Trailering with dinghy on davits?

[scross]

We have been taking our 8'4" dinghy off the davits, deflating it and storing it in my trucks bed before towing in the trailer. Most of the trailering trips so far have been 200+ miles on the interstate.
We have a short 30 mile trailering trip planned for Tuesday. Most of it is on I-5.
While it doesn't take too much time to remove the dinghy, deflate it, stow it in the truck bed and then reverse the process at our destination, I am wondering if this is necessary on a short trip.
Have others trailered at highway speeds with their dinghy on the davits? Any issues?

 

[stwendl]

Why not tie it onto the truck bed inflated , or put it in the cockpit and tie it down

 

[Red Raven]

Hi Al,

We trailer with the dinghy on the davits and the cockpit canvas up back and forth between the marina and our house (20 miles) each spring and fall. We have not had any issues but then admittedly it is not a freeway. Kenny delivered the boat with the dinghy on the davits as well Which took him up I-5. It's worth a try especially for such a short trip. Just keep an eye on it and see how it does. Personally I think having the cockpit Bimini canvas up helps with the airflow. We also have the extra dinghy straps For stability.

We hope things are going well on your boat travels. We enjoyed our time with you and Vicki at Deer Harbor And Stuart Island.

 

[knotflying]

I know of people who have towed with the bimini up and the dingy on the davits. I know of one poor soul who after about an hour had a shredded bimini, but then there are others who swear it works fine. If your dingy is soft bottom I would just haul it into the cockpit and lash it down. Why take a chance of damage or loosing a dingy. For a short slow trip then you may be golden.

 

[Red Raven]

Hi Al,

I just checked my delivery photos. The dinghy was on the davits but the Bimini was rolled up into its cover and secured with zip ties. Our dinghy is the standard Ranger RIB. If yours has an inflatable floor it may make a difference. As mentioned before I only have experience towing with both up at our local speeds of about 45 - 50 mph for about 20 miles and have had no problems with that. You could call Kenny Mars at Ranger Tug about his experience with towing with the dinghy on the davits at freeway speeds.

 

[scross]

Curt and Tracy,

Great hearing from you! We are headed from Bellingham to Roche Harbor on Wednesday, then over to Sidney and then 5 more nights in harbors on the east side of Vancouver Island up to Maple Bay with 2 nights in Ganges to finish off the trip.

Thanks for all the good advice on towing with the dinghy.

On our way up to Bellingham on Sunday, June 26th while towing Our Journey we were passed on I-5 northbound by a R-27 being towed with bimini stowed and rigid bottom inflatable on davits. He/she was doing 60+ MPH and the dinghy seemed to be fine! I never would have considered trailering with the dinghy on the davits until I saw that!

The dinghy fits great in the truck bed deflated. It's just a chore getting it in and out of the bed. It does not fit or stow well in the cockpit. I can appreciate the gas mileage goes way down with a dinghy (a.k.a. drag chute) on the back of the boat.

We will probably be conservative and stow the dinghy in the truck bed for this short trip on Tuesday. I tend to be conservative by nature.

Hope to see you again soon!

 

[dwaindumas]

I have been trailering with my dinghy on the davits for three years with no problem, I do lash it tight to the boat though, and it is a nine foot dinghy, which protrudes beyond my R-25s beam. (It is a hard plastic dinghy). I wouldn't think of leaving my bimini up.

Dwain Dumas

 

[stwendl]

I have been trailering with my dinghy on the davits for three years with no problem, I do lash it tight to the boat though, and it is a nine foot dinghy, which protrudes beyond my R-25s beam. (It is a hard plastic dinghy). I wouldn't think of leaving my bimini up.

Dwain Dumas

And of course you get the proper permits for oversize along with he signs to be affixed to the trailer 🙂