Dinghy/Tender Retrieval

[Bill Root]

Like many who have a dinghy davit that has to be turned by hand, I have been really struggling to pull our 13' Whaler back over onto the fly bridge deck. Seems the older I get the heavier everything seems to become. Lately I've resisted launching the Whaler unless I had at least one more guy on board to help me pull it over. I finally have the solution.

I bought a Warn 110V portable electric winch, about $100 on the internet. I use a short rope to attach the stationary end of the winch to the scupper on the opposite side of the deck from where the Whaler is hanging when we bring it up. Then I let out about 10 feet of cable from the winch end, and run a rope from that to the dinghy sling where it attaches to the davit cable. The winch pulls the Whaler right back over the deck to a point where I can pull it the final couple of feet easily. Wish I had done this years ago.

 

[M&MArmenta]

Bill, can you provide a couple of photos of your set up? Thanks, Marcus

 

[Agjagja]

I want to put a lift on my 1987. 41 Hatteras convertible and would like to see pictures also.

 

[Bill Root]

I would be happy to help, but there really isn't much to look at. I have the standard 1000 lb. Marquipt davit that has the electric motor winch that has to be plugged into a 110V outlet. It's mounted on the fly bridge deck aft of the seating area. The Whaler is mounted there on a set of UMT dinghy chocks. It's a pretty standard motor yacht set-up. The davit motor raises and lowers the dinghy, but it has to be swiveled off and onto the boat manually. Pulling the whaler back onto the deck when it's hanging off the side and the boat is listing from the weight has always been the problem. I'm simply using the Warn portable electric winch to pull the Whaler back over the deck to a point where the Hatteras begins to lose the list and I can pull the Whaler over the deck chocks by hand. You can see a picture and description of the Warn portable winch by googling it. I apologize if I have misunderstood your request. It will probably be awhile before I launch and retrieve the Whaler again, but when I do I'll try to remember to take some photos of the process.

 

[MVCaprice]

If you are in the market for a davit would look at Steelhead Marine and Nick Jackson. We had a 1200lb Nick Jackson davit on our old boat and it was a great davit. They are not cheap and typically require electric over hydraulic pumps so the install is not trivial. If you are looking for hydraulic rotation that is a bit more as well. Nick came out and contoured the deck plate and stovepipe to our boat so you may want to find a local dealer to help out.

 

[M&MArmenta]

Bill, just looking for photos of where you have items mounted, etc. and how they are attached. Thanks

 

[SEVEN]

I would be happy to help, but there really isn't much to look at. I have the standard 1000 lb. Marquipt davit that has the electric motor winch that has to be plugged into a 110V outlet. It's mounted on the fly bridge deck aft of the seating area. The Whaler is mounted there on a set of UMT dinghy chocks. It's a pretty standard motor yacht set-up. The davit motor raises and lowers the dinghy, but it has to be swiveled off and onto the boat manually. Pulling the whaler back onto the deck when it's hanging off the side and the boat is listing from the weight has always been the problem. I'm simply using the Warn portable electric winch to pull the Whaler back over the deck to a point where the Hatteras begins to lose the list and I can pull the Whaler over the deck chocks by hand. You can see a picture and description of the Warn portable winch by googling it. I apologize if I have misunderstood your request. It will probably be awhile before I launch and retrieve the Whaler again, but when I do I'll try to remember to take some photos of the process.

I had the same problem but used a 20' 1/2 inch line connected at the tip of the hoist. It gives me enough leverage to pull the dinghy in myself. Did you try that before you set up your wench?