Look at www.magicmarinetow.com

 

Look at www.magicmarinetow.com

For $2,800 you could buy a decent davit set up.

Ric992,
You don't need a hydraulic platform. Take a look at these two companies (there are others) who offer a reasonable davit system to haul your dinghy.

https://hurleymarine.com/

https://www.weaverindustries.com/

 

Couple of folks here have posted about towing, I know at least one towed a dinghy from the west coast of FL to the Bahamas on a few occasions.

We were coming up from Boca Grande to Venice the other day, passed a 120' yacht that was towing a 28ft center console. They docked right behind us at Venice, was talking to the captain. He said that center console had been towed all over the east coast.

A lot of folks will rig a pole with a radar reflector on the dingy in case it comes loose in heavier seas.

 

Thank you for all the suggestions!

 

I towed my Achilles 350 center console several times before I installed a davit. It works fine in calm conditions and slower cruising speed. I used at least a fifty foot lead with a good bridle. You need to watch when making turns to keep the dink inside the wake if it swings wide and leaves the wake things get dicey quick. The other pain is dealing with the dink when you arrive your destination harbor. It can be done and is done often but it needs a lot of consideration and attention.
Carpe Diem

 

Which David did you install?

 

Towing a dinghy is a worry in good conditions and nearly impossible at cruising speed in rough weather. Get the davits. If the swim platform is not robust it's cheap and simple to add bracing and reinforcement.

 

Any other recommendations on particular davits systems other than already listed for the easiest to use?

 

I had a Nick Jackson on my 44 and I have a similar one on the 506 but am considering an H3O because I like to remove it when not planning to take the dink on a trip. My Dink lives on its own floating dock so I don't need a davit as dinghy storage.
Good Luck finding what works best for you.
Carpe Diem

 

I think the h30 looks good. But the price. It's cost as much as a dinghy and small engine. Wow, seems it like it's worth couple hundred at ...But I know it's for our boats

 

Yes the cost is high, but its very well engineered and well built. Its easy to install, easy to remove when not in use, and just plain works well. The support is excellent as well.

 

For me towing sucks. Unless your boat tops out at 12knots. The high performance diesels today need high rpms 80%+ to have a healthy long life. And 80% means 22 to 25knots. Anything over 15 knots most tenders get squirly. But if you plan to tow, the general length behind you is around 100 to 125 feet, pending the roller following behind you. That requires up to 250 feet of continuous float line. V -ing from port and starboard upper cleats back to BEST port starboard dingy bow. Or to center bow ring. Pay very close attention to the lines as you turn. Lines tend to get snagged by the cresting waves from behind the mainship. Hence dragging the dingy severely close and over that crest... hence flipping or damaging the dingy!
Heavy center consoles over 800lbs tend to tow much better.

Not trying to scare, but share the realities of towing a dingy.

 

You are right, and I agree. A davit system will definitely be worth the money.

 

Just last month, I had installed the Presto XL500 hydrolic lift. Absolutely love this set up on our 2007 44. I like it even more than the sealift platform we had on our 2001 410 dancer. Thought that was an awesome set up while at anchor, it was not so great in a heavy following sea! Beware.

The one thing we really love about this set up is we can get in the dinghy. 11ft Apex with 25hp (450lbs) and lower ourselves down while in it. The chalks are deep enough that we just start and go. And when returning, we pull up to it and up we go via a wireless remote.

 

Wow that looks super nice and love idea of wireless remote. I hate to ask but about how much did that setup set you back?

 

I am really liking the Magic marine tow

I have a 89 300 searay ..it's way to expensive for what it is ... but it seems to fit what I want to use it for...haven't got that far yet

 

we tow a walkerbay 14' adventure behind a 44 db. works fine up to 18-19 mph .
gets a little squirrely there with the 60hp motor raised out of the water. I have never tried with it down.
Top Knott custom made towingn harness a couple hundred bucks. just so you all know I am on the Ohio River. At times there is 2-3 foot rollers and wakes.

We use the towdster for the seadoo.

 

I have towed 10’ zodiac with 6 hp through out the bay and delta at Trawler speeds ( Grand Banks) and 46’ Chris Craft as well. Now with a smaller 340DA at slower speeds I use a bridle & ring with tow line passed through from port to starboard. When nearing dock or anchorage I pull in one side to bring it close to swim step. It’s an option if you don’t need speed or want hardware on swim step. For us anchorage is close and the trips are leisurely cruises. Use a nice heavy floating rope. It’s an option.

 

Davits are worth it. 10' soft bottom inflatable with a Merc 9.9. My boat has a 12' beam and she does just fine. This is after a 90 mile ride...she didn't move.

They are the DinghyDavits, davit. Very similar to the Nautley Dinghy Ramp, which was my first choice - but backordered two months.

In this thread here, you can see where I added a wooden support block to help the transom which was just "hanging" there.

 

Davits are worth it. 10' soft bottom inflatable with a Merc 9.9. My boat has a 12' beam and she does just fine. This is after a 90 mile ride...she didn't move.

View attachment 109855 View attachment 109856

That looks nice. Are they Hurley ? Or?

 

I have a 340 sundancer 2002 and there is a radius similar to yours also some supports beneath to miss and the ladder/ hatch in the middle too. Not sure how much space is needed. Our dinghies look very similar. these look like a good possibility. How much space between your davits ( if you remember). Thank you again.

 

I'd say 3'-4'? My swim platform is integral to the hull, so they were installed with Toggler bolts which have done a great job keeping them in place.