juggernaut1
Well-Known Member
- Apr 19, 2015
- 1,152
- Boat Info
- Boatless - sold Searay 38 Sundancer
- Engines
- 8.1’s
I'm gonna need a bigger boat...
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.................or a smaller outboard :grin:
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I'm gonna need a bigger boat...
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
.................or a smaller outboard :grin:
I use the Nautley system on the swim platform for my 340DA. It's removable, so when I'm not bringing the inflatable, the only thing left on the platform are the slide in mounts and a couple fold down D Rings. The angled tilt davits slide out and go into the trasom locker. It's easy to use, and since the dink is only on the platform for transit to/from where we are going, it hasn't been a problem. I had weaver davits before, but I hated dealing with taking the motor on and off. When I pull the boat up I align the engine on the side of our transom door, so there's room to walk on and off the boat from a finger pier on the dock even with the inflatable on the davits. I should take more detailed photos, maybe next time I'm out there I will. For now, here are a couple that weren't really intended to show the davits, but you can see how the 9'6" Highfields aluminum RIB inflatable sits back there, with a 6hp Merc 4 stroke, looking back from the cockpit and from the side at the dock.
Hope it helps! - Ron
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How do you like the Nautley Davits, and what size did you buy? I'm on the verge of buying the XL as the platform on my '05 340 is fairly high off the water. The 9'6" Highfield is also in the final 2. The other possibility is a 10'2" Walker Bay. Weight of both is similar but I'm a little concerned with that extra 8" of lengthI use the Nautley system on the swim platform for my 340DA. It's removable, so when I'm not bringing the inflatable, the only thing left on the platform are the slide in mounts and a couple fold down D Rings. The angled tilt davits slide out and go into the trasom locker. It's easy to use, and since the dink is only on the platform for transit to/from where we are going, it hasn't been a problem. I had weaver davits before, but I hated dealing with taking the motor on and off. When I pull the boat up I align the engine on the side of our transom door, so there's room to walk on and off the boat from a finger pier on the dock even with the inflatable on the davits. I should take more detailed photos, maybe next time I'm out there I will. For now, here are a couple that weren't really intended to show the davits, but you can see how the 9'6" Highfields aluminum RIB inflatable sits back there, with a 6hp Merc 4 stroke, looking back from the cockpit and from the side at the dock.
Hope it helps! - Ron
View attachment 49465View attachment 49466
How do you like the Nautley Davits, and what size did you buy? I'm on the verge of buying the XL as the platform on my '05 340 is fairly high off the water. The 9'6" Highfield is also in the final 2. The other possibility is a 10'2" Walker Bay. Weight of both is similar but I'm a little concerned with that extra 8" of length
This is damn near exactly what I drew up last year but I had to build a temporary top Mount out of time constraints. I had one bolt going through the end of the swim platform into the brackets underneath though to lock everything together. Smart minds think a like...and so do we.I didn't want to have any "toe stubbers" left on my swim deck when not having the dinghy stored there, so I modified another CSR member's design (Dom - who made his own "Dom's Davits"). Dom has since passed away, but his davit ideas live on! Thanks Dom!!
The idea is to have an easily loadable platform where you don't have to remove that heavy outboard motor to store the dinghy. Check out my photos...
I used a similar idea as a trailer hitch receiver mounted under the swim deck. When the pins (this is an old photo during the construction phase before drilling the lock pin holes) are removed both arms can be removed and stored onboard. Nothing is visible unless viewed from very low on the water behind the boat.
Here's some individual pieces cut, placed, but not yet welded...
Here, you will see the two support arms locked in place with the locking pins.
A view of the dinghy on the supports as usual. It's stored like this all winter (just coming out of storage in the spring)
With this system, it's easy to deploy (two ratchet straps) by tipping it and having it slide into the water. It's also easy to pull back onboard, although the key to this is a pulley (block and tackle) system which I tie to the beverage railing and hook to the dingy. It can be pulled back on without assistance relatively easily. I cut all the tubular aluminum and had a friend weld the pieces together. Found a playground manufacturer in our area that had the plastic laminated planks that I used for the supports. After 5yrs or so, I really like the davits and usually just leave it on the boat - sure saves the dingy from filling with rain water, not to mention keeps the bottom (aluminum hull) nice and clean.
It's a possible option for you to design/build something similar if you like the idea.
Being we just purchased our dinghy and motor I have looked at allot of support systems and really like the sling, which is only $275.00 on EBay. It is a simple yet effective way I think to carry the dinghy on the swim platform.FWIW I just finished our first long weekend with a dinghy. I ran my 10' Zodiac in the swim platform of our 340 without any problems. Three lines is all you need to flip the dinghy up. Two lines is all you need if you want to keep it horizontal on the platform and aren't running on-plane.
Immediately after returning from the long weekend I ordered a "dinghy sling". Running the dinghy on the platform is a bit of a pain if you 1.) hook/unhook shore power and water from the rear and 2.) if you want to use the swim platform when anchored without a bunch of hassle.
The other alternative I looked at was the "snap davit" offered by a couple companies, Weaver being the most popular as far as I could tell. I ultimately decided against this due to the fact that they really aren't designed to support the dinghy in anything other than the vertical position. I wanted something where, when not on plane, I can hang the dinghy and motor straight off the back of the swim platform. Pulling the motor is a bit of a pain. If you want full use of your platform (sans a couple lines you have to negotiate) and you don't want to pull/support the motor every time you load up - the sling seems to be a best bet.
Of course if I had real money I'd have a hydraulic, extended platform and live the high life.
What do you do with the motor?I pull my Achilles 9 6 on to the platform and tie it. I could never settle on davits. Only 11 seasons now. I take off the motor though
I have a motor bag- and I'm able to set it under the cockpit table. Not the best approach but I can deal with it. It's a 6 HP, so not real small.What do you do with the motor?
Hi,Being we just purchased our dinghy and motor I have looked at allot of support systems and really like the sling, which is only $275.00 on EBay. It is a simple yet effective way I think to carry the dinghy on the swim platform.
I struggled with adding Davits to my boat for over a year...in the end I didn’t like anything and decided to drag it up on the swim platform...the dinghy is a Zodiac 310 aero...it’s a soft bottom so it won’t mark anything.... the motor in the pic is a 4hp....I bought a 9.9hp after this pic was taken. I just tie the bow to a cleat and tie the outboard to another cleat.... that’s it. I don’t go out in rough seas.... I have a pretty high swim platform.... it doesn’t move at all....quick to pull it up and quick to just push it off....I can’t walk back there so just hop off the starboard stern...not great but rarely need to be walking around back there... this is best pic I have..How do you strap a 10 ft zodiac to the back of the boat?
Hi,
Just saw this post and I also bought the sling. I can’t figure out, for the life of me, how to work it. I tried for an hour and gave up.
I also have davits on the back of our 330 Sundancer, but I need help...How do you strap a 10 ft zodiac to the back of the boat?
I struggled with adding Davits to my boat for over a year...in the end I didn’t like anything and decided to drag it up on the swim platform...the dinghy is a Zodiac 310 aero...it’s a soft bottom so it won’t mark anything.... the motor in the pic is a 4hp....I bought a 9.9hp after this pic was taken. I just tie the bow to a cleat and tie the outboard to another cleat.... that’s it. I don’t go out in rough seas.... I have a pretty high swim platform.... it doesn’t move at all....quick to pull it up and quick to just push it off....I can’t walk back there so just hop off the starboard stern...not great but rarely need to be walking around back there... this is best pic I have
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