Where to Locate Dinghy

[Alecadi]

I suppose this has been debated several times already. But I didn't find thread on the subject.
I got the dinghy, I got the engine...
Now the question is: where to put it.

I would rather put it on deck but I imagine that the hauling up and down operations are easier with davits on the stern? On the other hand I don't like the idea to have so much weight on the stern and neither to have the dinghy hanging there when the seas are rough...

As you can see the crew mate and I have no experience on "dinghy-on-board"...

For you to have the full picture
Boat: Endeavour 35,
crew: admiral: 60 years old, myself 66 but both still in good health (so far)
dinghy: mercury 270 airfloor, 92 lbs
engine : tohatsu 6HP 4 strokes 55lbs

Advices anyone?
Thank you

[barnakiel]

Here the dink is on the foredeck while the engine was on the aft rail.

But I'd rather have the dink on the cabin top, space allowing.

b.

[Alecadi]

Tks. I was thinking to put it on the fore-deck just before the mast. My real problem is how difficult it will be for us to handle it from there to put it in the water and back.

[Khagan1227]

If you are just gunkholing and have room on the cabin top, I'd put the dink there and the motor on a stand near the stern rail.

If you are going bluewater, dink deflated and stowed below with the motor.

Personally, I think you can balance the dink/motor on stern davits with an oversized Ronca (or anchor of your choice) and chain rode.

[Bash]

With a dink like yours on a boat like yours, davits would make a lot of sense.

[Alecadi]

Sailing zone would be the Bahamas, Gulf of Mexico, The Florida keys.. Perhaps later on if my dear admiral get used to it further in the Caribbean.
Anybody having had bad experiences in rough waters with the dinghy hanging out of the stern on davits?

[UWOA]

I'm getting my davit(s) repaired for the second time. I had my dink suspended at the rear going down the Hawk channel when welds broke. First time, it was the D where the block and tackle was suspended. I had a new one, bigger and stronger welded in Marathon (the davits are stainless steel). The second time I was off Stiltsville, about to a two miles from No Name Harbor when the cross brace weld failed due to the dinghy contacting a 4-5 foot swell (most of the waves were 1-3 feet). With the cross brace gone, the vertical pillar was pulled out from the boat and basically the backing plate was wrenched through the hull leaving a large hole.

Lessons learned: in any kind of seas, either trail the dink or bring it on board. Check the backing plates for the davits. In my case the backing plate was the size of the davit fitting, it should be fairly substantial to spread the stress of the load from the weight of the dink and motor.

As for getting the dink up on deck, you can do it by hand, or use the jib halyard with a line attached to extend its length so you can winch the dink up or let it down.

[Alecadi]

Thanks UWOA, and all others.
Will start by putting the dinghy on deck and see how we manage.
I'll avoid putting davits for the time being.

[Alecadi]

The hardest part would be probably to haul up the engine to put it on the stern post? Due to the distance from the halyard to the stern? The angle would be quite open?
Just thinking aloud. Have to try it anyway.

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by Alecadi

Tks. I was thinking to put it on the fore-deck just before the mast. My real problem is how difficult it will be for us to handle it from there to put it in the water and back.

Do you have a spinnaker halyard? You can make a rope harness and your wife can haul it up level with the winch while you guide it an maneuver against the wind, or simply hook the halyard to the bow eye and haul it up vertically.

The latter strategy is easier if you're single-handed.... You haul it up enough so the stern is still touching your deck rail, then lock the halyard and walk over to lift dingy stern on deck by hand (you're only handling part of the weight while the halyard is holding it up) then go back to your winch and let it down slow about half way, go back and position it so you can let it down where you want it to set.

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by Alecadi

The hardest part would be probably to haul up the engine to put it on the stern post? Due to the distance from the halyard to the stern? The angle would be quite open?
Just thinking aloud. Have to try it anyway.

search the web for Forespar Motor Mate

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

search the web for Forespar Motor Mate

Forespar Cranes, Davits, Hoists ➥ Boat Cranes Davits Hoists Lifts

Nova Lift ➥ Boat Nova Lift
Motor Mate ➥ Boat Motor Mate Lift
Cargo Mate ➥ Boat Cargo Mate Lift
Nova Davit ➥ Nova Davit Dinghy Lift

[cfarrar]

Lessons learned: in any kind of seas, either trail the dink or bring it on board.

If it's too rough for davits you certainly don't want to trail your dink! Our davits keep the dink above the waves in all but the worst conditions - fine for coastal / near offshore, Bahamas, etc.

Davits are nice if you change anchorages frequently, because they help you get ashore or get underway quickly. Plus you can store stuff in the dink like muddy shoes, a bag of garbage, or a fish!

The downside is the cost and the weight on the stern. Plus, if you spend longer periods at a single anchorage, or much of your sailing is genuine blue water, then they probably don't make sense.

[Noname]

Look at Katomarine.com for their excellent davits and outboard motor hoists. I bought them last year for a trip south on the icw. They make it easy to launch and retrieve. I'm 67 and didn't want to wrestle it up on deck for fear of wrenching my back. I think the consensus of opinion is that one should not go offshore with the dinghy on davits in case of large boarding waves, etc. It is best strapped down on the fordeck for a trip offshore. Obviously, cost of davits may preclude your considering them as an option.

[capngeo]

I've towed a dink many miles in many conditions... It was always there when things improved! I like the option of having a "lifeboat" already inflated and ready to go too. If the winds are real heavy and I fear the dink getting capsized, I just flood it with water... kinda makes a good drogue then as well!