Hi,
In California I’m looking for affordable inflatable dinghy davits (8’ dinghy weighing no more than 100 lbs.) for NS 30. Motor can be carried separately, but would also weigh less than 100 lbs. I’m thinking of standing the dinghy on edge, against the transom, rather than hanging it from the stern rail. Any ideas or suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Harry
Harry, have a look at adding a swim platform. Not only can you rest a dingy on it and lash it to the transom, it also makes it easier to get in and out of the dingy and put the motor on and off.
Hi Harry;
I have never heard of inflatable dinghy davits. Would they be strong enough when inflated to support a dinghy? Would they not just bend over under the weight? How much air pressure do they require? Do you have any photos of this most interesting device?
Ed Collis
Toronto
We have added a couple brackets to our 10 foot plywood sailing dinghy that hook up onto the two loops on the back of the Nonsuch swim platform. This works very well.
Sorry for the double post. Finger trouble.
We have added a couple brackets to our 10 foot plywood sailing dinghy that hook up onto the two loops on the back of the Nonsuch swim platform. The dinghy then flips up to rest against the Pushpit. This works very well.
Advantages are - no ugly davits on the transom, the dinghy is nice and quiet at night, and its stored out of the way and out of the water at the dock, and you have a really good swim platform and boarding stage for the dinghy.
Disadvantage is that we can’t sail with the Dinghy up and end up towing it because, when heeling, waves tend to be caught by the dinghy and could rip it off the transom.
This idea is copied from the powerboaters who have inflatable dinghies with these brackets attached. I think those brackets/hooks are aftermarket and are just glued on.
Sorry no pictures.
Tom
26C # 28 North Star
Penetang
OOPS. The English language gets me again. Davits for an inflatable dinghy is what I meant.
Thanks,
Harry
Thanks, Brian. I may do just that. But, I’m first considering less expensive options than a swim step with davits.
Best,
Harry
I could not resist the temptation, Harry.
Cheers,
Eddy
I would have done the same – if I had noticed.
Tom,
Your post made me realize that the dinghy must be shorter than the transom is wide to avoid waves catching the dinghy when the boat is heeled. So, you have helped in my search for a solution.
Thanks,
Harry
You might think that I was an English major.
But, I was into math and science.
Now I am a Tax Consultant.
Fun, fun, fun.
Cheers,
Ed Collis
Taken in “Tranquil Walk” park outside Beijing.
I was waiting for that Ed, you don’t disappoint . 
“You cannot take life too seriously.
You are not going to get out of it alive.”
Pipe Dream came with the Dinghy Tow davits attached. I have a 9’ inflatable attached and it works well. It allows you to keep the motor on the inflatable, which, from my perspective, is a great advantage. You can sail with the dinghy attached in most conditions and the weight of the motor is mostly carried by the boat, so there is limited drag. If the winds or waves are high, however, it is best to just tow the dinghy. You still have to bail it out after a rainstorm, but because it is tilted up, there is less water to bail out. Short of having a hoist to take the inflatable out of the water entirely, this seems like the most convenient system.
Ned Chester
Pipe Dream
NS 30C #238
Portland, Maine
This is an interesting option that I had not considered. I’ve hoisted the bow of an inflatable out of the water a few times to reduce drag, but never considered it as a regular option. I’ll look into Dinghy Tow.
One thing to consider when sailing SF Bay, is that conditions can get pretty rowdy, especially with a typical afternoon 20-30 Kt. breeze against a strong ebb.
Harry
You may also note that with the Dinghy Tow you can lift the bow completely up to against the topping lift when in a tight slip.
Henry Poole
NS 30U #305
s/v Mary Speed
Sea Harbour Yacht Club
Oriental, NC
One of the things I have noticed with most sailboats is that the tow line is way too short. For ocean and Great Lakes passage making I have found that 100’ feet or more of tow line answers very well. Not only does it give you something to swim too if swept overboard, the length of line takes up most of the tugging and bucking that you get with short tow lines.
