New dinghy and davits for our 2014 R31

[barling]

This morning I broke out our ten year old dinghy in preparation for our six week cruise, only to find seams had separated at the bow.....so it is trash. We are now seeking imput on a new dinghy and davits. I don't want one too wide, so as to not interfere with docking. I would like to keep the stern railing and the ready access on and off the boat. I'm also not a fan of the dinghy blocking the stern view, but that may be something I have to give up. I saw a new 29 with a dinghy parallel to the water, but I didn't get to see who's dinghy it was....but that probably would allow marinas to charge me extra. I'm seeking your advice to avoid the problems you may have encountered. Oh....I would like to do this ASAP so we can move out to our special anchorages Thank you

 

[BB marine]

We had a Gala A270 Aluminum hull Rib 8'10" using weaver davits. I sold that and now have the same boat F270A but it has a high pressure floor it is 60 pounds lighter. Both are well made boats. There is a dealer in Racine Wisconsin Riverside marine they have several in stock. The Gala inflatables are well made. I had a 9.9 Mercury on the aluminum hull the boat would plane easily with 2 passengers. I now have a new Suzuki 6hp 4 stroke it will plane the A270 with one passenger. Very light and economical to operate.
photos below.

 

[barling]

Thank you, Brian, for your response. I like the light weight of the air floor, but I'm wondering if they still leak. What were your thoughts about your removing the stern rails and the stability rods being in the way of getting on and off the boat? Is there some way of attaching the rods or lines as you get underway or are they really needed when there is rough water in a slip or at anchor. At the present time I still like to stern rail. Also, I always seek a slip or anchorage where there is a good view off the stern. Sure, I know there are plus and minus to most everything, but.....just some of my thoughts; not being critical of what you have done.

 

[barling]

I meant to add I like the inflatable keel, also.

 

[503west]

I have a new pair of the 4 up and 4 out weaver davits with standoffs and all other accessories. please contact me if you would be interested. Steve slh@vtgraph.com

 

[BB marine]

Thank you, Brian, for your response. I like the light weight of the air floor, but I'm wondering if they still leak. What were your thoughts about your removing the stern rails and the stability rods being in the way of getting on and off the boat? Is there some way of attaching the rods or lines as you get underway or are they really needed when there is rough water in a slip or at anchor. At the present time I still like to stern rail. Also, I always seek a slip or anchorage where there is a good view off the stern. Sure, I know there are plus and minus to most everything, but.....just some of my thoughts; not being critical of what you have done.

The air floor is rated at 10psi the keel and 3 tube air chambers are rated for 4psi. The newer inflatables have much better seam attachments compared to old technology. Will it leak ? Maybe, I have had mine set up for 6 weeks and have not added any air to the Keel.floor or tube chambers. I use the 4" raise and 4" out weaver. I have the standoffs set up that I can keep the boat vertical on the swim platform. If we are not using the inflatable and are at a dock I remove one of the standoffs so we can use the swim platform. I have a grill that is mounted to a stern rail and I cook on the platform with the dingy vertical. If I am bow into a dock I just drop the dingy down so stern view is not obstructed. I have no stern rails. I didn't remove them. If I had them I would have it set up so while at the dock the boat would be held up by the rails to give full access of platform .Under way I would still attach the standoffs. I have another set of brackets that I attach the standoffs to while under way. This lowers the inflatable giving me better stern watch. The R31 would not be near as bad as my C26 for stern view. The advantage of the roll up verse the RIB for me is when we are traveling to a destination we do not use the dinghy that much. I can roll it up and carry it on the pilot house. When we get to the area of destination and anchorages. I unroll it and blow it up. I have a high-pressure auto pump that plugs into a 12V receptical in the cockpit (I use a Down rigger circuit to power the receptical) It takes 10 minutes from unfolding and blowing up the boat.It is then attached to the weavers for easy retrieval. The foldable being light is very easy to pull up or set in the water. We also feel confident that it would be a good life raft. I have a davit also installed for lifting/lowering the engine. I have a 6 hp Suzuki weighs 53lbs. I have photos of this in my album. There are advances of both style RIB or inflatable. I had the RIB and liked it. The disadvantage is weight and portability. It is always back there when cruising and trailering. The foldable is lighter, compact, but you must be careful when dragging it up on a beach. Honestly I was careful when dragging the RIB on a beach too.

 

[barling]

Did you do the Weaver patch attachments? I think i would have to be careful with the placement of the patches and the attachments to the stern. Did you do the attachments to the stern and is it possible to attach the raiser and extender while the boat is in the water? With your explanation I'm more likely to do the Weaver instead of a Kato, where the dinghy lays parallel to the water. I have spoken with your Racine Gala person and he will add a 270A to his order where it "may' come in about a week+. Thanks.

 

[barling]

Could you tell me what Weaver davit I need and what the raiser and extender should be. Maybe someone with a 31 will speak up. I seem to have read that Defender has a better price, but they will not provide the raiser and extender?? Thanks.

 

[BB marine]

Did you do the Weaver patch attachments? I think i would have to be careful with the placement of the patches and the attachments to the stern. Did you do the attachments to the stern and is it possible to attach the raiser and extender while the boat is in the water? With your explanation I'm more likely to do the Weaver instead of a Kato, where the dinghy lays parallel to the water. I have spoken with your Racine Gala person and he will add a 270A to his order where it "may' come in about a week+. Thanks.

Yes I did the install of Weaver rubber pads for the both snap davits and stand off's. It must be done exactly as the directions state. The issue with doing it now as you are leaving on a trip is you must not use the weaver system for 3 or 4 days minimum so the glue can completely cure. This will give you a much better chance of good adhesion. I have done several applications with good success. I contribute that to following the directions and not using the weaver pads immediately after they have been installed. it is important to wait for the glue to cure.

Call Weaver direct. Tell the customer service rep at Weaver what Ranger model you have. He will tell you all parts needed. Make the list of parts numbers. Order the 4" up 4" out Davit heads from Weaver because he will have them in stock. Purchase the rest of the parts from defender including the glue kit. You will save about $200.00 if you purchase from defender compared to purchasing direct from Weaver. I know this because I purchased everything from Weaver and then found out factory direct prices are suggested retail price. Most online distributors discount the suggested retail price.

I have the set up dimensions drawing for my C26 Location on the swim platform for the Davit heads. I have the rubber pad for both the snap pads and standoffs locations for the F270A. I can email them to you if you like. You can then measure your platform to see if the Davit head spacing will work on your platform making sure it is centered properly. You will have more adjustment room because your swim platform is much wider than mine. Once you know if this installation will work. It would allow you to have the inflatable dealer install the Weaver pads professionally based on the drawings. If a R31 owner has drawings and dimensions that would be even better.

 

[Bobby P.]

I just recently installed the Weaver davits on my R31CB. I have a 9' Rib and a 9.9 Suzuki. I also installed a "crane" , same as Brian (BB) did. You should take a look at his pictures. The crane was less than $400 and is a great addition. I have SS stanchions, so I went with the 4" up and out brackets. Love the system, easy to deploy, etc. Happy to answer any questions. Would post pics, but I don't know how. Happy to talk by phone as well.

Best,
Bobby

 

[barling]

I have been on the phone with Weaver and have the parts number and their prices. I then called Defender and started telling them of the what they call the part numbers and related them to the Defender rep and he said he didn't know what I was talking about. End of conversation as he didn't know what I was talking about. The complete list of prices from Defender was $1078.27. ( I did not include the $380.71 winch) For example, Weaver said the RBD 100 was $436.18, but if you wanted the 4 inch out and 4 inch up, it would be an additional $137.35) the Quick kid was $120.84, the Sand off SOA42/48 with CBE(clips on both ends), was $217.42, stand off pads RP304(need 2) were $31.24 each, and the MIK kit was $63.75, for a total of $1078.27. I told the Defender rep that if he didn't know what I was talking about, I would have to buy from Weaver. End of conversation. How do I save $ with that?

 

[Bobby P.]

You should post a separate post seeking these parts. I know someone who has a few and you can save some $$. And there are others...

PM me if you are interested in the winch. I have a brand new one. Never even opened the packaging.

Best,
Bobby

 

[barling]

Hi BobbyP,

As you have been following the conversation between Brian Brown and I, you would see it would be of great benefit to me to receive your drawings and dimensions for the placment of the Weaver pads and stand offs. We have a 2014 Ranger 31S.

Where did you buy your Weaver parts; from Weaver or Defender. I would suppose Defender would be less expensive, but from our conversation I set out in my previous conversation, Defender didn't know what I was talking about, when it came to the parts for our R31.

I had been also talking with Kato Marine for davits but their cost would be $3,411 vs Weaver's cost of $1078.27......so scratch Kato. I had a Kato previously on a Florida sailboat, which worked well and would place the dinghy parallel with the water......but scratch Kato.

Now my decision is a Zodiac Cadet 270 with aluminum slates for a floor at $1749, which is presently available two and a half hours away; or the Gala 270A with pressurized floor and an inflatable keel at a cost of $1366.00, plus the cost and time to drive to Racine, Wisconsin from Frankfort, Michigan, a six hour drive. The Racine dealer said he would add it to an order today and it "should" be there in 7+ days. My look and knowledge of the Gala from Brian seems to tell me the Gala is a much better boat, at a savings of $500. The Gala 270A is ordered and the order to Weaver will go soon, if I can't figure out a way to be sure the necessary parts set out by Weaver, can't be ordered from Defender, without problems, for less.???

 

[barling]

Hello Brian,

I thankfully accept your offer to email any assistance to install the rubber pad for both the snap pads and the standoff location for the F270A. Hopefully the Gala will timely arrive as the Racine company ordered my F270A, and others, this morning from the warehouse in Canada. My reviewing your information will place me ahead of the process. We will be driving about six hours to pick up the Gala. Our Chrysler Pacifica should provide sufficient room for its transportation.

I will follow your advice about the harding of the PVC gluing.

I have not yet ordered the Weaver yet, so any advice to save some dollars are great appreciated as the Defender rep was not helpful. I'll try another rep tomorrow.

Others, who may read this, are invited to provide any assistance as our boat dollars are to be saved.

Thank you, and everyone, again.

John Berlin

 

[barling]

Brian, My name is John Berlin and my email address is barling1@benzie.com. My cell phone is 231 590 0733

Thanks, John

 

[barling]

Brian, I noted the bow of your dinghy seems to extend at or beyond the starboard border of your boat. Bobby P called and explained why that is.....that the heavy spray from the R31 at speed hits the stern of the dinghy hard. Since the bow on the dinghy sitting to starboard sits higher, the dinghy can sit closer to the starboard edge of the dinghy, to reduce the hard spray on the stern of the dinghy. This was an interesting learn.

 

[barling]

Brian, I noted the bow of your dinghy seems to extend at or beyond the starboard border of your boat. Bobby P called and explained why that is.....that the heavy spray from the R31 at speed hits the stern of the dinghy hard. Since the bow on the dinghy sitting to starboard sits higher, the dinghy can sit closer to the starboard edge of the dinghy, to reduce the hard spray on the stern of the dinghy. This was an interesting learn.

 

[BB marine]

Brian, I noted the bow of your dinghy seems to extend at or beyond the starboard border of your boat. Bobby P called and explained why that is.....that the heavy spray from the R31 at speed hits the stern of the dinghy hard. Since the bow on the dinghy sitting to starboard sits higher, the dinghy can sit closer to the starboard edge of the dinghy, to reduce the hard spray on the stern of the dinghy. This was an interesting learn.

On the C26 with the Gala 270 this off set was needed. The stern of the C26 is 8' wide and the Gala 270 is 8'10" long so there is going to be a 10" overhang. I have the stern side of dinghy hanging past the hull 2.5" and the bow is 7" For the reason Bobby P stated. This will not be an issue with the R31 270 model 8' 10" .The standard dinghy for R31 is a 290 model is 9'6" so with the 290 model used with the R31 the offset will help.

I will email my dimensions and call you today.