Cutwater 28 Dinghy Options

[MACHZERO]

As soon-to-be new owners of a Cutwater 28LE, we are exploring dinghy options. The typical Weaver Davit carriage is objectionable from a field-of-view standpoint as well as an obstacle for fishing and crabbing activities. We would appreciate comments from any current owners that have chosen the "roll-up dinghy" solution. Second request is for methods in handling the outboard motor installation on and off the dinghy. Even small motors weigh around 30 lbs, and we would like to carry a 6HP motor, typically weighing around 60 lbs. Because of the awkward geometry associated with horsing the motor on and off the dinghy transom, even the 30 lb variety could threaten one's back. We are considering a device by Forespar called a Motor Mate. Have any current owners installed such a device? Third request...the 6HP motor would represent a "get-home engine" should the main propulsion fail for any reason. It seems the capability can be had by installing a secondary motor mount on the swim platform. A recent experience on a friend's boat while fishing in the Straits of Juan de Fuca drives the last request. His main engine quit and if it were not for his trolling kicker, we would have gone to China.

 

[pleeson]

There is a bracket to install on the swim platform permanently, and a slide in motor mount for it that you can stow below the cockpit. Fluid Motion or the dealer can hook you up. As for the outboard I use a 6 HP 4 strike that stores behind the cockpit rail on a permanent mount, and have a cable attached that is the first thing to hook to the dinghy, before taking it off the storage mount and transferring it to the dinghy, with the reverse procedure to move it back to storage. You might want to consider a two stroke for weight reasons. I don't use a hoist or anything but I can see the day when the 4 stroke will be too much to handle. Maybe with a 2 stroke you'd want a prop change to focus on power rather than speed if it's also main power plant back-up?

 

[MACHZERO]

Pleeson:

Thank you for your response.

I'm confident the approach will work, but I'm hoping to get comments from owners that may have already implemented them.

I'm aware of the tether technique, which provides for the salt water recovery of a "oops" motor, but I'm looking for a more controlled transition to the transom. I'm surprised your manual transition of a 60 lb motor doesn't create a problem due to the awkwardness of reaching backward over the transom. One could use a video of the event to illustrate "How not to protect your back". "Lift with your legs" just doesn't work.

It doesn't sound like you have a secondary motor mount on the swim step, but everything else is in place to provide a modest "get home engine" capability.

As for considering a two-cycle, I've spent too many hours with these temperamental monsters to go back.

 

[pleeson]

See earlier comments - I do have the permanent "receiver" for the slide in motor mount installed at the rear of my swim platform. It's not too intrusive as long as you watch your bare feet on the stainless steel edges. When transferring the motor to the dinghy from the storage mount behind the cockpit rail I bring the dinghy around to the same side of the swim step and tie it off. I can then stand with one foot in the dinghy and one on the swim deck - not too bad but moving it in rough seas or onto the emergency mount installed aft of the swim deck would be interesting in a rough spot - I see your interest in a davit of some type. As for the 2 stroke option, I would hope the new models, though limited now, would be somewhat superior to the units of my lapsing memory... Let us know if you find an unobtrusive davit system with simple mounting.

 

[MACHZERO]

Pleeson:
My mistake, I thought you were describing "what could be done" with regards to a secondary motor mount, rather than what you have already done. Hopefully you have evaluated it's effectiveness as a "get home" option. How does it do? Can you waterski in this configuration? (just kidding) Is a long shaft motor required, or will a short shaft work?
Unless I'm missing something, the only dinghy davit option available is the Weaver, which creates the objections previously listed. We're leaning toward the roll-up inflatable approach, but wanted to check with current owners that went that way to see if they experienced unforeseen pitfalls. We are willing to sacrifice convenience to avoid the personally perceived problems created by the Weaver installation.
If I might ask, what 6 HP motor did you choose? We are leaning toward the Tohatsu, but would appreciate any comments you can provide.
Thanks for the detailed description of your motor-dinghy transition. I suspect you are a lot younger than I. I'm currently free of back problems, but have enough friends dealing with it to know I don't want any part of it. An easy question to answer is "if I have a problem, can my wife fill-in"? The Motor Mate is around $450 at Fisheries, which is not incidental, but then it could go a long way toward avoiding doctor bills. I'm hoping some owner is already using one for the same reason I'm seeking information on the inflatable dinghy approach.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

There are other davit options out there. Some that store the dingy horizontally. There are links on other dingy posts on here. . Have a search up top. I think la Conner maritime does one but there are others

Also with the weaver system you can get a articulating arm with the mount that swings the motor from vertical to on the dingy as its lowered. Think the weaver website has details.

To be honest I looked at this for my Cutwater and it struck me as just too heavy. The boat is not a heavy displacement boat and putting 300lbs hanging out back is not ideal for performance or fuel economy.

My conclusion was a 7'10 aluminum rib from Achilles with a 57lb 6hp outboard.

There is also the takacat from New Zealand that looks like an interesting option for keeping weight low

Many people do kayaks on the roof instead with a variety of raising devices.

When I ran a survey a few weeks ago of tugnut owners many were still using the standard factory offering.

 

[S. Todd]

We have a Zodiac 230 Aero. It has an inflatable floor so that it rolls up for storage and transportation. It is usually over 250 miles to the launch ramp and rolled up it nicely fits in the back of the truck. If we don't have immediate plans to use it, it rides in the cockpit on our R25SC rolled up. It inflates in relatively short order with the standard bellows foot pump. Once we blow it up we often leave it up until the end of the trip. When we are cruising we just turn it upside down and slide it stern first into the cockpit leaving the bow hanging over the rails on the stern. Takes less than a minute to put it back into the water and tie it to the cleats on the swim platform once we get to a marina or anchorage. For propulsion I use the oars. Saves me from having to deal with the motor, the registration, and taxes for another powered vessel. The inflatable kayaks get treated the same, but the Labradoodle got too big for the kayak, so thus the Zodiac. We stayed small with the inflatable dinghy for weight reasons when rolled up. I prefer the inflatable floor dinghy to the slated or sectional floor models that also roll up (had one and the inflatable floor is much easier to deal with). If you do not go with a solid hull dinghy, I think it is best to figure your dingy is a displacement type hull rather than a planning hull so you can go small with your motor option and stay light.

 

[MACHZERO]

Concur on the weight/aft CG issue...also a horizontally stored dinghy still doesn't get it out of the way.
A 9ft 6in Achilles inflatable weighs in at 77 lbs and also allows storage options as far forward as one can find a place for it.
The Motor Mate removes for storage and weighs in at 7 lbs. I'm just trying to get confirmation that it works as advertised. If any owners have never had the pleasure of boarding a wet labrador, as long as you have a harness on him, it would work well for that.

 

[MACHZERO]

S. Todd:

I should have mentioned that my research indicates an inflatable floor is the only way to go.

Going with a smaller 4 stroke doesn't solve the motor transition problem...they still weigh 30 lbs.

The attraction of the 6 HP is a modest "get home" engine capability. I know, I know, today's power plants are very reliable. I flew tactical airplanes for 30 years and everyone of them had an ejection seat. The reliability of the airplanes was evidenced by the fact I never had to use one, but I "wouldn't have left home without it". Many friends were thankful they exercised the same philosophy. That's how I feel about a "get home" capability.