Davits vs Windvane

[Cheechako]

Tough to have both. 10% sailing time, 90% Cruising. I found davits one of the most useful things on board. 10 ft RIb with 15hp OB. 5 minute sail away time. Otherwise the spare halyard works well to lift the dink on board. having a small davit to put the OB on the stern pulpit is a great help. If you get blown out of an anchorage at night, you wont be able to get it all done though, just have to tow the dink. WIth davits, it's already up and ready :>)

[bobola]

Some years ago I worked on a 63' Cheoy Lee motorsailer, which had teak chocks mounted on the fore deck, which the dinghy rested on.

We used a spinnaker pole, spinnaker halyard and a 2 speed electric primary winch to haul the boat up and down.

Worked well. The motor stayed on the dink at all times. There was a hoisting cradle made from 4 lengths of steel cable joined in the middle to a big ring, at the center of gravity point.

Only time we had a problem was in a rolling anchorage.

[Cheechako]

My buddy had a nice set of chocks on his foredeck of his 44 footer. He took the chocks off before sailing the So Pac to NZ. He was worried about how exposed the dink looked sitting on the chocks. ..... afraid a wave would just take the whole thing off... and part of the deck. Sure looked nice up there though... but did look more seaworthy with the dink turned turtle on the foredeck.....