Helia 44: Dinghy and Davits

[Group9]

Those are nice. I like the idea of making my own, too. I don't see why there are so few commercial types to choose from. Most look like copies of each other, and don't really look that robust. Yours do, though.

[Cotemar]

Another good way to have the dinghy ride higher up on the davits is to remove the FP factory block and pulley system and just use short dinghy bridals to a single line right to the power winch.

[NSfooter]

We have hull #22, MapleCookie and it looks like FP have raised the angle of the davits. As you can see in the last one, if you pull it up tight it's now at a reasonable height.







www.maplecookieyacht.com

[Cotemar]

NSfooter,

Yes, you have the new wedges mounted under your davit bases.
They also raised the stern rail as it was just about touching the top of the davits on the early hull numbers.

[onthehook17]

For longer passages, I would like to remove the outboard from my dinghy and store on a life rail / pulpit or some other suitably strong storage point. Anyone have any ideas or experience with storing a 15 - 25 HP outboard somewhere on a Helia

Onthehook17

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by onthehook17

For longer passages, I would like to remove the outboard from my dinghy and store on a life rail / pulpit or some other suitably strong storage point. Anyone have any ideas or experience with storing a 15 - 25 HP outboard somewhere on a Helia

Onthehook17

You will need an Engine Lifting Davit like this.

Garhauer Marine Hardware -8489958

[Greggegner]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

You will need an Engine Lifting Davit like this.

Garhauer Marine Hardware -8489958

I got one of these, they are great.

[SV Lift]

That stand alone davit looks better than their radar pole/davit combination. I bent mine trying to lift a 15hp but it looks like the design is a little different on the davit only version.

[StarryHorizons]

Those sort of lifts definitely look like the way to go. Anyone have any thoughts on where you could actually mount the outboard on the Helia? Also curious to hear any thoughts on if this would really be necessary as most cats I've seen keep the outboard on the dinghy during passages. That's what I've done in the past and haven't had any issues.

David

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by StarryHorizons

Anyone have any thoughts on where you could actually mount the outboard on the Helia? Also curious to hear any thoughts on if this would really be necessary as most cats I've seen keep the outboard on the dinghy during passages. That's what I've done in the past and haven't had any issues.

David

These Edson Dinghy engine rail mounts work well if you choose to remove your outboard on offshore passages.

This is a picture of an early model Helia 44 with the older lower stern rail.
Newer Helia’s have a higher stern rail than this to allow clearance for the Davits to be wedged up higher.

Here are a few pictures of an early model Helia 44 with the re-enforced davits and wedges under the davits to raise them up.

This was my wife and I doing an offshore trip last week from Montauk, NY to the Chesapeake.

We had 28 knots of wind and 8 to 10 foot swells on the stern. Some waves were breaking and we were surfing from 8 to 14 knots with just the Gib sail out.

The 12 foot WestMarine RIB dinghy as you can see was just fine with the 15 hp 2 stroke Yamaha outboard still attached.

You can see we hoisted the dinghy up high and on and angle. We also had a bow and stern line off the dinghy to the two lower stern cleats on the Helia.

We had absolutely no issues for the 400 mile trip.

[mndreamchaser1]

Originally Posted by onthehook17

For longer passages, I would like to remove the outboard from my dinghy and store on a life rail / pulpit or some other suitably strong storage point. Anyone have any ideas or experience with storing a 15 - 25 HP outboard somewhere on a Helia

Onthehook17

I couldn't find a good place for a rail mount, so we lift our 10 hp two stroke with the spinnaker halyard and drop it into the starboard forward locker (the genset locker) using a freight blanket for cushioning. It rides very nice up there and is protected. Halyard hoist back out, down the side and attach to the dinghy. Worked well all last year, although we only pull the motor for long offshore passages.

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 owners,

Here is our dinghy setup. Since our boat sleeps 6, we needed to carry 6 in our dinghy.
The Suzuki 20 hp weighs the same as the 15hp, so we went with 20hp.

The BeachMaster wheels allow me to move the 250lbs dinghy all by myself, which is just perfect as we have always struggled to bring a lighter dinghy up on the beach in the past.

Highfield CL340 HYP
Length 11ft. 5 in.
Beam 5ft. 7 in.
Weight 134 lbs
Max HP: 20hp
Max persons: 6
Max Weight (persons, motor, gear, etc. 1367 lbs
------------------
Suzuki 20 hp, Model # DF20A, 97 lbs
------------------
BeachMaster Dinghy Wheels

[StarryHorizons]

That is a great setup. We've got the CL310 Highfield and the 15hp Suzuki and love the combination!

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Helia 44 owners,

Here is our dinghy setup. Since our boat sleeps 6, we needed to carry 6 in our dinghy.
The Suzuki 20 hp weighs the same as the 15hp, so we went with 20hp.

The BeachMaster wheels allow me to move the 250lbs dinghy all by myself, which is just perfect as we have always struggled to bring a lighter dinghy up on the beach in the past.

Highfield CL340 HYP
Length 11ft. 5 in.
Beam 5ft. 7 in.
Weight 134 lbs
Max HP: 20hp
Max persons: 6
Max Weight (persons, motor, gear, etc. 1367 lbs
------------------
Suzuki 20 hp, Model # DF20A, 97 lbs
------------------
BeachMaster Dinghy Wheels

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by StarryHorizons

That is a great setup. We've got the CL310 Highfield and the 15hp Suzuki and love the combination!

David & Amy,

You guys are the inspiration for this Highfield dinghy.
I liked your setup from following your circumnavigation at outchasingstars.

We just went a little bigger as our 2 daughters want to be with us on the Helia 44 all the time. We all love this boat.

Mark

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 owners,

Here is how the Highfield CL340 HYP (11' 5") with the Suzuki 20 hp engine looks on the new EVO davit system.

The bottom of the engine skeg is well above the bridge deck.
This dinghy is rated for a 20 hp engine and to carry 6 people.

It hops up on plane like a rocket and can easily pull a wake board.

We wrap both stern and bow lines on the electric winch at the same time and it pulls the dinghy up nice and even. Its a pretty sweet setup.