Hello,
We purchased the H2O davits to try and use our Caribe dink on our 280DA. The goal was to be able to get on and off the boat without stepping in or on the dinghy. The 36" option allows this occur though it causes some additional headaches we are still working out.
Problem #1: Our Caribe dinghy is the lightweight model so the bottom is flat towards the stern, this is a big problem as there is no "V" to sit into the davits. You are totally at the mercy of your rigging to keep it centered.
Problem #2: Due to the center of the dinghy overhanging the swim platform it is tricky to pick tie down locations to pull astern. What has happened to us in rough water, the stern of the dinghy wants to slide forward towards the stern of the boat, it turns into a disaster once that happens.
Problem #3: The H2O system can twist if you don't pull the dinghy on straight. I have had the plastic part kind of twist and you would think it would break as you frantically work to lift the dinghy to get it to go back to normal. I think there should be some kind of tie bar connecting the two davits. I may fabricate a tie bar, much like the older "legacy" davits used.
To keep the stern of the dinghy centered what I am working on doing is either making a custom insert for the H2O bracket so it cradles our flat stern dinghy bottom. Or what may be even easier is to mount a small "V" block on the bottom of the dinghy so it locks into the existing H2O brackets.
If anyone has figured this out, I would also like to know what you came up with. I'll try to get a better photo but this is what I have right now.
-CC
We purchased the H2O davits to try and use our Caribe dink on our 280DA. The goal was to be able to get on and off the boat without stepping in or on the dinghy. The 36" option allows this occur though it causes some additional headaches we are still working out.
Problem #1: Our Caribe dinghy is the lightweight model so the bottom is flat towards the stern, this is a big problem as there is no "V" to sit into the davits. You are totally at the mercy of your rigging to keep it centered.
Problem #2: Due to the center of the dinghy overhanging the swim platform it is tricky to pick tie down locations to pull astern. What has happened to us in rough water, the stern of the dinghy wants to slide forward towards the stern of the boat, it turns into a disaster once that happens.
Problem #3: The H2O system can twist if you don't pull the dinghy on straight. I have had the plastic part kind of twist and you would think it would break as you frantically work to lift the dinghy to get it to go back to normal. I think there should be some kind of tie bar connecting the two davits. I may fabricate a tie bar, much like the older "legacy" davits used.
To keep the stern of the dinghy centered what I am working on doing is either making a custom insert for the H2O bracket so it cradles our flat stern dinghy bottom. Or what may be even easier is to mount a small "V" block on the bottom of the dinghy so it locks into the existing H2O brackets.
If anyone has figured this out, I would also like to know what you came up with. I'll try to get a better photo but this is what I have right now.
-CC
