Finally succumbed to a dinghy pulley:)

[BritLady]

I was beginning to find it much harder to help pull our dinghy back onto its davits with my rheumatoid arthritis so we have installed a pulley. Fitted a U bolt on the arch and then we hook the pulley system to it with about 100' rope. Just have to make a bridle now for our dinghy to attach to the pulley. Once all hooked up I can pull the rope to get it back on the davits while the Captain guides and eases it back onto the davits.

Thinking of getting a bigger motor once we have it all situated as we will certainly be able to use it much more with this system. Got the idea from another Sea Ray user who had the same issues I have. Great helpful idea.

 

[ziekman@cox.net]

Great idea!

 

[Carpedmman]

If you need a bridle made check out this guy- Topknot.com. Terry does great work and did my bridle. Clever contraption!

 

[JimG]

I hope you used a backing plate... seems a bit close to the access panel too.

Clever idea... I hope it works out for you!

 

[Gofirstclass]

Looks good from here. There are people who criticize just about any modification to a boat that isn't factory original. I've REALLY found that to be true on the Boston Whaler websites.

In my opinion, I think if a mod makes your boating easier, go for it.

Good job!

 

[JimG]

Looks good from here. There are people who criticize just about any modification to a boat that isn't factory original. I've REALLY found that to be true on the Boston Whaler websites.

In my opinion, I think if a mod makes your boating easier, go for it.

Good job!

Sorry... It's just the engineer in me.

 

[BritLady]

I hope you used a backing plate... seems a bit close to the access panel too.

Clever idea... I hope it works out for you!

Of course we used a backing plate! And, we positioned it in the exact same place the person who gave us the idea had his and he has no issues, therefore we don't expect any either. My husband, who is a actually a professional engineer, is 6"1" and no light weight can hang from the U bolt, it's as solid as a rock. We were just so pleased to find someone who has the same issues we have of retrieving the dinghy when on our own (it's okay when the kids are with us) and who solved it in such a clever/simple way. We had been looking for ever to find an easier way to do it.

 

[BritLady]

If you need a bridle made check out this guy- Topknot.com. Terry does great work and did my bridle. Clever contraption!

Thanks, for the web site I did try to take a look but it did not work for me....Think our son-in-law, who's very good with ropes and knots (ex Eagle Scout,) is going to make one for us

 

[BritLady]

Looks good from here. There are people who criticize just about any modification to a boat that isn't factory original. I've REALLY found that to be true on the Boston Whaler websites.

In my opinion, I think if a mod makes your boating easier, go for it.

Good job!

Thanks GFC! That's exactly what we do, if it suits us we do it BTW when not used for the dinghy there's so many other things it will be useful for too, namely hanging the bug zapper from

 

[Hifirush]

I haven't thought much about that sort of thing, but as time wears on, (me!) I like the idea! Looks great, if it helps then it's perfect! I now have that in my memory banks for when we can get back on the boat...

Matt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[estoltz]

Thanks GFC! That's exactly what we do, if it suits us we do it BTW when not used for the dinghy there's so many other things it will be useful for too, namely hanging the bug zapper from

Disco ball.

 

[BritLady]

Disco ball.

LOL, well that's an idea Just pleased you didn't say hanging "stripper pole"

 

[estoltz]

LOL, well that's an idea Just pleased you didn't say hanging "stripper pole"

I'm not sure if my admiral lurks around here.

 

[dpmulvey]

LOL, well that's an idea Just pleased you didn't say hanging "stripper pole"

Don't be silly. Stripper poles are secured from the bottom.

 

[BritLady]

Don't be silly. Stripper poles are secured from the bottom.

Me silly, never I was just being innovative. Like to be innovative, it keeps my first husband on his toes

 

[Ctsearay]

Any shots of how this works? And a good contact for Topknot? I bought a davit system and am really re-thinking it.

 

[BritLady]

Any shots of how this works? And a good contact for Topknot? I bought a davit system and am really re-thinking it.

We are having our boat detailed this Sat so we currently have the dinghy off. We should have it back on hopefully week after and will take some pics.
We still need the davits for the dinghy to sit on but it works as follows: We need a rope bridal for the pulley to attach to which will be a rope with about 1/3 - 2/3 split to allow for the extra engine weight at one end. Then one end of the bridal will be attached to the inside bow hook (we have a rib dinghy) and the other to the inside Stbd. hook at the stern. Then the bridal is attached to the pulley by way of a loop in the 1/3 - 2/3 position. Lay a towel across the rear back seat as rope will be going over it, pay out the pulley line, hook to the loop made in the bridle and while my husband steers the dinghy back onto the davits in the right place I can easily just pull the pulley rope and lift it out of the water.

The guy who had this on his 340, had his wife pulling it up with just one hand! The pulley has a locking system that stops the rope running through it should you let go of the end It's a pulley used by sail boaters really.

Am afraid I don't have a number for Topknot. We just used an anchor knot to hold the pulley rope at the top. It's just such a simple idea this guy had (he was an ex-blow boater) that really worked great. I just can't help with lifting the dinghy back on the davits very well and the 340 SP is quite high off the water. Hope that helps.

 

[Ctsearay]

WOW great post BritLady, can't wait for the followup. Thanks for the info

 

[BritLady]

WOW great post BritLady, can't wait for the followup. Thanks for the info

Thanks! Will post some pics when we have it completed as soon as I can.

 

[stephens013]

Great idea. I too am having issues dragging my dingy back on to the swim platform. Can handle it great in the morning but it's a bear getting it back on board at the end of the day.
Thanks for the idea. :smt001