After a few years of 2 foot-itisch you realise you need a Junior boat for your big ride. Your big boat is no longer one you just throw up on the beach and you don’t really fancy swimming ashore any longer.
So what do you do? You buy a dinghy – but pretty soon find out that it needs an engine. Once it has an outboard engine – it gets heavy. So hauling it up on the front deck is a chore.
So then you go looking for a dinghy mount for your boat. They come in many shapes and sizes – but common for all is most are made by small entrepreneurial companies around the world who do not have Garmin’s marketing budget. So they can be hard to track down – and hard to choose between.
Here is our list of the Dinghy Mounts and Dinghy Davits we have found so far.
Hurley Marine Inc of Escanaba, Michigan
Hurley Marine are the makers of a classic style Davit plus the more modern Hurley H2O davit systems. Hurley has just [2014] launched the Hurley H3O model which is a winch based “turnable” mount, and also offers the H3O+. Prices range from $800-$2000
Click here for more info on Hurley Davits
Nautley Inc of St. Clair Shores, Michigan
DinghyRamp is the product range of dinghy davits from Nautley Inc. Their 3 ranges of dinghy davits are the DinghyRamp HD in classic style, the DinghyRamp HD+ with rollers, and the DinghyRamp XL with more rollers and longer arms. Prices range from $875-$1700.
DinghyRings of Sweden
Well a really different take on Dinghy Davits for mostly light weight dinghies. The system is based on putting the “pointy” stern-ends of the dinghy into some nice stainless rings on a big roller – and then hoisting the bow of the dinghy out of the water. It can be stern mounted on most boats – but according to DinghyRings it can be used abeam as well or on any other flat surface.
There are two “Under swim platform” mount versions as well for boats with big or small permanent swim-platforms.
Click here for more info on DinghyRings Flex, Bold or Slim
Trick Davit Systems of Punta Gorda, Florida
The easiest to load says Trick Davit Systems – but still of the classic type. The Dinghy Davit locks in @ 45 degrees – so the dinghy is easier to load and un-load. Other systems can “flip” all the way down (90 degrees) – making it harder to haul in the dinghy. Prices start at $895. Click here for more info on Trick Davit Systems
ProDav Swivel Davit Systems of Gladstone, Michigan
A nice simple Swivel Davit system is what you get with the ProDav. It utilises a winch and a swivel system to make it easy to haul in your Dinghy. Prices range from $1800-$2100. Keep an eye on their twitter feed for discounts.
Harbormen Marine of Hingham, MA
The Dinghy Sling Davit System is a specialised net to keep your Dinghy safe hanging off your swimplatform or the side of the boat. It is cheap compared to the other hardware solutions. The Dinghy Sling Davit System is a “fishing net” specially designed to keep your dinghy safe – even at 40 knots. Price is $245.
Click here for more information on The Dinghy Sling Davit System
Dinghy Caddy of Ontario
The Dinghy Caddy is different – it is a mix of a hoist and caddy system in one stainless steel frame. It uses very little space on your swim platform (18″) but needs tie-backs to the back of your swim-platform. When the dinghy is launched the Dinghy Caddy can be tilted into the water – and double as a swim ladder. They have versions for 7-9′ dinghies and 9-11′ dinghies. Prices start at around $2000.
Click here for more information on the Dinghy Caddy
Weaver Industries of Rathdrum, Idaho
From Rathdrum, Idaho, Weaver has been making dinghy stowage kit since the early 1980s. The current range is Snap Davits and dinghy chocks, for hardshell and inflatable dinghies, and Weaver also sells complete swim-platform hook packages.
Click here for more info on Weaver Snap Davits
SeaWise Marine of Delta, British Columbia
SeaWise, based in Delta, British Columbia, builds transom-mounted davits in 316L stainless. The tender is lifted with the outboard left on, then stored on its side so the swim platform stays a bit clearer. SeaWise rates the manual geared model at up to 450 lb (204 kg) and the electric one at up to 650 lb (295 kg), and aims them at trawlers, motor yachts and cruisers of about 30 ft and up.
Click here for more info on SeaWise davits
Kato Marine of Annapolis, Maryland
Kato Marine in Annapolis makes stainless and aluminium davits for sailboats and powerboats. The line includes the Bay II, Island, Winch and Voyager, plus a standpipe davit that lifts a dinghy to an upper deck. Kato rates the Island at 300 lb (136 kg) safe load per arm, and the Voyager at 420 lb per arm.
Click here for more info on Kato Marine davits
Ocean Marine Systems
Ocean Marine Systems welds stainless dinghy davits in rail-mount, transom-mount and swim-platform roll-on forms, and makes motor lifts as well. Its contact page does not give a city or country.
Click here for more info on Ocean Marine Systems davits
Simpson Davits by Cooney Marine of Kettering, UK
Cooney Marine in Kettering owns and builds the Simpson Davits range. The current list is Series 8, Series 10, Traditional, Swivelling, 15Zero and Cantilever, with heavier custom 35Zero and 45Zero units if you need them. Cooney rates the oval 15Zero at 150 kg safe working load per pair, in mirror-finish 316 stainless.
Click here for more info on Simpson Davits
NorDav of Ølen, Norway
NorDav is a Norwegian swivel davit, made in electropolished duplex and 316L stainless, for dinghies and jet skis. The company says the design fits smaller swim platforms than many other systems, and that you can take the davits off when you want the platform back.
Click here for more info on NorDav
FreedomLift of Grand Rapids, Michigan
FreedomLift is a transom-mounted hydraulic tender lift from Grand Rapids, Michigan, with removable arms, dual hydraulic cylinders and a remote control. The company states a 44-inch (112 cm) lifting range and a system weight of 325 lb (147 kg), and says it will carry a tender or a PWC without taking the engine off.
Click here for more info on FreedomLift
THE Dinghy Davit of Sherbrooke, Quebec
This one is a pivoting hydraulic platform, built in marine-grade aluminium and stainless in Sherbrooke, Quebec. THE Dinghy Davit says it will launch or lift a personal watercraft, dinghy or tender in under 15 seconds by remote control.
Click here for more info on THE Dinghy Davit
The Best Davit of Bellingham, Washington
The Best Davit, from Bellingham, Washington, also makes a pivoting hydraulic platform for a dinghy or personal watercraft, and says it deploys the craft in under 15 seconds. We have listed it separately because it has its own site and address; we have not seen either company confirm a link with THE Dinghy Davit.
Click here for more info on The Best Davit
DinghyDavits of Ontario
DinghyDavits, based in Ontario, makes dinghy and Sea-Doo storage davits, including drop-down and extended systems. The company says they are simple to install and can be hidden away when not in use.
Click here for more info on DinghyDavits
PrestoMarine of Sweden
PrestoMarine makes 12 V DC lifts for dinghies and jet skis, including the L300 and XL500 in fixed and rail versions, and the RapiX 450. It describes the XL500 as suitable for shorter yacht swim platforms. Prices are listed on the manufacturer’s site in US dollars and euros; VAT and sales-tax status is not clearly stated there, so we have not repeated the figures here.
Click here for more info on PrestoMarine
Atkins & Hoyle of Napanee, Ontario
Atkins & Hoyle of Napanee, Ontario, makes dinghy davits, cranes, chocks and cradles, plus solar arches and hardtops. The company says the work is done in Canada, and traces itself back to a Toronto foundry in 1921.
Click here for more info on Atkins & Hoyle
Martek Davits of Riverview, Florida
From Riverview and Largo in Florida, Martek offers modular stainless dinghy davits (it states capacities of 370–600 lb), pivoting davits of up to 800 lb, solar arches, a swim-platform dinghy rack and an outboard-motor davit.
Click here for more info on Martek Davits
Ark Marine Dinghy Derrick of Southampton, England
Ark Marine’s Dinghy Derrick, built in Southampton, is an electric transom hoist for inflatables and small RIBs, including with the engine left on. The company states a capacity of up to 130 kg, with manual emergency lowering.
Click here for more info on the Dinghy Derrick
Forespar of Rancho Santa Margarita, California
The Nova Davit from Forespar is a folding, removable 304 stainless rail-mount pair, rated at 350 lb safe working load (175 lb per arm). You can fold the arms in to keep berth length, or take them off for racing. Forespar lists the older QUIK Davit as discontinued.
Click here for more info on the Forespar Nova Davit
Atlantic Towers extension davits
Atlantic Towers’ KIT79000 is a pair of 42-inch extension arms that mount on the company’s own Sail Arch or Super Sail Arch and move the lifting point up to 24 inches aft. It is an add-on for those arches, not a standalone transom davit.
Click here for more info on Atlantic Towers extension davits
VersaChock of Tampa Bay, Florida
VersaChock, made by Jefferson Design Inc. in the Tampa Bay area, specialises in removable tender chocks, davit chocks and tilting davit chocks for inflatables, dinghies and personal watercraft. It is a chock system, rather than a full davit crane.
Click here for more info on VersaChock
Larger-yacht tender lifts
These last four are a different kettle of fish. They mostly build hydraulic tender lifts and cranes for larger yachts and shipyards, not the smaller roll-on or transom dinghy davits above. We have included them because you will bump into the names if you go looking.
Besenzoni of Italy
Besenzoni is best known for passerelles, tender-launch cranes and swim-platform movement systems. The company says the range covers motor and sailing boats of every size, as well as yachts and superyachts.
Click here for more info on Besenzoni
Opacmare of Rivalta di Torino, Italy
Opacmare, based in Rivalta di Torino, manufactures hydraulic lifting systems, passerelles and platforms, including the EVO TENDERLIFT 5280. It also builds custom movement systems for vessels over 50 metres, so the range reaches well into large yachts as well as smaller craft.
Click here for more info on Opacmare
Nautical Structures of Largo, Florida
From Largo, Florida, Nautical Structures designs and builds custom hydraulic tender-handling and boarding equipment. The current site is aimed at the luxury yacht sector and does not give a simple leisure-boat size limit.
Click here for more info on Nautical Structures
Dinghy Davit round up
So that is what we have found so far. There are many more out there – and if you feel anyone has been left out – let us know and we will update the guide. We hope you find this useful in your hunt for getting ashore with dry feet. The Davits are listed in no particular order apart from which ones we remembered first.
[…] back later for updates… Still considering which Dinghy Davit system to […]
It would be great if we could include Davits that do not require a swim platform.
Just send me the links and I’ll update the list 🙂
I can only speak for pullondavits.com but they require a swim platform.
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