Dinghy launching from slip

osd9

osd9

New Member
Oct 3, 2006
4,874
MidAtlantic
Boat Info
2003 410DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126-TA w/ ZF 80-IV
I only have experience launching my dinghy when at anchor, which is very straight foward. However, I plan to take my dink along on some trips this season. For now, I have Weaver davits and will transport the dink from the davits on the swim platform. When pulling into a marina, as a transient, I always pull stern in.

How do you more seasoned dinghy users deploy from there?
 
If there is room to squeeze out beside the boat (i.e. a wide slip), I usually just leave about 2 feet from the back of the platform to the dock. However, I have a hydraulic platform and it only swings out about 1.5 feet as it lowers. If I'm in a tight slip and/or the kids just want to have fun, I usually drop them off in the dinghy outside the marina and they follow me in and I dock without them. I've been doing that more often than not as they have gotten older. They disappear on their own... I make them turn the marine radio to Ch. 68 so I can find them if I need to.
 
I've thought about pre-launching and having the admiral drive it in.....She didn't like that thought.......My daughter isn't always with us (she's older now) but even so, her boat driving skills aren't exactly up to par......putting them both in the dink at the same time.....that would just be comical..... :grin:
 
Sometimes we launch the dinghy before getting to a marina and tie it off at the bow of the boat. At slow speed it just drags along kind of sideways at the bow, but swings away as we back into the slip.
 
We do exactly what Gull does. Get close to the slip (within 100 yards of when you're going to throw it in reverse), launch the dinghy (we just untie it and kick it off the swim platform), pull it around to the bow of the boat and tie it off tightly (not out of the water, but snug). There it will sit until you back into the slip where momentum and the laws of physics will keep it out of the way as you back the boat in.
 
OK, that was me. I guess I'm also like Four Suns in that I posted without logging in. Is that a new feature?
 
OK...I'm onboard with the idea of launching the dink, bringing her around to the bow of the mother ship, and then tie her off the bow cleat. I'll give a little practice around the home dock.

That said, am I correct in assuming a reverse action for when I pull out of the slip on the way home: Tie off the bow, pull out of the slip into a quiet area of the marina and then bring the dink around to the platform?

thanks,
 
Dominic-
You've got it. However, depending on the situation, you might be able to move the big boat up in the slip before you're ready to go and move the dinghy around to the stern and load it there. But if not, just do the same process as mentioned earlier in reverse.
 
Thanks guys....appreciate the input....know it's off to the real world for some practice.... :thumbsup:
 
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