Dish on Davits – Helpful Questions when looking for a Davit
Todd Hurley of Hurley Marine explains how the right davit makes loading your dinghy a breeze.
What are the benefits of bringing a tender aboard using a davit?
Hurley: Instead of towing a dinghy behind your craft, you easily can bring it aboard to eliminate performance-robbing drag. The low-profile storage position on Hurley Davits provides exceptional stern visibility.
What factors should be taken into consideration when choosing a davit?
Hurley: Platform and dinghy measurements, as well as weight, should be kept in mind. We advise choosing the best davit for your boat and letting that dictate your choice of dinghy. Remember that dinghy size and weight may impact trim, performance and the structural integrity of your vessel. While some boat owners get around this by towing their dinghy, it’s neither safe nor practical.
Are davits hard to install?
Hurley: Hurley Davits are easily mounted with simple hand tools, even when the vessel is in the water.
Is it difficult to remove a davit?
Hurley: Hurley Davits neatly and easily stow elsewhere by removing the mounting pins.
What if the boat has a small swim platform?
Hurley: Hurley offers davit mounts in a variety of sizes. For smaller swim platforms, we offer 36-inch mounts for our Traditional and H2O (Hurley’s Second Option) Davit systems. You can use our Davit Mounting Chart at HURLEYMARINE.COM to determine which size works best.
How hard is it to retrieve a dinghy?
Hurley: The Hurley Traditional and H2O davits are manual systems. How much strength is required depends on how high off the water your platform is and the weight of the dinghy. Some customers add either a winch or block-and-tackle for assistance. Our H3O models (Hurley’s Third Option) provide a winch to easily lift heavier dinghies or a Jet Ski.
What materials are used to construct Hurley Davits?
Hurley: Our Traditional Davit is constructed of lightweight, marine-grade aluminum, electro-coated to military specifications with isolated stainless steel fasteners and hardware. Our H2O and H3O models are made of marinegrade, high-density polyethylene with polished 316 stainless steel components. These superior materials are chosen for their light weight, strength and durability.
How is the dinghy secured to the davit?
Hurley: We recommend our three-point tie-down system. Secure one at the bow, the stern and another over the inboard pontoon. More tie-downs can be added if needed. We supply illustrations on our website. We also recommend an Outboard Motor Strap to keep your outboard in the “up” position, so it doesn’t come crashing down during transport.
Will a loaded davit withstand high seas?
Hurley: You can carry anything up to the designed weight rating of your davit system, even in rough seas. Double check the dinghy and make sure it’s lashed tight to the deck. Always run with your drain plug out and the tender covered.
How are davits rated?
Hurley: Hurley Davits are rated on their ability to carry a safe working load. They have a large margin of strength and simply do not fail when used within their ratings; however, allowing the dinghy to fill with water will create a bad situation. Again, remember to remove the drain plug if your boat will be unattended and while underway.
How does one determine if a dinghy will fit on a particular davit?
Hurley: Simply fill out the Davit Worksheet on our website so we can suggest the correct davit and components for you.