New Davit Question

[Sadey]

Unfortunately when we purchased Benedetto it did not have a davit. It had been removed at some point however the 4” standpipe remains and is in good condition. I don’t want to be cheap but I don’t want to spend excess money on a davit. I’ve looked at some used davits and one might be a player. It’s an old UMT in great shape that has hydraulic lift and winch capabilities with manual swing. After a UMT referb I’ll have about $8500-9500 in it. I can buy a brand new UMT all manual for roughly the same money. Not sure which way to go. Thoughts? Also should I look at other brands, Marquip or Quicklift? I’m trying to get this taken care of before we leave South Florida. I know it will be easier to handle it here than up in Wisconsin. Don’t have a tender yet and don’t plan to get one until we get north however a 1000 pound capacity should be more then enough or us.

 

[Pascal]

.We have both a nautical structure hydraulic platform and a Nautical Structure Davit on the Lazzara 84 i run and while they are well designed and built their Service is absolutely terrible. It takes multiple emails and calls to get a response

Before that we had a QuickLift on a 70 i was running and it was great. Excellent service and support, well designed.

That said either of these two will be $$$$.

 

[Boatsb]

Sealift and freedom lift make nice options if you want it at the platform.

I deal with them enough to have the owners cell number.

Great people.

PM if you want me to put you in touch with the right people.

 

[Sadey]

I have read that service through Marquip does tend to leave a lot to be desired. One of the reasons I’m leaning towards a new UMT manual davit is it simplicity and service. I have to be in reasonably decent shape at least for the next 12 years as a requirement of my job so physically I can deal. The manual one is less expensive, requires less to install and has less things to go wrong mechanically but will I be sorry I didn’t spend more on a hydraulic davit when I start pushing around a 900 pound dinghy in the wind?

 

[Westfield 11]

The two times our MarQuipt davit needed service MarQuipt was out there after one call and within a couple of days. However they were extraordinarily expensive which is in line with all of their prices. They did fix things first time though. Once for debris in a valve and once to replace the rotation motor.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

If it folds down low, then no problem, but if it sticks up, you will probably have to remove it when you pull off your arch in the Erie. Just a thought in case you want to wait until you're up north so you don't have to mess with it.

I just sold my Nautical Structures davit last year that might have worked well for you. You might want to check those out.

 

[Sadey]

Just got off the phone with the guy from quick lift and dang those are expensive! Funny thing is he said he knew of a used one that happen to be the one that I’m looking at. He’s the guy who removed it from the boat to install a 2000 pound davit. Everything I’m looking at so far is low profile and will be well short of the height of the flybridge. Sky, do you mind if I ask how much you sold your nautical structures one for and what type it was?

 

[Pascal]

Boy do I feel stupid.... I m editing my earlier post to correct Marquipt to Nautical Stuctures !! This is what we have and who s a pain for service. Brain fart... I must have inhaled too much saw dust today building the new foraward head...

 

[dottieshusband]

I've got a manual marquip on my 63. It's just about impossible to retrieve my Whaler except in calm water. I'm on a freshwater lake most of the time, so it's not an issue. But in the Gulf, if the boat starts rocking in the swells, it's very, very, very difficult to swing the David with a 900 lb whaler hanging on it. I tow it the majority of the time.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I had this one.

http://www.nautical-structures.com/davits-cranes,mc-mini-cranes#mc800-102

Sold it for $2500

 

[Sadey]

Darn that’s a great deal.

 

[Sadey]

I’m leaning towards the new UMT. Considering the price of anything hydraulic with the cost of install and the maintenance, the manual crane might be a better setup for me. I like the simplistic nature of the crane and of course the cost of install. Next question, I have a 24volt system and currently have a 110 outlet from the previous davit next to the standpipe. Should I order a 24 or 110 volt crane?

 

[Freeebird]

I’d go 24V in the unlikely event you lose both generators as in bad fuel etc.

 

[Sadey]

That’s what I was leaning towards for the same reasons.

 

[motoryacht lover]

Sadey,

I had a manual UMT installed for about 10 years. It was 120V. UMT is a good company and I liked the davit but it did not age well. I replaced the electric motor atleast once if not twice. The clutch brake was an issue once as well. The “swivel” got stiff as well making it a bit of a fight to swing the dinghy. Got that greased up and it got better. Overtime the openings where you put the big stainless pin in get wallowed out and the “shock absorbers” get weak and it will require 2 people to get the pin in. One to hold he boom up one to stick the pin in. Finally the wire that powers the winch fell from where it was glued and got chewed up by the gears on the winch. Last year went with a steel head fully hydraulic and love it. It has made launch and retrieval much easier. Bullhead Marine in Stuart or Ft Pierce may still have the my old UMT. The owner is a honest straight person who is a pleasure to deal with. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Freeebird]

It just seems to me there should be plenty of these things in salvage yards throughout South Florida and especially the Panama City area after the storm(s).

Electric winches, AC and DC, are easy to come by, and I wonder how much it would cost to have a davit fabricated. It’s absurd what these things sell for new, and I question what it is I’m missing when I look at them. Can anyone tell me what I’m missing?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Can anyone tell me what I’m missing?

Liability

 

[Pascal]

The lifespan of most hydraulic cylinders is around 10 to 13 years... been thru this a few times especially the rotating cylinders. These things aren’t cheap.

The only way a used one is worth it is if it s free or almost free

 

[Westfield 11]

Unless you and your spouse are young and fit or your tender is very light, I would seriously consider a fully powered davit. Pulling a heavy tender “uphill” by hand in any kind of swell is not my idea of fun, if you can do it at all. It may be barely possible when the davit is new and well greases, but it will not get any easier after a year’s exposure to salt spray and mist.

 

[Freeebird]

Maybe a dumb question as I never really looked at mine on the 58, but how difficult is it to remove/replace a basic davit from the stand pipe?