Bought a dinghy - need a davit!

[Sorrento 25]

I picked up a nice used 8' Zodiac on Craigslist, but I have a unique mounting requirement and am wondering if anyone has any clever ideas to make this work the way I need it to.

My boat has the integrated swim platform molded into the hull, but I also have added another teak swim platform below that one. It is on this lower platform that I would like to mount the dinghy.

I would like to be able to mount it horizontally when underway for better visibility. However, I also need to be able to store it vertically both tucked up tight on the narrow (16" ?) platform during rack storage and extended out maybe 16" when docked to maintain sufficient clearance for boarding. This will require some sort of slider and/or a two or three position pinned or latching type mount.

In either the horizontal, tight vertical, or extended vertical storage positions a telescoping pole would also support the top/outermost side.

Is there a commercially available product with this capability?

Any engineering advice would be appreciated, and I would prefer to fabricate this myself if possible. I've searched and seen many very nicely made systems here on this forum, but most are for larger boats and larger hard-bottom dinghies.

Toe stubbing and bracket removability is not a concern.

Thanks!!

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

I'd look at Garhauer lifting davits: http://garhauermarine.com/catalog_process.cfm?cid=41

I installed two of them. They are normally used for engine hoisting but can be easily adapted to dinks... Cost about $650 for two of them. Solid stainless steel. They way I mounted them allows me to swing them out of the way when I walk off the boats swim step.

Check here for more photos:
http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/dinghy.htm

You can easily remove the posts if you decide not to take the dink on some trips...

 

[Four Suns]

Dude... Only old men who drive around town wearing a straw hat and going 15 mph use those type of davits.

I do like your kicker motor though... you must fish...

 

[Sorrento 25]

Thanks, but I need something small, cheap, and light. This is a small boat with too much heavy hardware added to it already.

I'm thinking a PVC cradle that can snap into either a front or rear pair of mounts, and the horizontal position would be more of a reclined to 30-45 degrees position.

Or maybe just two U-channels with two or three sets of hitch pin holes in each.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Dude...
I do like your kicker motor though... you must fish...

Yep, I fish. The kicker is remote controlled from a 20 ft electric cord and is electric start from the cockpit. In fact the boat has autopilot and I use that when fishing alone. So I can set a course and walk away or tend to lines without having to worry about losing its course.

Guess I need a straw hat and a slower tow rig... :thumbsup: maybe I ought to change out the 6.2 I dropped in place of the old 5.7 too? too funny... :huh:

 

[tobnpr]

Something like Weaver's Snap-Davits will get you the vertical storage, but off the back of the platform. I don't know of any product that will support the dinghy vertically on top of the platform. Since it's just for rack storage, why not just tie it in place?

Whatever you end up with, bear in mind that when stowed horizontally the dinghy needs a good amount of vertical clearance from the water. Since you siad you mounted another platform "under" the factory one, it sounds like there's not much clearance to the water. When the boat gets heavily waked with the dighy back there, it could damage or rip the dinghy loose, as well as placing a tremendous amount of strain on the mounting and platform.

I considered Hurley Davits for my boat, but after discussing it with the manufacturer we agreed my platform was too close to the water for them to work due to the issue I described above.

 

[eddiezuskin]

Michael,
Maybe start with the keep it simple version. For 3 years I have used the C-lift davits from www.plasticinnovations.com , they are inexpensive and work fine. You can buy xtra mounts to attach the C's to desired locations. I have an 87 250DA with 8' beam and an 8'6" dinghy. The forklift drivers at the marina claim they cannot see around the dinghy to move my boat in and out of the rack so I have to remove it and store it on the dinghy rack every time, major PITA. I also mounted a small outboard bracket(Garelick # 71075) on my transom for a 3.5hp motor, very busy back there for a 25'
boat.
Eddie

 

[Sorrento 25]

Oh thats perfect Eddie! I can't make anything for less. Thanks!

And yes, the lower platform is very close to the water, but these should work. I think I'll make an adjustable upper support out of the old boat hook!