Save my dinghy

[b-rad]

I have a dinghy I love, it's a 13 ft whaler.
I'm relocating at the end of the month to the southern carribean. 1400 miles and most likely up wind.
I have Davits that can lift it but I don't like that much weight offshore. I have towed it before but again upwind offshore no thanks. It will fit on the foredeck but not a lot of room (any really it's forestay to mast) to work around it. Any creative ideas?

[captain465]

Upside down on the cabin top.

[SY_Aurora]

If the davit weight issue is a matter of how far out it is relative to the base. I would suggest running lines around the whaler bow and stern and lashing it to the toe rail or the base of the davits and in theory you could then take a little tension off the lifting lines.

[keithw88]

How about: make sure the back-stay block is really sturdy: fit a Dyneema backstay which is split quite high up, shackle each leg to the outboard end of the davits: fit an "X" of S/S between the inner and outer ends of the davits arms, bolted rigid: wind up the backstay as tight as you can?
You could even fit struts from underneath, bolted to the transom at the lower end and to sturdy plates fitted onto the dinghy (watching out for any foam between the dinghy skins), with bottle-screws which can be turned to push upwards.
I saw a boat in Denmark which had telescopic arms which extended horizontally aft from the upper bars of the pushpit, but I don't think they could be made strong enough for the OP!
Time to buy an alumin(i)um RIB??!!

[Cheechako]

That Whaler weighs a ton. (specs say: "Weight (dry, no engine):640 lbs") I would never put it on davits, I love davits but not for that!. Tough problem for sure. Foredeck may be doable but it is a PITA going forward. Broke my ribs once on a hard dingy upside down on the foredeck.
Not sure what you mean by 1400 miles upwind though. Most of the E caribe can be done by overnighters at the most....? I remember very little up wind work at all.

[b-rad]

My hull is the classic no engine is 350lbs, Davits lift it but it makes me nervous, also should note boat is double ended so the Davits are only 4 ft apart.
Cabin top is an option think , need to measure.

As for the upwind, predict wind everyday for the last month has me due east or so till 50* longetude and the turn right.
Has been 9-12days and 100% upwind to 65% upwind and 35 close reach.

Lastly aluminum rib would be the answer.
No budget for that this year.

[a64pilot]

Power boat guys love Whalers, you may be able to sell it for enough to get an aluminum RIB.

[Robert Tilbury]

Me i would sell or trade her for an inflatable RIB then at the other end maybe do another deal to get a whaler
No way i would do 1400 in the blue with it on davits ,,, @680kg`s thats like 6 fat people hanging off the back ,,,,
Sort or reminds me of the calais to dover run ,,,,,,, Them Syrian refugees will try anything

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Not sure what you mean by 1400 miles upwind though. Most of the E caribe can be done by overnighters at the most....? I remember very little up wind work at all.

Maybe he means over the top of the Bahama's then East and down to SXM.. as opposed to the daysailor route.
I'd carry it on the fore deck.. if you've a roller furler where's the problem.. get to the first island and drop her over to tow into the anchorage..
This is how I sailed to France and beyond on my 23ftr..