We have had the Garhauer davit on most of our C Dorys, and always wanted to try mounting it on the side deck, to swing a dinghy up to the cabin top--as we age, it is getting more difficult to lift it each year. We know that several have done fancy additions and custom davits, but we wanted to try the standard and see how it works:
The first issue was the width of the side deck and can we get around the base. Here is our solution:
We wanted the base as close to the cabin as possible, but also wanted the base to be close to being level. I cut up a 5/16" HDPE cutting board, and made two circles the diameter of the base. The first I cut with a slight bevel, and the bottom configuration to fit over the non skid, then a dip into the white area along the cabin--this was accomplished by using a Demel Tool with a small router bit in a miniature drill press (Dremel) and cutting steps, then smoothing with a belt and disc sander (I found this worked better than just using a 4" disc sander free hand. The second disc, was kept full height at the outer edge, and sloped with stepped cuts, to about 1/16" on the inner surface. this brought the base to within a couple of degrees of level fore and aft and athwart ships. This base was thru bolted thru the side deck (yes, epoxy lined holes).
we seem to be comfortable moving around this base, and it does not seem to be a hinderance in going forward.
The upper support was bolted thru the small lip which overhangs all sides of the cabin. The bolts screw into captive nuts on the support. The davit slopes slightly inboard, and it could be made vertical, with a longer standoff (we just used one layer of the 5/16" cutting board) This upper support is easily removed, and I suppose that small plugs could be fitted to these holes if one wished.
With the davit arm installed in the "tilt up" position, there is over 24" between the top of the cabin and the hook on the block of the lifting lines. This allows plenty of room to hoist the inflatable, if one hooks into a bow eye, or stern eye. You can also make a lifting sling, if you wish, but it would have to be short. We plan on hoisting the bow up first--securing it, and then bringing the davit aft on the dinghy to hoist and slide the stern in position under the radar strut. The dinghy will face aft.
This last photo is with the line completely deployed, and you see it does reach to the C Dory's water line, which allows hooking into any part of the inflatable.
There is a Jam cleat which fits on the upper support leg, and we will affix it there. You can also use the cam cleat on the top aft--this is an improvement over some of the earlier models--you had to either have the cam cleat or the jam cleat, but not both.
Tomorrow I will put in the second "station" mount, in the aft starboard side of the cockpit. There it will lift the kicker off the bracket and into the dinghy, also it can be used to hoist batteries, the freezer, ice chests, etc aboard, rather than having to have us lift these items. What we have to do to accommodate our aging!
The first issue was the width of the side deck and can we get around the base. Here is our solution:
We wanted the base as close to the cabin as possible, but also wanted the base to be close to being level. I cut up a 5/16" HDPE cutting board, and made two circles the diameter of the base. The first I cut with a slight bevel, and the bottom configuration to fit over the non skid, then a dip into the white area along the cabin--this was accomplished by using a Demel Tool with a small router bit in a miniature drill press (Dremel) and cutting steps, then smoothing with a belt and disc sander (I found this worked better than just using a 4" disc sander free hand. The second disc, was kept full height at the outer edge, and sloped with stepped cuts, to about 1/16" on the inner surface. this brought the base to within a couple of degrees of level fore and aft and athwart ships. This base was thru bolted thru the side deck (yes, epoxy lined holes).
we seem to be comfortable moving around this base, and it does not seem to be a hinderance in going forward.
The upper support was bolted thru the small lip which overhangs all sides of the cabin. The bolts screw into captive nuts on the support. The davit slopes slightly inboard, and it could be made vertical, with a longer standoff (we just used one layer of the 5/16" cutting board) This upper support is easily removed, and I suppose that small plugs could be fitted to these holes if one wished.
With the davit arm installed in the "tilt up" position, there is over 24" between the top of the cabin and the hook on the block of the lifting lines. This allows plenty of room to hoist the inflatable, if one hooks into a bow eye, or stern eye. You can also make a lifting sling, if you wish, but it would have to be short. We plan on hoisting the bow up first--securing it, and then bringing the davit aft on the dinghy to hoist and slide the stern in position under the radar strut. The dinghy will face aft.
This last photo is with the line completely deployed, and you see it does reach to the C Dory's water line, which allows hooking into any part of the inflatable.
There is a Jam cleat which fits on the upper support leg, and we will affix it there. You can also use the cam cleat on the top aft--this is an improvement over some of the earlier models--you had to either have the cam cleat or the jam cleat, but not both.
Tomorrow I will put in the second "station" mount, in the aft starboard side of the cockpit. There it will lift the kicker off the bracket and into the dinghy, also it can be used to hoist batteries, the freezer, ice chests, etc aboard, rather than having to have us lift these items. What we have to do to accommodate our aging!
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