Boat lift davit recommendations

[REBrueckner]

Am seeking a used, possibly new, boat davit to lift an 11 ft Boston Whaler with a 15 HP outboard, I'm guessing 400 lbs total. I'd like to mount the lift on the bow deck of my 1972 48 Hatt YF and store the Whaler on the adjacent salon roof. I'd estimate the arm length required at about 5 to 6 ft...will have to return to the boat for exact placement and measurements....vertical lift above base of lift likely no more than 4 feet....and a different harness lift could reduce that to only three feet....

Any brand recommendations, experiences and recommendations welcome...Or any source of used lifts?? Low profile would seem to look the best...are there other pros and cons??
Does not need to be electric or hydraulic; am considering all options at the moment...but not a top of the line brand new $10K lift!!!

 

[kwerges]

As a sidenote, to reduce vertical lift, I had a strongback built for my 11' Whaler. Now I can lift the Whaler to within 18" of the top of the davit arm to get it over the bow rail on my 42' Convertible.

 

[GJH]

I wouldn't make assumptions about the weight. Get it weighed full of stuff, full of fuel and soaking wet. My 130 Sport with Merc 40hp 2 stroke came in at 1040 pounds. No wonder our 1000 lb rated davit strains a little!

That being said, check places like Sailorman in Ft. Lauderdale who always seems to have a few in the back yard, or the Jarrett Bay surplus store.

Didn't Pete recently have his old one for sale?

 

[Pete]

I do still have the original "bent pipe" electric winch (lift cable in/out only) davit that I removed from our 48 LRC in 2007. Has been stored in my garage since its removal. Looks and works as good or better than any you will see. Includes stand pipe, and fairly new Sunbrella white winch cover. Winch was serviced a couple of years back, and new cable installed. 120 volts. $1500 FOB.

Let me just offer a couple of comments from my search for a replacement two years ago. A new similar unit to the one off our boat was $7500 at the 2006 Fort Lauderdale Show (special price ?????). Low profile, modern looking davits started at around $14000 at the time. I purchased a Steelhead electric/hydraulic 4 function unit for just under $20,000. This is a 1000 pound capacity. BTW, great unit.

As for weight, I second George's comment. We have a 12 foot RIB, center console, with a 40 HP Honda. Over 900 pounds. And I believe a Whaler will be heavier per foot than most any other tender. You can probably look up your model Whaler and engine to get a baseline weight. Then add 150 pounds for a battery, fuel tank and fuel, anchor and line, fenders, dock lines, strong back, etc.

Pete

 

[luckydave215]

I do still have the original "bent pipe" electric winch (lift cable in/out only) davit that I removed from our 48 LRC in 2007. Has been stored in my garage since its removal. Looks and works as good or better than any you will see. Includes stand pipe, and fairly new Sunbrella white winch cover. Winch was serviced a couple of years back, and new cable installed. 120 volts. $1500 FOB.

Let me just offer a couple of comments from my search for a replacement two years ago. A new similar unit to the one off our boat was $7500 at the 2006 Fort Lauderdale Show (special price ?????). Low profile, modern looking davits started at around $14000 at the time. I purchased a Steelhead electric/hydraulic 4 function unit for just under $20,000. This is a 1000 pound capacity. BTW, great unit.

As for weight, I second George's comment. We have a 12 foot RIB, center console, with a 40 HP Honda. Over 900 pounds. And I believe a Whaler will be heavier per foot than most any other tender. You can probably look up your model Whaler and engine to get a baseline weight. Then add 150 pounds for a battery, fuel tank and fuel, anchor and line, fenders, dock lines, strong back, etc.

Pete

Add another 100~200 pounds for the water the flotation foam has absorbed over the years.
The old saying is true: Whalers are heavy, and they get heavier every year!

 

[GJH]

Exactly why I said "soaking wet", although the new ones are supposed to be less prone to it, I am suspicious.

Was at Sailorman the other day, didn't see anything, but you can call them and have them look out for one. Ditto Jarrett Bay; Sonny Raines is your man there.