Beneteau 463 davits

[peterschey]

Hi all, I have a 1998 Beneteau 463 and want to install davits for dinghy and maybe solar panels. Please advise if you have suggestions. I'm docked in Ventura, California. Thanks.

Peter Schey

[Pitchondesign]

Atlantic Towers makes adjustable arches and have accessory davit assemblies. They are very well made and will easily hold a dinghy. Not cheap but way less expensive than custom fabricated. I've seen the davits which attach to the rail, but these seem flimsy and suitable for only the lightest dinghy. My custom made 316L arch and davits are 3x what Atlantic Towers would charge for something similar, although Atlantic uses aluminum.

[wingssail]

I don't recommend installing arch or davits on that boat because it will hurt the sailing characteristics.

Your Beneteau 463 is a fine sailing boat suitable for coastal and ocean passages.

You will be adding significant weight in aft end of the boat. This will affect pitching in a seaway, either sailing or motoring. (it makes your boat more susceptible to pitching)

You will be adding weight aloft which reduces righting moment and adds to heeling.

You will be adding windage which adds drag and slows you down, particularly to windward.

All of these detriments are much worse when a dingy is hanging there.

Further, in a seaway the dingy will tend to swing and move around. The momentum of that motion will put major stress on the davits and arch structure even if you tie it off so that it cannot move.

I won't even talk about what it does to the looks.

If you like the sailing performance of your boat, or plan to do ocean passages, don't do this.

[peterschey]

Thanks for your guidance. Appreciate your advice.

[Jim Greer]

I have a 2000 Beneteau 461 and I am removing the davits. They are not at all pleasing to the eye, clutter the stern, reduce visibility of the stern light. If I am on a long passage, I will bring the RIB onto the foredeck.