Hurley H2O Davits, Any Advice On Installation?

[MonacoMike]

I am going to be installing these over the winter and wanted to seek any advice from folk who have done this. Any known issues? Dis you have any troubles?

MM

 

[Sublimetime]

You have to make sure you have the correct height offset for the height your swimplatform is above the water.

 

[MonacoMike]

You have to make sure you have the correct height offset for the height your swimplatform is above the water.

My platform is very high, probably a foot above the water.

MM

 

[Sublimetime]

then I think you will use the "flat" style clamp. 1989 searay 390 the top surface of the swim platform was only about 3'" above water surface and had to use a 4" standoff so the dink would pivot correctly from center of tube.

 

[MonacoMike]

then I think you will use the "flat" style clamp. 1989 searay 390 the top surface of the swim platform was only about 3'" above water surface and had to use a 4" standoff so the dink would pivot correctly from center of tube.

I know there is a formula in the documentation, that I just got today, but have not studied it yet.

MM

 

[swaterhouse]

I assume you gave all your platform and dinghy dimensions to Hurley - they should set you up with all the correct parts. If you didnt, like if your purchasing second hand I would ask Hurley for their recommendations for bar length.

If your platform is cored you want to drill oversized holes, fill the epoxy to seal the coring and then drill correct sized holes. You should also either buy or make a backing plate. The one from hurley is plenty big enough.

The hardest part I found was to not overtighten the mounting bolts, if the mounting plate is bent in anyway the arms are very difficult to mount or remove.

 

[MonacoMike]

I assume you gave all your platform and dinghy dimensions to Hurley - they should set you up with all the correct parts. If you didnt, like if your purchasing second hand I would ask Hurley for their recommendations for bar length.

If your platform is cored you want to drill oversized holes, fill the epoxy to seal the coring and then drill correct sized holes. You should also either buy or make a backing plate. The one from hurley is plenty big enough.

The hardest part I found was to not overtighten the mounting bolts, if the mounting plate is bent in anyway the arms are very difficult to mount or remove.

I did buy them second hand. Good call, I should call them. Thanks,

MM

 

[Woody]

I assume you gave all your platform and dinghy dimensions to Hurley - they should set you up with all the correct parts. If you didnt, like if your purchasing second hand I would ask Hurley for their recommendations for bar length.

If your platform is cored you want to drill oversized holes, fill the epoxy to seal the coring and then drill correct sized holes. You should also either buy or make a backing plate. The one from hurley is plenty big enough.

The hardest part I found was to not overtighten the mounting bolts, if the mounting plate is bent in anyway the arms are very difficult to mount or remove.

Do you have the H20 on your 44DA? I want to put davits of some type on my boat but keep going round and round on which would work best because of the 2' high swim platform. If I ever make up my mind I'm thinking of having a kayak rack made up that would fit in the same base mount plates.

Along with the high platform, to be honest I question how good the dinghy will ride in any davit system I've looked at. I run sometimes in some very nasty stuff. In big beam seas the boat can be pitch, yaw, and rollin' all at the same time so bad the fluxgate compass can't handle the movement and the autopilot kicks out. Don't need no dinghy problems during those times.

 

[swaterhouse]

Do you have the H20 on your 44DA? I want to put davits of some type on my boat but keep going round and round on which would work best because of the 2' high swim platform. If I ever make up my mind I'm thinking of having a kayak rack made up that would fit in the same base mount plates.

Along with the high platform, to be honest I question how good the dinghy will ride in any davit system I've looked at. I run sometimes in some very nasty stuff. In big beam seas the boat can be pitch, yaw, and rollin' all at the same time so bad the fluxgate compass can't handle the movement and the autopilot kicks out. Don't need no dinghy problems during those times.

I started with the H20 against Hurley's recommendation! It was difficult to use with a inflatable floor dinghy and 6hp yamaha the weighed less than 300 lbs even with the fuel tank left in. Once I moved to a RIB even only another 50 lbs heavier it became impossible so one year after buying the H20 I purchased the H30 and it it MUCH better. Check the dinghies forum and the 420DA thread on this site for more info.

My dinghy rides okay on the H30. The biggest challenge is how narrow the platform is - its hard to get good leverage to keep it level using straps. The base of the H30 is pretty narrow and pounding into a head sea there is quite a bit of rocking. I am working on ways to eliminate that but thankfully I haven't been in a heavy sea since my last change! Once I prove out what my latest changes are I will post on both threads. That won't be until next year - my boat is getting ready for its long winter nap!

 

[MonacoMike]

Do you have the H20 on your 44DA? I want to put davits of some type on my boat but keep going round and round on which would work best because of the 2' high swim platform. If I ever make up my mind I'm thinking of having a kayak rack made up that would fit in the same base mount plates.

Along with the high platform, to be honest I question how good the dinghy will ride in any davit system I've looked at. I run sometimes in some very nasty stuff. In big beam seas the boat can be pitch, yaw, and rollin' all at the same time so bad the fluxgate compass can't handle the movement and the autopilot kicks out. Don't need no dinghy problems during those times.

I am not familiar with issues of the dinghy riding ok if properly secured.

MM

 

[MonacoMike]

Do you have the H20 on your 44DA? I want to put davits of some type on my boat but keep going round and round on which would work best because of the 2' high swim platform. If I ever make up my mind I'm thinking of having a kayak rack made up that would fit in the same base mount plates.

Along with the high platform, to be honest I question how good the dinghy will ride in any davit system I've looked at. I run sometimes in some very nasty stuff. In big beam seas the boat can be pitch, yaw, and rollin' all at the same time so bad the fluxgate compass can't handle the movement and the autopilot kicks out. Don't need no dinghy problems during those times.

The Hurley site shows how to secure the dinghy to the platform, are you aware of it being inadequate?

MM

 

[Woody]

I am not familiar with issues of the dinghy riding ok if properly secured.

MM

The Hurley site shows how to secure the dinghy to the platform, are you aware of it being inadequate?

MM

AlexF wrote a good post about securing his dinghy a couple years ago. In it he described his method of tie down and the problems he had on a rough run. If I remember correctly he had a failure in his system that up until then he thought was more than sufficient, after that he beefed up, doubled up, or even used some aircraft cable material. I tried to find this post with no success.

 

[MonacoMike]

AlexF wrote a good post about securing his dinghy a couple years ago. In it he described his method of tie down and the problems he had on a rough run. If I remember correctly he had a failure in his system that up until then he thought was more than sufficient, after that he beefed up, doubled up, or even used some aircraft cable material. I tried to find this post with no success.

Of course that only happens in the worst of situations...

I will look for it.

Thanks, MM

 

[swaterhouse]

The hurley diagram for tie downs is perfect if your entire dinghy is over the swim platform, which on the 44DA it is not. My dinghy keel is centered all the way at the rear edge of the platform so 1/2 of my dinghy is aft of the platform. Because of that the hurley suggested method does not adequately tie the dinghy down.

I am still working on my tie down layout, I have one more change I will try in spring and will document on this site. I used the Hurley method for 2 years and it was fine right up to the point I decided it wasn't, and fixing lines to solve issues at that point is dangerous. I found myself out on the platform in steep 6-8' seas in pouring rain - with a very nervous wife at the helm practicing in her head the next steps if I fell overboard.

 

[MonacoMike]

The hurley diagram for tie downs is perfect if your entire dinghy is over the swim platform, which on the 44DA it is not. My dinghy keel is centered all the way at the rear edge of the platform so 1/2 of my dinghy is aft of the platform. Because of that the hurley suggested method does not adequately tie the dinghy down.

I am still working on my tie down layout, I have one more change I will try in spring and will document on this site. I used the Hurley method for 2 years and it was fine right up to the point I decided it wasn't, and fixing lines to solve issues at that point is dangerous. I found myself out on the platform in steep 6-8' seas in pouring rain - with a very nervous wife at the helm practicing in her head the next steps if I fell overboard.

Mine will be half off the platform so will need to evaluate the options. How high are you off the water? I am very high, 16 inches, will that help? What layout did not work? What do you have in mind?

MM

 

[Woody]

The hurley diagram for tie downs is perfect if your entire dinghy is over the swim platform, which on the 44DA it is not. My dinghy keel is centered all the way at the rear edge of the platform so 1/2 of my dinghy is aft of the platform. Because of that the hurley suggested method does not adequately tie the dinghy down.

I am still working on my tie down layout, I have one more change I will try in spring and will document on this site. I used the Hurley method for 2 years and it was fine right up to the point I decided it wasn't, and fixing lines to solve issues at that point is dangerous. I found myself out on the platform in steep 6-8' seas in pouring rain - with a very nervous wife at the helm practicing in her head the next steps if I fell overboard.

That's a good example of my fears. In the right conditions the dinghy could create a serious, possibly deadly situation.

MM, the platforms on our boats is a full 24" above the water. Even in the AlexF post I referred to, his tie down system might have been complicated by the fact his hyd lift was just the cradle type and not the full platform.

 

[MonacoMike]

That's a good example of my fears. In the right conditions the dinghy could create a serious, possibly deadly situation.

MM, the platforms on our boats is a full 24" above the water. Even in the AlexF post I referred to, his tie down system might have been complicated by the fact his hyd lift was just the cradle type and not the full platform.

So you are not low like some are. Clearly need a good plan.

MM

 

[Woody]

So you are not low like some are. Clearly need a good plan.

MM

Height in itself isn't a problem once you get past loading issues. In fact the lower the platform the more chance of water lifting on the dinghy in the right conditions, a lot of force that can abuse a weak tie down system.

 

[MonacoMike]

Height in itself isn't a problem once you get past loading issues. In fact the lower the platform the more chance of water lifting on the dinghy in the right conditions, a lot of force that can abuse a weak tie down system.

I need to look at the davits, is there no place to strap it to the David itself? That is how the old ones worked I am replacing.

MM

 

[TNT8808]

Height in itself isn't a problem once you get past loading issues. In fact the lower the platform the more chance of water lifting on the dinghy in the right conditions, a lot of force that can abuse a weak tie down system.

Biggest problem I've had in rough conditions is the ratchet straps get soaked, and loosen up a couple clicks. Even now with a hydraulic lift I use stainless cables as I the straps would still loosen in rough conditions. If I were going to use straps again, I would get the wider ones made of seat belt like material. My slip mate was having lots of problems until he switched to the wider straps, and now they don't loosen anymore.

-Tom