Small winch and dinghy loading on swim platform

[Pseudomind]

I realize this might only apply to a small amount of users, those with a swim platform and rear opening transom, but fro around $100.00 for the winch and then figuring a method to power it.

I suppose it could be done, I imagine one could even use a 110 Volt AC winch and attach a long enough cord to reach the helm area AC outlet.

I mean how often would you use on a day to day basis, probably just whenever you were loading the dinghy, so open the transom, pull out your cord, connect the winch to the dinghy, and press the button to pull the dinghy up into the davits

Well it is just an idea :huh:

Ok, whether they are Hurley davits, some other brand, or these,

Nautley

I have read some comments about the weight and the problems loading some of the dinghy's, so why could one not install inside their transom, those that have a rear opening transom door, a small 12 vdc operated winch?

:thumbsup:

 

[Larry]

I have the Nautley System on my boat with 9' Mercury Airdeck and a 9.9 hp motor, it is a nice system but your winch idea is exactly what I was thinking about adding this year. I planned on putting it in the trunk with a handheld switch and a short cable. I modified my "Dinghy Ramp" slightly, by putting larger (5") rollers on it. I needed the extra hight to lift the dinghy tube up onto the intergrated portion of the platform, It also helped when we would come off plane to keep the water out of the dinghy.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

If your transom is open to the engine compartment, I would think something that is not electrically protected from sparks (your winch idea) would not be a good thing for obvious reasons... the wiring is not tinned which means it will corrode faster than other wiring, gas and sparks mix well only once, insurance being another...

 

[Larry]

The trunk on my Sea Ray is not open to the engine compartment, it is above the engine compartment and has it's own vent/drain on the bottom.

 

[Pseudomind]

If your transom is open to the engine compartment, I would think something that is not electrically protected from sparks (your winch idea) would not be a good thing for obvious reasons... the wiring is not tinned which means it will corrode faster than other wiring, gas and sparks mix well only once, insurance being another...

My transom is not open to the engine compartment. It is just a large stowage area. The door is about as large as the name you see here "Pseudomind" and it flips up. Mounted up inside the transom it would take very little room and allow an angle to run the cable down and off of the swim platform to connect to the dinghy's side. I only posted what I did because I am aware of the electrical requirements of gasoline boats and their engine room/ bilge area. For the amount of use the winch would be used, one could probably mount the $89.00 winch and connect it to a portable hot shot charger when needed, some winches even have a remote control for operation.

For example let's say you go somewhere and launch your dinghy and stay for a few days, you would probably only use the winch when you were ready to move on, as I would probably keep the dinghy tied up while there once it was launched. then when I was ready to leave, line up the dinghy for loading, connect winch, and hot shot, pull dinghy up, disconnect hot shot and winch. Plus the hot shot typically has a built in charger, which I can plug into a 110 outlet in the cockpit area.

It would seem to me a winch built for a boat trailer should have some marine type requirements and the one I had a link to is sold by West Marine. I have seen many a winch mounted and used on vehicles for years.

The idea to me did not seem to post a high dollar factor or high risk factor for those who may want to use a rib dinghy, but hate the idea of pulling it on board.

It was just an idea

 

[rcd0810]

I had the same thing in mind. I have to load and un-load mine from the port side. I have a "Hurley Davit". I like to pick mine up every night. With a few pops in me it doesn't get easy. I saw a winch from "Harbor Freight" 12v, $60, has a 10' remote. I was planning on running it off a battery jumper box.

RCD
Sea Ray 2003 / 320