Mounting Dinghy on 1973 43' DCMY

[Bill Root]

Here I am back for more advice.

I'm into the final stages of preparing Tucandu to begin the Great Loop in April. I will need to use a dinghy frequently on the journey, so have purchased a 10" rigid bottom inflatable with a 9.9 hp Yamaha. I need to determine how best to mount it. The motor is too heavy to put on/take off every time I want to use it, so whatever I do will require the ability to leave the motor on the dinghy.

I've looked at most all the davit and motor mount systems available on the web, but since they are all pretty pricey, I don't want to make a mistake by getting something that doesn't work on my boat configuration. The swim platform boarding ladder is on the port side of the aft deck.

Any advice about what works/doesn't work on the 43 DCMY would be much appreciated.

 

[eze2bme]

My 1979 43DC has St. Croix davits mounted at the transom and I carry a 12 foot Zeppelin RIB with 9.8 Nissan. My davits are the larger version (St. Croix makes two versions) and easily handles the RIB. The davits are also removable. Send me an email (eze2bme@aol.com) if you want some pictures.
Tom

 

[spartonboat1]

My 1979 43DC has St. Croix davits mounted at the transom and I carry a 12 foot Zeppelin RIB with 9.8 Nissan. My davits are the larger version (St. Croix makes two versions) and easily handles the RIB. The davits are also removable. Send me an email (eze2bme@aol.com) if you want some pictures.
Tom

My vote is for above, as I have the Weaver hard shell dingy brackets on my 43' MY and its very cumbersome to launch and retrieve. I have the St. Croix brackets installed, but haven't sprung for the davits quite yet.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Bill,

Do you have a flybridge or hardtop?

I have a 13' Boston Whaler with a 30 hp Yamaha on top of my hardtop....

And the reason I went this way??????..........................................


It's how the Hatteras was when I bought her. :}

Go to my website and you can see pics of the boat...

The one downside of this setup is, if there's a decent chop when I am pulling the Whaler up, it can bounce around a bit...

 

[motoryacht lover]

I used to own a 1987 42 Bertram MY and I had a Roskelly Ollson transomfork. I had a 10' hard bottorm Avon with an 18 hp Nissan. I believe the 1000lb unit was $5000 and the install about $1200. I really liked the setup and Roskelly Ollson is in my experience a reputable outfit. Email me back if you want more info. Also they have smaller/cheaper sizes if you don't need a 1000lbs and the sell factory reconditioned units as well.

 

[richard collette]

I used to own a 1987 42 Bertram MY and I had a Roskelly Ollson transomfork. I had a 10' hard bottorm Avon with an 18 hp Nissan. I believe the 1000lb unit was $5000 and the install about $1200. I really liked the setup and Roskelly Ollson is in my experience a reputable outfit. Email me back if you want more info. Also they have smaller/cheaper sizes if you don't need a 1000lbs and the sell factory reconditioned units as well.

What is their address or EMAIL? thanks--Richard

 

[sgharford]

Old thread - but thought I would add an update. I'm looking into installing davits on my 1976 43DC this season. I called St Croix to ask their recommendation for my boat. Fella I was talking to wasn't all that familiar with 43 DC, but said the owner (Bill) would be. He gave me Bill's cell phone number and told me to call him. Bill knew exactly what my boat looked like and said they had installed several davits on 43DC. He said you don't want to mess with the removable davits like 300 or 500 series - it's too big a pia to mount. Another member shot me a photo of these mounted on his 43DC and I wasn't crazy about the look either. Bill recommended the Rotating Davits with Platform Mounts. Said this was best configuration he's seen for our boats as it will hold dinghy completely off swim platform so you can still use it to board the boat. Probably going this route - thought I would pass on for future readers investigating options. Oh, and 2 thumbs up for customer service at St Croix!

 

[roundIII]

I have a 1988 40 MY, 10.5 Avon and 15 HP Yamaha mounted on the bow with a Marquipt 600 lb. davit. Just as the SF usually mount them. IMO best way to go as it it easy to use, no climbing on the top and no problems with the swim platform/transom mounts. The only sacrifice you make is the space on the bow. There is space to walk around the front of the dinghy. If you use your dinghy a lot as we do then you can appreciate this type of mount, especially on a windy day.

RR

 

[Beckytek]

I have a 1988 40 MY, 10.5 Avon and 15 HP Yamaha mounted on the bow with a Marquipt 600 lb. davit. Just as the SF usually mount them. IMO best way to go as it it easy to use, no climbing on the top and no problems with the swim platform/transom mounts. The only sacrifice you make is the space on the bow. There is space to walk around the front of the dinghy. If you use your dinghy a lot as we do then you can appreciate this type of mount, especially on a windy day.

RR

Do you have any pictures of your set-up? I'm looking at doing the same thing. I don't like it hanging from the transom. Ron

 

[TopHattandTails]

How about a hydraulic swim platform? By the time you buy a crane, chocks, and mount that crane through the bow and into valuable living space, price won't be much different. I've used a hydraulic platform for dinks, and jet ski's - love it. Never been a fan of gunking up the lines of a good looking SF with a bow mount. Plus its just plain dangerous (IMHO). Ever seen what blue water over the bow does to a bow mounted dink and a eisenglass bridge? Pipe welders makes some great lift platforms (but order early, you'll wait for it!).

 

[jmencel]

I too am looking at davits for my loop trip starting in August. I have a 10' RIB with 9.9 outboard. After looking at some friends setups I am tending towards Hurley Davits mounted on my swim platform.

http://www.hurleymarine.com/davit2.html

In chatting with others, these types of systems are ok with soft bottom dingies, but RIBs are almost impossible to pull up with the engine mounted unless you have 2 people. I'm planning to mount a winch somewhere to help me out if I am doing this by myself.

Anyone else have any thoughts on davits of this design?

 

[Will]

Can anyone provide some photos of St Croix options on a 43'DC?
Thanks - Will

 

[sgharford]

I don't have picture of St Croix Rotating Davit specifically on 43DC, but here is link to what it looks like in general: http://www.davit.com/rotating.html

A forum member PM'd me the St Croix Removable davits (http://www.davit.com/removabl.html) on his 43DC a few years ago (this has been a long time in the making). To me, it looked kinda goofy having your dinghy suspended 5' off the water over swim platform. I don't want to raise the center of gravity more than it already is as I have Fly Bridge model.

So what a pisser - I get off phone with Bill, owner of St Croix, who recommends Rotating Davit a few days back. Check out St Croix on ebay and son of gun, the only one on there is the model 400 with model 401 swim platform brackets (exactly what I need)! They are literarily like new, made an offer and got for about half price. Maybe use that extra boat buck towards a RIB instead of roll up floor dinghy.

 

[Timeout]

I'm not ready to do this yet, but based on my research, I'd go with something like this for a 43DC: http://www.nickjacksonco.com/transom.htm

 

[motoryacht lover]

The nick jackson davit is very similiar to the Roskelly Olsen transomfork that I had on my 1987 42 Bertram MY which is very similiar to the 43 DC. I liked the unit and had no problems over 5 years or so with a 10' RIB with an 18 OB. Had it in some fairly rough water during that time and it rode well. With it being up high it is less likely to get swamped than if it was lower. It did make access to the swim platform more difficult and if you wanted to cross your stern lines with the dinghy stored that was an issue. You could install some stern cleats on the swim platform to help with that issue. Overall if I had a flush deck MY again I would go with that setup again or if I felt comfortable spending the money maybe a hydraulic dinghy lift swim platform.

 

[Dan Mapes]

We have a 1985 43 MY. The dink is on the transom and it's a PITA. Why? Because more often than not you want to back into a slip and that punts you out another 8 feet from the dock.
But, it keeps the CG low.
However, it flops around in 4-6 on the Gulf Stream and yes, the Great Lakes. If I had the choice, I'd put it up on the aft deck lid, but that raises the CG. Putting it on the bow is not a wise idea either (on our boat anyway).
If the dink total weight is under 500 perhaps over the aft deck is best. Or, you need folding davits so you can back in.

 

[sgharford]

Thought I would post pictures of St Croix davits on 1976 43DCFB I installed over winter. Engine is stuck in down position due to rear sling which brings it closer to water then I would like. Gonna work on modifying slings to get 'er up another 15 inches or so. Super easy to launch and retrieve, and still enough room on swim platform to get on and off the boat when not at my dock with permanent stairs. No complaints.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Get rid of the stern bridle and rig a spreader bar.... yer welcome! ;-)) ws

 

[sgharford]

Yes Sir, and Thank You. I was thinking the St Croix Lifting Yoke for rear (http://www.davit.com/220popup-LiftYoke.html), not only lowers the point of lifting but hopefully allow me to tilt engine up. I need to take measurements and confirm. For the front I have to price out the St Croix spreader bar (http://www.davit.com/244-248popup-StrongBack.html) or look into making my own. At the moment I'm favoring making my own as I want the front to be higher then rear for drainage purposes and the shackles included with theirs are taking away from that.

I’m all ears if anybody has a suggestion on lowering lifting points.