Lifting a dinghy on the foredeck

Hi Guys

Just curious as to what is the best way for lifting a dinghy (poly craft 85 kg) onto the fore deck ? The boat is a Gibsea 402 deck stepped mast head sloop, I have been using a spare halyard to lift from the bow of the dinghy as this helps me position it upside down on the deck. Should I be concerned about lifting that sort of weight from the mast from the side of the boat ? Davits would be great but prob not in the budget until I get cruising in a year or so (would have to go up a pen size)

Cheers

Jayde28, that's how I use to life my Walker Bay onto the foredeck. It was a spinnaker haylard that I used. I also had a sling made up for the outboard and I would lower it straight down onto the dingy's transom. If the dingy moved, or if you slipped the motor wasn't dropped into the water.

Ramona is well know for his dislike of davits on yachts and probably with good reason. However there are a lot of boats getting around with davits (probably mostly day coastal sailors) without any issue. I wish I had davits when I was cruising with mostly day hops. However consider putting the tub back on the foredeck for extended passages or if the weather is a little bit sporty.

Davits are probably ok on a boat that carries it's maximum beam and hence buoyancy almost to the transom. It's also a function of boat size to dinghy size. Certainly wouldn't try davits with a boat less than 35 ft and probably about 42 ft uness it is a modern broad stern dinghy type shape.
Trouble is people start increasing the size of their dinghy if they think they have a reasonable sized boat so the problem is still present. Of course it's not just weight over or behind the aft waterline extremity but also the weight is high up. The weight of my solar panels high up already concerns me so no way would I do davits on my 38 foot NS38.

No problem regarding weight there, biggest issue would be a wave over the bow or strong winds shifting the dinghy. It's not just losing it that's a bother but the damage 85kg does on its way through. A couple of sturdy tie down points would be nice. I miss my davits.

How do you go tacking the headsail with a dinghy on the foredeck? Is it a high cut Yankee style jib?

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Jayde28 said..
Thanks guys

My concern was mainly the pressure on the rig lifting something of to the side as opposed to straight up and down. Cheers for the advice on the tie down points Saltiest1 planning on installing maybe a couple of eye pad bolts with backing plates to tie down to with the added bonus that it will keep the foredeck free from rope's tying onto the toe rail

Thanks again

Hi jayde,

To put your mind at ease, think of the loads applied to your mast from a strong wind with the kite up. 85kg os nothing compared to this. The angle of the load when lifting a dingy is putting the mast in compression and a tiny bit of load on the opposite stay. The tension on the stays would also dwarf the load applied by an 85 kg dinghy.


So dont worry and crack on is my advice.

Cheers