dancer]

And, if you really want to take a rib, drag it. that will cost a lot less than the davit system you would need if you could even find one (Freedom, TNT, and other arms that keep 'em off the platform and keep 'em level).
I drag a 13' AB Nautilus with a 40 Yamaha. I don't try to cross the Gulfstream with that configuration.

 

[Pirate Lady]

even when sober

I like the way you think, this always seems to mess up my intentions. Who stole the rum!

 

[Pirate Lady]

You guys are all going about this wrong. You keep a little dingy with a small easy to handle motor on board for when you need to go to the tiki bar when anchor out. The big zodiac with the big motor is for going to the tiki bar when the main ship is down cause it overheated or it hit precambrian rocks in georgian bay.

 

[Blueone]

I wanted a dinghy to putt around the marina and take occasionally to the island or on vacation. I bought a 310 zodiac aero with a 9.9. I just pulled the whole thing up on the swim platform and tied it to cleats.... travelled perfect.
The only problem was it was against the transom so no room to walk.... you had to climb over it .... that got old. So I bought the H20 that you see in the pic... it gave us some room to walk. The 9.9 is all I can pull up by myself...if there is rain water in the dinghy forget it. The water will run to the front and you’re screwed
I am considering a light hard bottom now that I have the davits.

 

[markrsimon]

And, if you really want to take a rib, drag it. that will cost a lot less than the davit system you would need if you could even find one (Freedom, TNT, and other arms that keep 'em off the platform and keep 'em level).
I drag a 13' AB Nautilus with a 40 Yamaha. I don't try to cross the Gulfstream with that configuration.

What kind of bridle do you have setup to tow this? Do you run into any challenges when docking?

 

[liv2ryde100]

Thanks so much for all the input, I always feel like I’m going to move into a bigger sea ray in the near future so I’m scared to install a Davit system. I was thinking it could hurt my resale. Now I’m not sure what to do. Appreciate all the feedback though!!

 

[jmauld]

And, if you really want to take a rib, drag it. that will cost a lot less than the davit system you would need if you could even find one (Freedom, TNT, and other arms that keep 'em off the platform and keep 'em level).
I drag a 13' AB Nautilus with a 40 Yamaha. I don't try to cross the Gulfstream with that configuration.

How do you dock dragging a dinghy?

 

[Blueone]

Thanks so much for all the input, I always feel like I’m going to move into a bigger sea ray in the near future so I’m scared to install a Davit system. I was thinking it could hurt my retail. Now I’m not sure what to do. Appreciate all the feedback though!!

Don’t think like that... anything you do to the fiberglass can be repaired like new.

 

[b_arrington]

Thanks so much for all the input, I always feel like I’m going to move into a bigger sea ray in the near future so I’m scared to install a Davit system. I was thinking it could hurt my resale. Now I’m not sure what to do. Appreciate all the feedback though!!

A good davit system can add value, especially if it doesn’t have a lot of hardware on the top.

I installed a Dingydavits.com extended undermount system on my last boat. It has no toe catchers on the platform, and the arms are easily removable. Also it gives a lot of room on the platform. A couple pics below.

 

[liv2ryde100]

A good davit system can add value, especially if it doesn’t have a lot of hardware on the top.

I installed a Dingydavits.com extended undermount system on my last boat. It has no toe catchers on the platform, and the arms are easily removable. Also it gives a lot of room on the platform. A couple pics below.

View attachment 110694

View attachment 110703View attachment 110704View attachment 110702View attachment 110701


View attachment 110695

Wow thanks for the pics that looks like a nice setup, on my 05 340, the swim platform is moulded and there’s no access that I know of inside it, so that also adds kind of another issue on the situation

 

[play dough]

A good davit system can add value, especially if it doesn’t have a lot of hardware on the top.

I installed a Dingydavits.com extended undermount system on my last boat. It has no toe catchers on the platform, and the arms are easily removable. Also it gives a lot of room on the platform. A couple pics below.

View attachment 110694

View attachment 110703View attachment 110704View attachment 110702View attachment 110701


View attachment 110695

I was looking at that system but then observed the installation the "Boogaboo" boat posted on line of that davit. I have the same 330DA. His video showed a lot of movement of the inflatable from water at the transom at certain speeds. I became concerned about that so backed off that plan. Do you experience any issues with water while either going on or off plane?

 

[firecadet613]

Wow thanks for the pics that looks like a nice setup, on my 05 340, the swim platform is moulded and there’s no access that I know of inside it, so that also adds kind of another issue on the situation

You just need to utilize their top mount system, which I have. The only part mounted to your boat is the Weaver quick mount and is not a toe snubber (I've had it on two boats). Both boats had it installed using "Toggler" bolts.

My swim platform is similar to your 340s and I have had no issues with the inflatable moving while I'm at speed. I pull the drain plug when it's on the davits and it's covered when we're not there so no issues with rain water.

http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/air-floors-on-davits.104967/

 

[RBB]

We tow a Walker bay venture 14 with a 60hp Honda. When docking or locking thru I just tuck it up against the swim platform



 

[b_arrington]

I was looking at that system but then observed the installation the "Boogaboo" boat posted on line of that davit. I have the same 330DA. His video showed a lot of movement of the inflatable from water at the transom at certain speeds. I became concerned about that so backed off that plan. Do you experience any issues with water while either going on or off plane?

Every boat is different, so what works for one might have drawbacks for another. That said, I did not have any issues with the dinghy moving around from the wake. Even when coming off plane it seems very solid. I did strap mine a bit differently than what is in his video, going from the ends of the cradle arms and over the tubes, plus lines from the bow and stern to cleats on the swim platform.

I did notice in the video that his swim platform is relatively close to the water and the back edge and sides were actually awash when getting on plane. I think my swim platform (and therefore the davit / dinghy) have a higher clearance above the water that the boat in the video. My platform doesn't drag in the water when getting on plane, and only has wash when coming off plane suddenly. It might be because of the platform height, or because it's a straight shaft single with the engine in the middle of the boat vs. having the weight aft.

Those videos were made almost 2 years after I installed my davits, but they do a good job of showing the install. I like the addition of the lifting eye as a tie down point. I used a soft loop attached to the end of the cradle. One thing I don't like about the arms is that they are raw aluminum with stainless pins and brackets. In salt water that's great recipe for the aluminum to corrode (cosmetic only), and galvanic corrosion between the aluminum arm and the stainless pin. That closes up the clearance between the parts and can seize the pin. I do plan on buying another set for my current boat and would send the aluminum bits out to get anodized (not powder coated). As the video mentions powder coat increases the thickness by quite a bit, where in many types of anodizing the added thickness would be negligible in this application.

 

[370Dancer]

What kind of bridle do you have setup to tow this? Do you run into any challenges when docking?

When we get to our destination, the Admiral walks the boat to the bow. If we have weather or current that gets in the way, I'll launch her while I dock. That is a pretty rare occasion, though.
I have used a few different bridles. Current is a webbing bridle to the eyes on either side of the hull, to a another bridle across the 2 stern cleats on the platform. Scope is adjusted for conditions and traffic if any. Motor down for tracking.