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We do a lot of bareboat chartering and as we enter our late seventies find it increasingly difficult to remove and install the outboard motor on the dingy. I saw some slings advertised that are reasonably priced and thought I could use the main halyard for this purpose. My problem is that most of these charter boats come with a bimini (necessary) so the halyard will scrape over the back side of the bimini. I suppose I could tie off the dingy to the side of the boat and try to maneuver the motor from there. Has anyone come with a different or more efficient solution? I wish the charter companies would install a hoist on the stern (not that expensive given the charter rates).
DEAN2140
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Jim has sewn up a sling for our outboard. We used strong 1" tubular webbing for the sling, and it has a strong click buckle, on one side for when/if we want to remove it. We put the
dinghy amidships, and hang a step from our toerail. Jim steps down into the dinghy to attach the halyard, then returns to the
deck. We use the main halyard for the dinghy motor, and the
spinnaker halyard for the dinghy itself. Using the main halyard, amidships, it is easy to remove the motor, then walk it aft. Your wife will, at the same time, take a few turns on the halyard
winch, and
lift the motor and be prepared to gently lower it. I don't think the method would be practical with a bimini; the chafe would tear the
fabric. Our bracket for the o/b. is on the side of the pushpit. You would still have to horse the little motor to where it is normally stowed, but the halyard will help support it while you figure out how to get it where you want it.
Ann