C28 - store and launch your dingy

[Porterjh]

We have a Cutwater 28 and it came with a West Marine PRU-28 (8.5’ X 5’) inflatable. We have not used it because I have not found a good way to carry it. We are considering leaving it in its bag and strapping to the swim platform and then inflating it once we get anchored. We want to be able to access some of the islands along the Florida coast that are only accessible by boat.
Any suggestion on how to store and launch your dingy?

 

[SgtAlf]

I keep mine in the center cockpit storage of my R23. I don't know if you have the same. I inflate in the cockpit with the bow over the railing. Takes me 10 minutes from storage to launch.
I use this pump.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KWZCJ59/?c ... _lig_dp_it

 

[scross]

Porterhj,
Why not store it on the aft side of the swim platform rails using davits and stand-off rods? That’s what the factory and most of us do. Just bought a new Zodiac for our C-28 and assembling the necessary Weaver parts right now. The dinghy motor fits on a mount set up on the port side stern rail.
You’ll probably get Takacat fans who store theirs up on the sports rack and such.
And others have just jammed their semi-inflated dinghy’s on the swim platform wedged between the propane locker and swim platform rails and lash it there.

SgtAlf: No center storage cockpit in a C-28 or any other of the inboard diesels.

 

[Porterjh]

I think that I understand what you are suggesting, and it sound like an idea, can you post pictures of your C-28 with the Dinghy rigged when you get it done. I got my C-28 used so I was not able to ask the dealer to help on how to do it.

 

[scross]

Unfortunately the ability to post photos in the photo albums is still broken on this site. If you send me a PM with your email address I can send you some photos I have of other C-28s with davit systems.
Here’s the list of Weaver parts you need for the C-28. Sadly, Weaver products can be pricey.
2 Davit Heads that are Raised and Extended called “Up Set Heads” that are 4” up and 4” aft
2 Rubber Pads for Inflatable Dinghys Product # RP101
2 Stainless Steel Yoke for RP101 PADS Product # RSH120
2 Adjustable Standoff Rods 42”-48” with clips on both ends
1 or 2 Rubber Pads for Stand-Off Brackets Product # RP301 (One pad if you attack the stand-off to the dinghy’s transom or two pads if you attach both pads to the dinghy’s fabric.)
Glue - specific to either your dinghy’s PVC or Hypalon fabric

Hope that helps!

 

[BB marine]

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=48516

This is the set up on my C26 when I owned it. The C26 and C28 inboard are the same except 2' added to the cockpit from the pilot house bulkhead back. Same swim platform, same beam and same port exhaust cut out that causes water to spray up and hit the dinghy when mounted with the weaver davits. The best way to set up the weaver davits is to mount them with a offset to the starboard. This can be seen in my photo. The inflatable tube that has the weaver pads glued to it is the lower tube when mounted. This tube if extended past the hull on the port side will get hit by the spray coming off the exhaust outlet cutout. When cruising at any speed over 12 kts you will get water spraying into the cockpit. When I mounted the Gala I made sure the tube end was flush with the port side hull and the bow of the inflatable hung out past the starboard side. The Bow is high enough that the hull spray on the starboard side of the Cutwater did not hit the inflatable. This made for a much drier ride. The photos in the link will show the offset. I used all Weaver parts but purchased from Weaver. You can purchase them cheaper from Defender. I found this out after my order to Weaver. Weaver told me they sell everything at list price and most of their distributers sell at a discounted price. They would not let me return the items without a restocking fee. Kind of left a bad taste in my mouth!!!! Purchase through a distributer!

 

[scross]

Brian,
Thanks for the tip about mounting the dinghy offset to starboard side. Our new Zodiac is 8’10” (aka 270 cm) so we will have 4” of overhang. Putting all 4” of overhang all on the starboard side shouldn’t be a problem.
We will not be using a winch since the rigid aluminum hull Zodiac is only 82 pounds. That’s a much lighter weight than our former dinghy and should be an easy lift to vertical for me using a boat pole. Another difference is that we have safety rails traversing the aft end of the swim platform that the davit heads need to be positioned around.

 

[BB marine]

The Gala was also a 270 Aluminum Rib 110 lbs. It was doable to pull up but it took everything I had to get it to break the water. once it was out of the water it wasn't bad to lift. The davit really helped. I did have a 9.9 (really 15hp) on the 270 for a season. It was a blast to run around in. 25mph with my wife and I in the boat. The davit was needed for pulling that motor on and off. I down sized to a 6 hp 4 stroke Suzuki and the davit was no longer needed but still nice to have. I sold the davit to a C28 owner when I sold my C26.

The 270 is 8'10" the transom of the Cutwater C26 and C28 is 8'. The 8'6" beam dimension is actually midship. If you look at my photo you can see how much over hang there was on the starboard.


The over hang was 8" this put the end of the transom tube even with the hull on port side.
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=48510&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

The 8" over hang was not an issue, but something to keep in mind when docking.