Bought one of those Sea Doo Sparks to use as a dinghy

[Richie89]

Any suggestions for a davit for it? Only weights 405 lbs. talked to swimplatforms.com and they said that weight is not an issue

 

[Havana Shamrock]

I can't see how you are going to get it up on the platform? Most sea doo's are on hydraulic platforms, why not tow it? Make a bridle

 

[Richie89]

yeah, for now i will tow it, but St. Croix has an awesome set up where it is winched on from the side but it's like $4500. i came across one from Roll-N-Go that is a lake dock system that i am thinking about attaching sideways on platform, with the extension removable. winches up on ladder like device as if it were being loaded on a trailer.
would it be a bad idea to make a stiff bridle so that it wouldn't come hitting the back of the boat in a quick stop?

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Since your post I've been looking at the videos of the spark, it seems light enough to drag onto the platform, 405 lbs. if you get the 90hp HO it will do 50 mph. We just came back from FLA. where we rented 4 skis and the kids first time operating them .they had a blast in the Gulf! And the skis where on learn mode so they only did 40 mph. Your post has me thinking of picking one up now that my platform has grown another 42" and can hold 600 lbs. he'll who needs a dinghy? When you can bring along a ski! Please keep the post info up to date if you get any more info on davits. Thanks for "sparking" my interst. Pun intended

 

[Jackie J V]

The Tend'r Rollers system is a good solution - however it too is pricey. I thought about buying a couple of these over the winter as I too liked the low weight option. In the end, I ended buying back my old Seadoos that I had sold to a friend six years ago (2005 rxt and GTX 4-tec with 75 and 50 hrs on them).

You may want to talk to your dealer about recommended support point and weight distribution. The primary thing that makes these so light is the composite hull. It will not have quite the same structural strength as fibreglass, so you'd be better having the weight distributed (e.g., like a trailer bed) rather than concentrated on a few points (e.g., like many davit systems).

another consideration is how weight will affect your boats performance. You may be shocked to see how 450 lbs hanging off the back of the 290. I had purchased a 650 lbs RIB for my previous boat (Regal 4260) and was aghast at how it affected my time to get up on plane. I ended up taking the thing back and getting a super light aluminum RIB. Towing may be your best solution.

Paul

 

[Havana Shamrock]

I see Hurley makes a davit designed for the spark it's Hurley H30 winch type pull on

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[tdschafer]

yeah, for now i will tow it, but St. Croix has an awesome set up where it is winched on from the side but it's like $4500. i came across one from Roll-N-Go that is a lake dock system that i am thinking about attaching sideways on platform, with the extension removable. winches up on ladder like device as if it were being loaded on a trailer.
would it be a bad idea to make a stiff bridle so that it wouldn't come hitting the back of the boat in a quick stop?

I read on another thread here that someone used plastic EMT pipe to make stand offs for their bridle. Try doing a search.


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Todd

 

[Richie89]

I like that Hurley one the best so far.

 

[HUMPH]

I read on another thread here that someone used plastic EMT pipe to make stand offs for their bridle. Try doing a search.


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Todd

Todd, plastic electrical Metalic tubing pipe? I assume you mean schedule 40 or schedule 80 PVC?

 

[deniska]

I see Hurley makes a davit designed for the spark it's Hurley H30 winch type pull on

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We purchased a similar system by another manufacturer to handle our walker bay (400lb). Three guys barely got the tender loaded and we ended up returning it to the manufacturer, 200lb maybe 400 forget it.

 

[my DOG HOUSE]

I used to tow Yamaha GP 1200. I made a "V" bridle tow line with PVC over the lines to keep it in the middle and stop it from ramming the stern. Worked good, I could not even tell it was there. I know nothing about the Sea Doo, but the Yamaha motor will flood while being towed if you do not close off the cooling water intake line. I have seen guys use needle nose vice grips to pinch the line, I put a valve inline.

 

[66pony]

I tow my Sea Doo behind our boat on occasion. My daughter would rather drive it though. I have a ball valve that shuts off the water to the exhaust. The engine is closed cooling so no issues with that . Works well

 

[boughtabouy]

We purchased a similar system by another manufacturer to handle our walker bay (400lb). Three guys barely got the tender loaded and we ended up returning it to the manufacturer, 200lb maybe 400 forget it.

I would be interested to know if anyone else has had any experience loading a ski on one of these. I was considering this option as well.

Kevin

 

[Richie89]

followup - the spark is awesome to play with. it's really light with tons of power. i trailer, so i'm in the process of working on a winch, dolly, ramp system so i can travel with it in my truck bed while pulling boat. for now, on the water, i'm just going to tow. so far it works so well and i'm really happy with it. i installed a brass ball valve so i can shut of the water intake while towing. i'm working on towing at different lengths to get it right.

 

[tdschafer]

Todd, plastic electrical Metalic tubing pipe? I assume you mean schedule 40 or schedule 80 PVC?

Ken,

Sorry, I just saw this. You could be right, it might have been PVC pipe. I remember that someone recommended it to Go First Class but I can't remember who or if it was PVC or plastic EMT. I seem to remember 10' lengths being discussed & GFC saying something about cutting them in half & using connectors to join 2-5' lengths.
Oh well, the memory isn't what it used to be!


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Todd

 

[bajturner]

For you guys that tow, can you get up on plane while towing, or do you have to stay at hull speed? I just bought a 9.5' dinghy with a 9.8 on it and am trying to decide between davits and some kind of bridle system. I assume you have to keep it fairly far back. The complication for us is we go through a lot of locks making towing a bit complicated...

 

[Ididntdoit]

For you guys that tow, can you get up on plane while towing, or do you have to stay at hull speed? I just bought a 9.5' dinghy with a 9.8 on it and am trying to decide between davits and some kind of bridle system. I assume you have to keep it fairly far back. The complication for us is we go through a lot of locks making towing a bit complicated...

For you guys that tow, can you get up on plane while towing, or do you have to stay at hull speed? I just bought a 9.5' dinghy with a 9.8 on it and am trying to decide between davits and some kind of bridle system. I assume you have to keep it fairly far back. The complication for us is we go through a lot of locks making towing a bit complicated...

This is kind of a hijack and you should reall start a new thread but.....I used to do exactly what your thinking about - I have an avon rib with a honda 9.9 - you need it behind the 3rd tier of the wake - on our boats its about 100' off the transom - I used a custom bridle with loops that attach to the stern cleats on the 300 (the tow eyes are too low and the line gets stuck in the wake) I have a clip on the other end that attaches to the reinforced bow eye of the dinghy (I also rig a safety line between the d-rings just in case) you need to keep the motor partially down (the bow rises a lot when towing, so not all the way down) with the steering locked otherwise it will "surf" back and forth. If your dinghy has a v hull all the way to the transom (mine does not, it flattens out) or some "fins" on the bottom you may be able to get away with keeping the motor up. It behaves fine - you have to come to a complete stop to "reel it in" and tie it off up tight to the rear cleat on either side (not the transom cleat) when entering a no wake area or docking side to. When I will be backing in, I tie it off a bow cleat and let it settle just forward of midship on the side of the slip I'll be backing into. once you complete your pivot, and begin backing in, the dink stays put just off your bow. I would generally tow in the bay, with waves of 2-3 feet and trips during clear weather and daylight hours of 20 miles or so....my boat/dinghy is equipped with weaver davits, and since I got a lighter motor, I dont tow as much - I would be willing to sell my Bridle - It was custom made by The Ships Store in portsmouth RI out of American Ropes Floating Dinghy tow line....

 

[bajturner]

This is kind of a hijack and you should reall start a new thread but...

You're right, it is, my apologies to the OP...hopefully the towing info is relevant since it seems he is going to tow for now. Thank you for the reply despite the hijack, useful info.

 

[Richie89]

i got up on plane and have gone as fast as low 30's. there's a sweet spot in the wake that i have to keep it and then it rides perfect (about 75' behind i believe). haven't gone offshore yet towing it, but have gone through some pretty good chop and it stayed right where it was supposed to. i haven't worked up a bridle system yet, still playing with distances. i'm going to use 2 10' sections for the bridle (PVC and possibly noodles to help keep afloat in needed), and have a way to let the PWC out more and be able to pull it in.