Last year at the boat show we ordered a new dinghy for our PDQ 36. The old dinghy is now in Cape Charles and relegated to runs to the barrier islands to collect shells. It leaks and the engine is on its last legs.
The new dink is an AB 9'6" with an aluminum hull. Its only 85 pounds, and although a tight a fit, I figured it would work. As we were buying the Cadillac of dinks, why not get a great motor too. So we got a 15 hp with electric start. ..one problem...
The dink and motor together make it too long to be lifted on the davits. Crap!
To make a long story short, Bonnie has a great stainless company that fabricates items for her kitchen design company. After a couple experiments with gas pipe, I had a good design. We put in two extensions on the davits that would shift the dink 18" back.
It shifts the weight back slightly on the boat, and adds stress to the davits. But so far it looks like its not going to torque the davits enough to do any damage. The new dink with the larger four-stroke engine is actually about 30 - 40 pounds lighter than the old fiberglass one with a two-stroke. For offshore passages we'll certainly take the outboard off.
The big deal for me, is really the space that this change created. There is now 18" of space between the dink and the boat. Bonnie and I had some ideas of what to do. Perhaps mount a cooler or something like that.
I was talking to Charlie, a friend who happens to run the local Quantum sail loft warrioryachting.com in Annapolis, and devised a canvas stern bag for storing life jackets, enclosure canvas, and similar light items. It measured out at 92" wide, 18" deep and 22" high. That's about 36,000 cubic inches of new storage space on the boat. Wow!
It fits on the lifeline between the hulls. I supported the back with dymeena at first, but decided to use a 7/8" length of steel tubing meant for a bimini or such. I strung the dymeena through it to add support in case someone ever tries to stand on it.
It fit and did not take much effort to mount it. I grabbed all the light items; life jackets, ditch bag (not so light), four large fenders, enclosure canvas, and seat cushions. I'll also stick a fishing rod in there I'm sure. Amazingly, with all that, its still only half full.
So the last test was lifting the dinghy. It sits nicely against the bag, and reduces the banging of the boat as it shifts. Success!
The only thing I would change is that the lip on the cover does not have a slot for the life line to fit through. I'll ask Charlie about ideas for that.
Another successful project... Almost like a trend...
The new dink is an AB 9'6" with an aluminum hull. Its only 85 pounds, and although a tight a fit, I figured it would work. As we were buying the Cadillac of dinks, why not get a great motor too. So we got a 15 hp with electric start. ..one problem...
The dink and motor together make it too long to be lifted on the davits. Crap!
To make a long story short, Bonnie has a great stainless company that fabricates items for her kitchen design company. After a couple experiments with gas pipe, I had a good design. We put in two extensions on the davits that would shift the dink 18" back.
.JPG) |
| Gas pipes bolted to the davits for the test. |
It shifts the weight back slightly on the boat, and adds stress to the davits. But so far it looks like its not going to torque the davits enough to do any damage. The new dink with the larger four-stroke engine is actually about 30 - 40 pounds lighter than the old fiberglass one with a two-stroke. For offshore passages we'll certainly take the outboard off.
The big deal for me, is really the space that this change created. There is now 18" of space between the dink and the boat. Bonnie and I had some ideas of what to do. Perhaps mount a cooler or something like that.
I was talking to Charlie, a friend who happens to run the local Quantum sail loft warrioryachting.com in Annapolis, and devised a canvas stern bag for storing life jackets, enclosure canvas, and similar light items. It measured out at 92" wide, 18" deep and 22" high. That's about 36,000 cubic inches of new storage space on the boat. Wow!
.JPG) |
| Stern bag in place |
It fits on the lifeline between the hulls. I supported the back with dymeena at first, but decided to use a 7/8" length of steel tubing meant for a bimini or such. I strung the dymeena through it to add support in case someone ever tries to stand on it.
It fit and did not take much effort to mount it. I grabbed all the light items; life jackets, ditch bag (not so light), four large fenders, enclosure canvas, and seat cushions. I'll also stick a fishing rod in there I'm sure. Amazingly, with all that, its still only half full.
.JPG) |
| Dinghy on davits with bag in place. It actually worked! |
The only thing I would change is that the lip on the cover does not have a slot for the life line to fit through. I'll ask Charlie about ideas for that.
Another successful project... Almost like a trend...
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