HonuKai
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2009
- Messages
- 28
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-288 C
- Hull Identification Number
- 34
- Vessel Name
- Kohola
I will be mounting the dingy on my swim platform with some weaver hardshell davits. This is a pretty common method up here in the Northwest. A few of the pros and cons are it will be easy to put on and take off, the boat with dingy mounted will be a little longer, the rear sightline is going to become a bit more obscured, the outboard will have to be mounted and unmounted (I have a honda 2hp), the swimstep will be less useful (or maybe not at all useful) for boarding.
One thing to consider is weight on the swim platform. I saw 1 R25 with a heavy dingy that caused the swim platform to bend a considerable amount - hard to say exactly how much, but it was easily noticeable. The dingy was a livingston, not sure how much they weight, but the Polliwog should come in at about 65 lbs or so. If I see any deflection at all, I'll reinforce the platform. I think the real problem here, is the stanchions are a little too short.
I talked to Sam Devlin before starting, he said the thing that happens to some of these homebuilts is the beam isn't wide enough - he suggests to keep the spreader in until after the gunwales are attached - this means you need to attach the spreader a little low on the side boards. Still, I think when I remove the spreader (only 1 required), the beam will spring back even after the gunwales are in.
Another thing is to be careful when wiring the panels together up by the bow - when you spread the bottom and attach the sides, the bottom bow wires will tend to rip out of their holes. I suggest drilling the holes a little further from the edge for the first 3 or 4 sets of holes in the bow - maybe 1/2" or even 5/8" instead of 3/8".
When spreading fillets, use a piece of plastic as a squeegee to get the proper radius. For epoxy coating, I like to pour unthickened epoxy on in sections and spread it with a paint roller.
Get Devlin's book. Lots of good ideas in there.
One thing to consider is weight on the swim platform. I saw 1 R25 with a heavy dingy that caused the swim platform to bend a considerable amount - hard to say exactly how much, but it was easily noticeable. The dingy was a livingston, not sure how much they weight, but the Polliwog should come in at about 65 lbs or so. If I see any deflection at all, I'll reinforce the platform. I think the real problem here, is the stanchions are a little too short.
I talked to Sam Devlin before starting, he said the thing that happens to some of these homebuilts is the beam isn't wide enough - he suggests to keep the spreader in until after the gunwales are attached - this means you need to attach the spreader a little low on the side boards. Still, I think when I remove the spreader (only 1 required), the beam will spring back even after the gunwales are in.
Another thing is to be careful when wiring the panels together up by the bow - when you spread the bottom and attach the sides, the bottom bow wires will tend to rip out of their holes. I suggest drilling the holes a little further from the edge for the first 3 or 4 sets of holes in the bow - maybe 1/2" or even 5/8" instead of 3/8".
When spreading fillets, use a piece of plastic as a squeegee to get the proper radius. For epoxy coating, I like to pour unthickened epoxy on in sections and spread it with a paint roller.
Get Devlin's book. Lots of good ideas in there.
