58 SD 2007 dinghy/hydraluic platform

[BillS LINY]

I wanted to purchase a dinghy for my 58SD. I have the factory installed hydraulic swim platform. What is the maximum weight and size dinghy you would recommend?

 

[JV II]

It will lift 800#, but will be struggling to do so. Don't forget, you may want to be on the lift as it is bringing the boat up. I do that all the time. I'd go with an 11 or 12 footer and keep it under 500#. The salespeople will tell you to get the biggest one you can fit, but you should try to preserve some of your swim platform to walk around the dingy. I've got a 14'8" beam and a 10' RIB. Total weight with engine and boat is under 300#. It is about perfect.

 

[Jackie J V]

800 lbs is max rated capacity. My dingy is 11'10" and it is the absolute max length and I would say weight as well. Total package dry is around 670 pounds, then add fuel and stuff in board. If the dingy is not situated just right on the platform, it'll catch wash coming up the hull sides. I have mine marked know exact placement.

i love having the dingy with me to explore, however if you're doing a lot of big seas, you'd be better with a smaller and lighter package.

Paul

 

[Sea Gull]

I have an 11'6" RIB with a 30 HP four stroke. I'm not sure of the weight offhand but it's well below the limit of the platform. The tilted engine adds significantly to the LOA, so I would not want a longer dinghy on this boat.

 

[searay40dad]

My boat has a General Hydraulic Solutions lift rated at 800 lbs. It is an OEM lift and, as an FYI, when I called the manufacturer a few years ago to get quotes on replacement cylinders, they told me it was designed with a 25% safety rating, meaning its lift capacity was around 1,000 lbs. Obviously you wouldn't want to exceed its rating for normal operation. My jet ski is about 780 lbs wet and my ~10' RIB is about 600 lbs wet. The lift has no problem with either toy. I am careful about balancing the load so neither are centered on the lift, but are along the centerline of the boat which has a 15'3 beam.

I've also carried a couple of 12' dinghies with outboards a few times. Had to tilt both outboards to keep the wash off the lower units which made them too long for my tastes. Might be fine with your 16' beam.

If it were my 58, I'd stay under 12' and the rated load obviously. If heavy seas are the norm, I'd agree that you might want to look at something lighter and/or look at using some straps off the stern cleats to absorb some of the shock loads.

 

[Alex F]

I was under the impression that the common number was 900LBs instead of 800LBs, but you guys know your lifts better than me. Probably there's additional safety factor by having extended platform. My SeaLift Cradle is rated for 900LBs.

I've done extensive research prior purchasing my new dinghy and for the most part 11' dinghy of well known brands (Zodiac, AB, Amanzy, etc.) weights around 430-450lbs dry. Now you have to add rigging (~70lbs), engine(~200lbs), fuel (~80lbs) and gear (~50lbs). As you can see the picture changes drastically and fully equipped and "wet" tender is now at very realistic 850LBs, which for the most part will be the case on the daily basis. There are few other brands that make slightly lighter boats (Caribe is a good example).

You've received very important tip from posts above regarding the LOA change when the motor is tilted. Tilted motor adds 1.5' to the LOA. So, a 11' dinghy with tilted all the way up motor is around 12.5'. This is the number you have to go by when measuring how it'll fit on your platform, which is usually 1' narrower than the true beam.

On the positive side we have several members with 480/500/520 DBs (who I cruise with friequently) who own 12' dinghies and these boats handle the dinghies with ease. I haven't heard any complaints about lift performance or the mother-ship. Having the monster engines the big boat doesn't even feel the extra weight that much. So, having said that, IMO, your 580DB should be able to handle a very nice 12' CC dinghy with 40HP without any concern.

As you may hear from others, this is another one "get the biggest you can get" as this will become your "running around" small boat that will feel very big on the lift and get small once you load her with crew. So, pay close attention to the seating capacity.

Good luck and keep us in the loop with your choice.

 

[HUMPH]

I have friends with boats from a 450DA (Franks style) to a 560DB that have 12' tenders with 40 or 50HP outboards. They sit in the tender while lifting much of the time and never have had issues.

 

[Jackie J V]

I am always in my dingy when lifting or dropping. There isn't much of a choice really. There is no issue with the lift capabilities.

To Alex's point, there is no noticeable difference in performance with, or without the dingy loaded on the platform for the 560/58. You still have to be mindful of the wash issue (which can pummel the dingy) and docking if the dingy is too wide for the beam at the stern.

Paul

 

[BillS LINY]

Thank you all FYI we went with a zodiac 11.6 with a 40 hp engine. the dinghy is great, the lift works fine and there is no performance or handling issues with the mother ship while underway.
FYI also, dealt with Defender Marine in Conn they were fantastic price was the best around