Keeping Dinghy on Davits Dry

[thinwater]

I have a 9' West Marine "sport boat" on davits, and it seems no matter how I hang it, rainwater accumulates between the wooden floor and the inflatable part making the boat quite heavy. She won't plane like that. She is also heavy to lift, and it can't be good for the attachment points. There is a drain, but it is to the side and, idiotically, not flush with the floor. I do hang it at a slight angle, but the mooring lines constrain my possibilities.

A cover would work, but what a pain. For the off-season, I will, though.

Also, there is a rubber one-way valve in the drain that mostly just slows the process. Since the boat would only sink an inch if it did fall out, whats wrong with removing the check valve?

Thank you for your input. I feel I must be missing the obvious, but I am new to davits.

[bill good]

I rig mine to hang upside down or if in use tilt the stern to allow self

[MarkJ]

Lil' Dink always has her cork pulled

She gets dragged behind the boat and water just flows out.

If we had davits we could keep the plug in as she leaks through the floor

[Benjamaphone]

It does seem like a silly place for a drain plug. Usually that would be the best way to keep water out. Barring that a cover would be the next best thing. If that really bothers you, maybe try using an auto-bailer. The thing with that is you'll need to have it hooked to a battery or the boat but mounting it on the transom of the dinghy will also solve the problem.

[forsailbyowner]

I also hang mine upside down. Have another set of blocks hanging close to stern that rolls dinghy over to upside down position using winches. It also keeps dinghy locked in place so it doesnt move in a seaway. What do you people do that have plugs when your heeled over and plug is on high side?

[Jim Cate]

FWIW
Why not put another drain in the proper place in the transom?

You can get the fittings from any place that does dinghy repairs, and it is but a simple job to bang it in...

Cheers,

Jim

[thinwater]

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