WHAT DAVITS SYSTEM FOR 10' SOFT BOTTOM DINGHY

Feb 6, 2019
122
Boat Info
2003 300DA SUNDANCER
Engines
MERCRUISER 5.0 W/BRAVO III
Hey guys, Gals, what davit system would you recommend for 2003 sea ray 300DA. I have a 10' Mercury dinghy with a 9.9 merc 2 stroke I use on it. I'm thinking of the weaver system RBD100 but looks like the heads are little short to me. The way the swim platform is at the edge it rises (or has a little lip on it for lack of better terms) and is not flat so I wouldn't be able to mount them right to the edge. I'm guess about half inch back. Has anyone used this exact system an a sea ray with this type of swim platform? any pics of installation would be helpful also. Or maybe there something else out there to use. let me know any info is helpful thanks.

heres the link to the ones I was looking at:
https://www.weaverindustries.com/in...r-inflatable-dinghies-for-swimboard-mount.htm
 
You can make a block out of Marine Board to raise the mount above the lip. I have used the Weaver on past boats when I had soft bottom dinks. One issue I found on my first boat, 83 28 Sundancer with out drives was the engine and exhaust noise was projected into the cockpit which was miserable. I would look into the Hurley H2O system myself. I did like the snap davits convenience of quick docking to the platform instead of tying off with cleats.
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You can make a block out of Marine Board to raise the mount above the lip. I have used the Weaver on past boats when I had soft bottom dinks. One issue I found on my first boat, 83 28 Sundancer with out drives was the engine and exhaust noise was projected into the cockpit which was miserable. I would look into the Hurley H2O system myself. I did like the snap davits convenience of quick docking to the platform instead of tying off with cleats.
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Yea seen those would be nice and wouldn't have to remove the motor every time. But man those are pricey!
 
I went for www.Thedinghydavit.com . I had shoulder surgery and didn't want to deal with lifting the dinghy and such like I used to. I also got the extension that gave me the platform back, so no more walking all over the dinghy to get to things back there.
 
I have a 10' RIB dinghy with a 15hp engine and use the Weaver products. Weaver offers their 6" drop davit heads that I use that should help with your boat. You can also have Weaver custom make a davit to deal with the lip issue you have. I had them make a double tube davit to handle the extra weight of my dinghy. Here is a picture from Weaver's site with the drops and a soft bottom dinghy.
Weaverdrop.jpg


I also have their motor bracket that tilts the engine when it is upright.
weaver3.jpg


I like the fact that I can easily access my transom locker and I have room on the swim platform when the dinghy is back there. And for the price, I think their product is pretty reasonably priced.
 
Yea seen those would be nice and wouldn't have to remove the motor every time. But man those are pricey!
I just bought the H20 for my 10’ soft bottom... my lip is just under 1/4” Hurley sells a spacer to raise them...
Yes they cost a bit but there are a lot of other concepts that cost way more... I procrastinated for 3 years before going the H20 route over hydraulic.... don’t be that guy...just do it

one other point is I am going hard bottom in near future so buy H20 hard bottom if you think you might switch.... they will work for both or you can convert them if you have to....cheaper then going other way around
 
This is what mine looks like
 

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I'm selling a set of those Weaver snap davits. I used them for 5-6 years, never had an issue. It does get a bit old removing the outboard everytime you bring the dinghy up but these are first world problems to be sure.

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I used those exact davits on my 2005 300 and as another poster said, I used a piece of king starboard sandwiched between the davit and platform - you'll need about 5/8" or so as when the davit snaps back it needs more clearance - the swim platform height is perfect as the dinghy floats while still snapped in making motor install and boarding easy - I could snap the boat out of its davits with everyone in it - I carried a 10'2" RIB this way - It looks ridiculously huge when tipped up as the 300 does not carry its full beam all the way back.....but it always worked fine for me - I used the upper rear cleats for tie down - lines secured to the "outside tube" of the dinghy were used to pull it up and tie it down - for the motor, I had a st. croix bracket mounted to the swim platform and when the dinghy was up the motor was was "inside" it.
 

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