Dingy on davits

[DavidMilne]

Can anyone advise me if it is OK to keep your dingy on davits whilst out at sea? I am toying with the idea of buying an inflatable with a fiberglass bottom but not sure if I should be buying a dingy that can be stowed away?

[RichH]

Dinghy on davits is NOT a good idea .... too vulnerable to get torn off and washed away. Hanging off the stern trying to reset/recover a dinghy during a storm or rough weather is NOT fun. Store/stow it if you can.

[ikent]

Having the same dilemma. Friends who just returned from circumnav kept dinghy (RIB)on davits when on the hook/in harbor but stowed on foredeck when passagemaking. Davit setup reportedly godsend for security and ease of launch or recovery. Again, not in use for passagemaking.
Ike

[sailingfool]

I think the davits idea is overkill even for coastal cruising, I guess I dont see what significant problem it cures as my RIB tows fine. Neither seems a good solution for offshore, go with a soft bottom and stowe on the bow or collapse it.

Another issue with stern davits is that unless you have a big boat (60'' plus?) you may find the dingy weight squats your stern below the waterline and you''ll soon be gragging a foot of grass behind you.

Good luck

[mcain]

Another opinion. I have davits and a 10'' RIB with 15 HP motor on them. 43'' boat. In the past, I have towed dingy''s and hoisted them on deck and used davits.
Our purpose is to cruise extensively in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Keys, as well as east coast of US. We have cruised on and off (not continuously) for about 4 years with the davits. We also have a dingy cover.
Towing has a couple of disadvantages. The tow line needs to be very carefully adjusted in a following sea to avoid excess pressure or the dingy slewing around. I have lost a towed dingy due to chafe, as many others have. And there is drag that can greatly show down a boat in light air.
In addition, for security, keeping a dingy in the water overnight is bad in many ports. Hoisting it on deck is a lot of work. Davits make it much easier.

On passages in open water, davits can be a problem and the dingy should be on deck. Large following seas or even beam seas can hit the dingy. However, in many Caribbean passages, of less than a day in settled weather, it is less of a problem. A friend just did 4 years in the Caribbean and took the dingy off davits and onto the deck just once--at the start of the trip in the gulf stream.
I like davits. However, you pays your money and takes your choice.........