davit lift vs steering vane - can you have both?

[Sterling]

considering a j/42 and trying to figure out dinghy storage. i'd rather davits for ease of use, but i think it'll conflict directly with the steering vane. am i stuck storing the dingy capsized on the deck?

[speedoo]

It's possible to have both, but they can't be used simultaneously. I know of a Peterson 44 that has both a Monitor windvane and davits. Not sure how it works when the dinghy is in the davits, but I'm sure the vane part has to be removed from the Monitor.

I'd say the dinghy has to be stowed on deck for the Monitor to work, but at least the davits can be used when anchored.

[squarerigger]

That's an interesting quandry that I face on my Westsail 39, which does have both. To this point I've not used the (Flemming) vane much, but doing so requires taking the (hard) dingy out of the davits and either towing it or bringing it onto the foredeck. Since I want to have it on the foredeck anyway when going offshore and when use of the vane makes more sense than the autopilot, this doesn't seem to present much of a problem. However, I'm not sure that on my boat an inflatable, given its greater beam, could even be hoisted in davits without fouling the vane.

[wolfenzee]

A boat just down the dock from me has both davits and self steering vane (along with a wind generator, grill, pulpit etc) it is quite cluttered, but function is more important cosmetics. I have talked to the owner and he is quite happy with the wind vane. As long as the vane is high enough to clear the dinghy and air flow from the sail doesn't interfere with the vane it will work.

[wolfenzee]

[wolfenzee]

can't figure out how to get photo included, link to boat with davits and vane is http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfenz...11112/sizes/l/

[bruadair]

From what I understand the Cape Horn wind vane does not have to be installed center on the boat, it can be installed off to one side. Wonder how this works in the real world, and this might leave room for davits.

[imagine2frolic]

I wouldn't want the dink on davits while making any bluewater passage. Even a short one. SHEET HAPPENS, so put it on the deck. Use the windvane as it should be. Use the davits for picking up the dink at night, and getting around the corner of an island.

[SilentOption]

If you have room why not put the dinghy on deck for the passage when you would be using the windvane then hang it back in the davits when you are not travelling.

[Steve Pope]

I plan to put the wind vane (based on the autohelm trim tab rudder) on top of the radar arch, it only needs longer cables to connect to the trim tab.

[Cheechako]

Davits would probably be in the top 5 of my most useful items for cruising. Windvane would probably be down in the teens. If you are crossing oceans without stops then I suppose the vane is good though. I like the suggestion of putting the dink on deck for major crossings and use it on the davits for the other 95% of the time.... as long as you can keep the vane from puncturing holes in it...