Walker Bay dinghy and Weaver Davits

[captstu]

Hi, Until last week I was a sailor and had a WaterTender 9.6 hard dinghy. It just won't fit my 8' 6" beam new (for me) R25 - so it is new dinghy time. I'm looking at a Walker Bay 8 - been on many and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses - but I'm not sure how to mate it with my R25. Weaver makes two sets of davits, one is intended for the Walker Bay 8 and is big, clunky, complicated, and expensive. The other fits any rigid dinghy ad is smaller, less complex, uncomplicated and still expensive.

Any experience with fitting the regular Weaver to the Walker Bay 8 is helpful. It looks like it will work but only in the photos. Thanks

 

[CAPTCRUNCH]

I have yet to carry a dinghy in the first year with my R-27, but I do have a Walker Bay 8 that I'd like to have with me sometimes. I could tow it or do something along the lines of http://hurleymarine.com/hurley-products/dinghy-davits/ .I'd have to remove the platform railings and work around the platform-mounted propane locker, but I haven't given up. It would be great to hear anybody's success story.

 

[captstu]

Thank you - the Hurley davits have two show stoppers for me: I want to dry stack the boat so the davits add 1/2 the boat beam to my bill each month because they extend the size of the boat. The other problem is they don't drain the dinghy - I tend to forget to remove the drain plug - or put it back in before use - so I prefer a davit that tilts the boat up like the Weavers. The Walker Bay davit from Weaver is bulky: http://www.weaverindustries.com/images/ ... ctions.pdf

/Stu

 

[bill j]

I have a Walker Bay dinghy with the Weaver davits and it works great. Allows me to get some exercise (rowing) and is lightweight so as not to weigh down the back of the boat. Simple to use - Bill

 

[walldog]

If you use the davits Weaver makes for Ranger Tugs they should work with your Walker Bay and still allow you to keep your swim grid railings. These davits rise up and back I believe 7 inches up and 4 back or vise versa. We have them on our 31 mounting the Ranger Dinghy. We also had them on our 27 with the West Marine dinghy. The key is moving the dinghy back to clear the rails and up a bit to keep it out of the water at speed.

These images show dinghys mounted with the rails in place. The upper one is a Portland Pudgy, both appear to have the up and back Weaver davits.

 

[walldog]

Here is another photo of the Weaver davits on a Ranger Tug. We did not leave it tied as shown while underway. We snugged it to the transom rails pulling it over the motor. We tied it as shown for better access to swim grid while docked. This photo also shows an improper way to stow your painter not even briefly. It will do bad things to your stern thruster.

 

[captstu]

I have a Walker Bay dinghy with the Weaver davits and it works great. Allows me to get some exercise (rowing) and is lightweight so as not to weigh down the back of the boat. Simple to use - Bill

Bill, what model Weaver davits to you have? Are they attached to the seat or bolted thru the sides? The seat attach version sticks up 6" or so and I'm afraid it would make it difficult to get in and out - so I'm trying to use the less obtrusive ones if they fit.

Thanks again. /Stu

 

[spierp]

great photos walldog, thanks for the post

 

[bill j]

I have a hardshell Walker Bay Original 8 dinghy (71 lbs) which i hoist up on the swim platform using a 3:1 pulley system (no outboard motor). The Weaver davits are #200-WB8 and attach to the seats. The stand-off brackets are #300-SOA42. The dinghy rests behind the patio rails so the height of the davits is not an issue. I lash the oars to the seats when underway. Great system - Bill

 

[captstu]

Bill,

Thanks so much for the Weaver part numbers - I'll order them tomorrow. /Stu