Swim Platform railing, dingy, weaver and dingy recommendatio

S

Sealeggs

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2016
Messages
57
Fluid Motion Model
C-26
Hull Identification Number
Fmlr2521a414
Vessel Name
SeaLeggs
On our ranger 25 sc we recently purchased oBviously the previous owner had a dingy because the weaver davits are mounted to swim platform. The unusual part is they are mounted on top of two blocks of wood which in turn are mounted to swim platform. Any good reason or purpose or should we remount directly to platform?? In addition does adding the swim platform railing hav any negative results?? Affect the weaver set up?? While we are at it, recommendations for dingy? Brand?
Thanks for everyones help. Bob
 
There could be several reasons for the blocks.

Reason 1) To set the correct height for connecting/disconnecting the dink from a floating position. The appropriate height depends on the corresponding mounting position of the eyes on the dink. The previous owner may have had to raise the connection on the swim grid to match the eyes on the dink. Weaver makes a set that are 4" above the grid for this purpose.

Reason 2) They may have had problems with water spray and did this as a solution. However, not the correct height per reason one above this would create a problem Connecting and disconnecting the floating dinghy.

Pick out your desired Dinghy first, then you can decide what to do for the mounts to get the correct height.

We have swim rails and the 4" weaver Davits and the factory RIB. It works fine. We use two additional lifting straps to stabilize the dink and eliminate the spray.
 
We are about to purchase an R27 (deposit put down in Oct). We are considering the Portland Pudgy http://www.portlandpudgy.com

We have found that there are a number of Tugnuts that have these. There are weaver Davies made just for the tug to Pudgy application and there are a few photos on this site. Prices are about the same as a good inflatable.

The reason we are considering the Pudgy is our history of inflatables letting us down. Seams come apart and pin holes happen. The Pudgy will be good to go as long as it is still attached to the tug.

There are also a number of add ons for the Pudgy like sails, electrics and a life raft kit.

Like said, we are considering the Pudgy, but we haven't purchased it yet. We would love to hear what you go with and from anyone else that has gone with the Pudgy.

Bryan
 
For an inflatible there is some flexibility with davit height with regards to floating on and off the mounts. Likely raised to reduce the amount of wake spray entering the dinghy at certain cruising speeds. We had to take our davits to a welding shop and add a section in the middle to raise the dinghy appropriately - nicer than blocks.
 
Red Fury":20ai95w3 said:
We are about to purchase an R27 (deposit put down in Oct). We are considering the Portland Pudgy http://www.portlandpudgy.com

We have found that there are a number of Tugnuts that have these. There are weaver Davies made just for the tug to Pudgy application and there are a few photos on this site. Prices are about the same as a good inflatable.

The reason we are considering the Pudgy is our history of inflatables letting us down. Seams come apart and pin holes happen. The Pudgy will be good to go as long as it is still attached to the tug.

There are also a number of add ons for the Pudgy like sails, electrics and a life raft kit.

Like said, we are considering the Pudgy, but we haven't purchased it yet. We would love to hear what you go with and from anyone else that has gone with the Pudgy.

Bryan
Click to expand...
The only cons on the dingy is weight and the difficulty of storage when towing if you do not leave it set up. Other then that it is great for all the reasons you stated and it is very stable.
 
We are starting the loop later this year in our R25SC and want a dinghy. We want to stay away from inflatables (deflatables?) and go with a Walker Bay or Fatty Knees. To avoid the overhang - the dinghy sticking out past the sides of the boat - I am considering putting the davits on the dinghy transom and having it hoisted so that it is standing on its transom. This way I can have a little larger dinghy. I have a King Canvas bimini that is quite robust and can use the aft support for hoisting with a block and tackle and then secure the dinghy to the aft rail.

Other than possible rearward vision issues (but rearward vision is pretty bad already), I cannot see any pitfalls with this, but I have never seen it done this way.

Whaddya think? What am I missing?

TK
 
I think you may be sorry. Once you start your trip and if it does not work out, then what do you do. Unless you plan on anchoring out a lot I would go inflatable, especially if you don't have a dog. The east coast and the loop are quite different than the PNW. You will never have to stern tie. I can only think of twice when I did on the Tennessee and the Tom Bigbee and there were options to anchor somewhere else. I never had an issue with overhang on my 8'-6" inflatable dingy. And storage when deflated was easy. Worse case scenario, I would tow the Walker Bay of Fatty Knees behind you.
 
I tend to agree with Mike. However if this is the way you ultimately decide to go you should consult with Walker and or Fatty Knees. Ask them what there professional opinion would be on your suggested dinghy install, especially how it may or may not affect the dinghy transom.

Jim F
 
I think rearward vision with a dinghy mounted on its stern would be quite a bit worse than the regular mount. With our RIB on the weaver Davits I can see over the top of the dinghy to see what is behind me. This is especially true while underway at higher speeds as the boat is bow up and the stern drops down. Rear visibility is only an issue in very tight spaces (usually while docking) and even then it is not too bad. With a 9' to 10' boat sticking up you wouldn't be able to see over it at all.
 
if the wind gets up, its seems like a disaster waiting to happen. you basically have a sail up!
 
I considered the wind issue, but figured that dinghy would be pretty much in the wind shadow of the Bimini and pilothouse. Worst come to worst, maybe tow it.

We live on a lake and would be using the dinghy as a day-sailer during the non-loop times. We also plan to do some of the large Canadian lakes after the loop. There is also an Alaska trip in the bucket, or at least some PNW cruising.

I hesitate to be limited to a shorter dinghy to avoid substantial athwartships overhangs, which would be problematic in a lock.

As far as rearward vision, I pretty much use my side-mirrors to see behind me. I have one mounted on each side and they work well.

We are talking to the Fatty Knees folks about placing the davits on the outboard corners of dinghy transom. have not talked with the Walker folks yet, but maybe headed that way given the cost (value) of the Fatty....

TK
 
Just look at the stats. I never saw anyone with their dingy mounted up. Not that thinking out of the box never works, but in this case I would consider the norm. Also, boating as is life, there is always a compromise. I would sacrifice a bigger dingy for a smaller one and mount the conventional way or go slow and tow the walker bay. However towing has its drawbacks as well.
 
Yup....I have looked and looked and never seen (or heard) of a dinghy mounted "up." You are so right about thinking out of the box...sometimes it works, sometimes not, but is mostly (sometimes?) worth the effort.

I kinda figured that if it had indeed been done, someone on this forum would know about it, and if not, probably because of the pitfalls that I could not see with my lack of experience in this area.

I reality, we are probably gonna start the loop sans-dinghy and assess the need en-route. There will undoubtedly be lots of places on the way that sell them and could do the davit installation.

Thanks to all for the guidance and wisdom.

TK
 
I have an 8'-6" inflatable and torqeedo. Never got davits. When I use it and it is inflated I am able to lash it to the swim platform using the end cleats and ratchet straps. Never had an issue. We have cruised a lot with other boaters and found the preference to dingy to one another's boats for dinner etc. when anchored out. Most of the time (our own preference and experience), while doing the loop we always got by without having to use the dingy. The PNW is a different story, a dingy is a must have. Best advice, cruise with FWD (friends with dingys) :lol:
 
We love our Portland Pudgy. Honesty, I have no idea why people choose inflatables - they WILL leak and require maintenance. The Portland Pudgy is virtually maintenance free. We have a sail kit for ours and it sails great. We also use a Torqeedo electric outboard - performance is outstanding. It's a very stable and sturdy boat with built in storage for oars and other equipment. It's a no brainer.
 
I looked into the Fatty Knees when I first got a tug. They are beautiful, superbly made and you can sail them. BUT, when it came to davits the swim platform (I had an R25 then) was too small and would require extended davits on the dinghy, ruining its good looks with scaffolding. I reluctantly decided to go practical and get a small inflatable - yes, it does have a leak. I had a Walker Bay some years ago and found it very unstable and weight sensitive. Maybe the Pudgy is the best compromise! I would definitely start there if I could do it again.
 
The Shearwater is fitted with Weaver Davits and a Walker Bay equipped with a sailing rig. I no longer carry the outboard since I'm usually close to shore - and prefer to sail.

The Weaver setup is an ideal situation - except the dingy ios 3" larger than the boat beam so I sometimes bump her when exiting a tight slip.

The Walker Bay is truly a well engineered boat in light water. The dinghy had walker tubes until they died - replaced with swimming noodles, just as good and $700 cheaper.

Nice boat
 
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