Good morning to all.
I am a new member and veteran sailor looking to purchase a Nonsuch 26.
As a cruising sailor, a small, workhorse dinghy is essential. Where does one put a dinghy on a Nonsuch 26? The foredeck or with davits astern?
I saw a YouTube video of a cruising sailor who claimed there was no place for dinghy on a 26. True?
Any and all wisdom appreciated.
Thank you!
Matt
I do not have a 26, so others will surely answer your question. But what I’d like to say is you are smart to ask your questions here. Don’t believe what others say who have not owned a Nonsuch. The boats are different than what most typical sailors are familiar with and so even the most authoritative cannot give good advice about a type of boat they have never sailed.
Allegro has a swim grid, which I would highly recommend if you’re interested in using a dinghy while at anchor. The tender sits on the swim grid while underway. It’s out of the way and very easy to launch when needed. The boat came with a small RIB but I’m replacing that with a small sailing/rowing pram. I like to row and sailing around a harbour is great fun too.
RonB.
I have owned a 26 for 22 years and have towed an inflatable during the entire time. The highest winds were in the mid 20 knots and wave of 3’ to 5. One of our members with a 26 carried his inflatable on the cabin top. It did limit vision forward. He was using the halyard to hoist the dinghy well into his 80s. I do not recommend that approach. Another one of our members uses a Dinghy Tow. http://www.dinghy-tow.com/
He is very happy with the unit.
There is a system from Sweden which looks interesting but I have not seen it in action.
Provided your dinghy is not too long, carrying it on the swim platform works well. If the dinghy is too long the ends will drag in the water when the mothership heels.
Here’s photos of my friend’s 26 with dinghy mounted on stern swim grid. I also have my dinghy on swim grid on my NS30U.
Don
I have a 33 and while the dingy was attached to the davits- which were quite nice and very heavy duty, the dingy was bouncing badly with the motion of the boat.
We were so concerned that we would damage the transom! So we towed the dingy with no problem. Once we got into the slip we checked the attachments and found there were none on the lower section of the transom. Only around the pockets! Come to find out the auto pilot housing and arm under the deck would not allow for a more secure attachment. So- now we just tow. Sad- i was hoping to get it out of the water. But, certainly don’t want to break my boat! 
Good luck
Don,
Is Whimsey now at the Jericho station?
Yes, been here since last summer, as I recall.
Don
I cruise my 26 on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and I find it easy to just tow my inflatable. Love my 26 and it great on the Lake but no real place that I know of to easily stow a dinghy.
Mark Nerenhausen
Penguin, 26 Classic. #174
Washington Island, WI
Another thought is that SUP’s or small kayaks will easily fit outside the lifelines.
RonB.
OK. As a new guy, I am very impressed with the responses, photos and ideas. Thank you to all of you!
Follow up question: I sailed a sloop rigged boat for over 15 years, long distance coastal and Bahamas. If no davits, then the foredeck, which I did on a 29"‘ foot Ericson with a 7’9” dink.
Per a sloop rigged boat, why not stow the dinghy on the foredeck, aft of the mast?
(Note: My dingy is a CNC Kayaks nesting Eastport Pram) What kind of pram were you eyeing, Don?
The swim platform is a good idea! Noted.
Mark(RMP): Why don’t you recommend this approach? What am I missing?
Mark N. : I am living in Sheboygan!
Note to all: I apologize for my spelling of “dingy” I do know that it is spelled, “dinghy”.
Hey Don,
Those are really beefy looking brackets on the swim platform for the dinghy to rest in. Any idea where those were purchased or made. Is that swim platform one that we have purchased through INA?
What foredeck? There’s a foot or two forward of the mast and a foot or two aft of the mast. And it’s all the way forward where the beam is narrowing down to the pointy end. Also, the control lines and halyard leave the mast, extend across to the cabintop and and proceed aft across the cabintop towards the cockpit. You could tuck a rolled up inflatable in the the space just forward of the cabin, but I don’t think a hard dinghy will work up there.
I like the swim platform mount - if the platform is sturdy and the attachment to the boat is strong. I have known power boaters with this kind of setup and never a complaint (or removal.) I’d never seen it on a sailboat before now, but then most sailboats can’t really take a swim platform like this.
The INA has an annual purchase program through the same manufacturer who made the stainless bow and stern railings on our boats. They make a very nice swim platform. I’m away from my computer right now, but I can look up the contact info later if you need it.
The problem with the dinghy on the cabin top is it blocking you forward vision. I am not tall enough to see over top of the dinghy, even standing up. My back does not let me stand at the helm for long periods so I have to sit. Trying to look down either side has you constantly moving back and forth. Out here we have large numbers of logs floating in the water that are easily big enough to bend a rudder shaft, damage a prop even punch a hole through the hull. Others may not see it as such an issue (pun intended). Mark P
Carol Ann, I got them from Adventure Marine, a Vancouver area manufacturer. Much cheaper than Weaver Davits. The swim grid came with the boat, don’t know who made it.
https://adventuremarine.ca/product/dinghy-hauler-davits-quick-release/
Don
I concur there is no place for a dinghy on the foredeck of a Nonsuch 26, and one placed on top of the coach roof will interfere with vision forward from the cockpit. I have towed an 8’ inflatable and an 8’ Walker Bay 8 over the years. I am installing a swim platform this year that will permit tight back towing, or stowing abeam on the platform as others have shown. From my experience sailing, especially jibing my Nonsuch, I would avoid davits or any superstructure on the aft deck, as a flying mainsheet will eventually wrap it and rip it out. (I used to have a flagpole….).
Sorry. I was sloppy in my terminology.
Either on the cabin top aft of the mast or tucked in like you say between the cabin top and mast.
As for the running rigging that leads from the cockpit to the mast, mounting blocks through bolted to the cabin top would clear those.
I was wondering if the foot of the mainsail when hoisted is an issue?
Thanks for the feedback, to all of you.
Hi Matt, I have a 324 (a 30’ nonsuch) and think davits and a stanshion outboard motor mount are dangerous with the powerful main sheet that sweeps the stern. I went from New England to the Bahamas and back towing my dinghy but in a unique way. I remove the motor, seat and anything else. Then I sinch the bow up tight to the transom basically midships. Her bow now hovers over the swim platform and only the back end is in the water (nothing is touching the swim platform). This method works great. I can dock starboard or port, even reverse and don’t have to think about her till I want to use her. I tried putting her on the swim platform but too much windage and the main sheet tangled. I also put her on the cabin top but she blocked my sight and the hatches wouldn’t open. If you would like more info I plan to give a talk about this method at the Nonsuch Rendezvous in August at Greenport, NY.
Debbie
