Six months into our refit, the aft boarding ladder on our Nonsuch 33 needs new steps. As we consider repairing this ladder we find ourselves first trying to decide on dingy handling. We have always used davits on our other boats, but they were center cockpits. The Nonsuch 33 does not have much room in the stern and the mainsail is has a 110’ sheet. I am uncomfortable either towing a dingy or using Dingy Tow. The choices seem to be dingy davits attached to a swim platform; regular davits with or without a swim platform. Weight astern that affect sailing performance is a major consideration. I would appreciate your advice. Cost is a consideration, but not for what is clearly the right solution. Thanks so much, Robert
We have tow dinghies behind our 33 for 30 years without a problem
Mark Fagelman
We installed one of the swim platforms that Nonsucher Ron Schryer coordinates the purchase of each year. Apart from its intended purpose, it also is very useful as a platform from which to enter and exit the dinghy. We tow our dinghy on a painter with the outboard on in protected waters/fair weather and outboard off in open water/bad weather. For extended serious cruising, I think it would be hard to beat the combination of a swim platform and a Dinghy Tow.
David Young
Bay Cat, 30U #402
Traverse City / Suttons Bay, MI
Dinghy Tow, no question. Easy to use and very stable.
I made inquiries of Dinghy Tow a few years ago and was informed that their product cannot be used with one of the INA swim platforms. Has anyone installed both?
Bill Baxter
Persistence NS30 #507
Penetang, ON
Hi Robert, I struggled with the same question for years. In my humble opinion I feel that the combination of davits and swim platform is hard to beat. The swim platform adds convenience and safety while the davits get the dinghy and motor out of the water.
I would have to confirm with the platform manufacturer, Stainless Outfitters, whether or not a dinghy tow system can be accommodated. We have discussed it in the past and I would need to revisit our current thinking on this.
Ron
Ron & Diane Schryver
“Alpha Waves” '87 NS30U #393
Georgian Bay Midland ON
The arms of the dinghy tow need to align with the attachment on the dinghy and be relatively level within a small range. They could angle up a small amount but not down. So that pretty much confines the attachment area to approximately 4 - 6 inches above the water line. When underway the arms do move laterally in range of maybe 4 inches.
My guess a swim platform with a DT would be a lot of “stuff” back there. I think Ron is right. If you have a platform or are considering a platform davits make more sense as the lifting tackle would be less of an issue and you could use a standard platform.
Lots of folks tow dinghy’s and do so for years with out issues, however when they decide to “leave” they do so silently.
Thor
I spoke to the Dinghy Tow people back around the time that I purchased our INA sponsored swim platform. They also indicated the Dinghy Tow would not work with the our swim platform. I forget which details of the geometry of the two they said were problematic. Unconvinced, I dummied up a rough model of a swim platform/Dinghy Tow setup (using the known dimensions of each) and I really could not see why they wouldn’t work together. I eventually decided not to pursue installation of a Dinghy Tow. If the two really are incompatible out of the box, I think it would take minimal modification of the Dinghy Tow to make it work. Of course, the fact that there is apparently not anyone using both on their boat does suggest the not unheard of possibility that I am wrong.
David Young
Bay Cat, 30U #402
Traverse City / Suttons Bay, MI
How about Weaver Davits, They should work with a swim platform.
Tim in STL
White O’morn NS26U #216
Harbor Point Yacht Club
West Alton, MO
Over the years we’ve modified the swim platform to be absolutely clear of toe stubbing hardware. It seems to me that Weaver Davits would reintroduce more hardware to the surface of the platform.
Ron
Our 26 has had a Dinghy Tow for its entire life of 23 years- I will admit it works very well, and I could see how a swim platform would make it even better. As it is now, it’s a bit of a balancing act getting down into the dinghy. My only complaint is that the darn thing looks so atrocious, ruins the lines of a sweet craft, and makes us look like floating dustbowl refugees… I’m looking into davits.
my two cents…
Brian & Susan Berdan
“Blue September” 260 #7
Bainbridge Island, WA
Thank everyone for your insights, suggestions and experiences. We have settle on davits, and leaning toward the swim platform for the reasons many of you have mentioned. Thanks again for your help. Robert