Tireless wrote:Source of the post I am very happy with the Sea Weed Davit System and I have not had any issues. I have been on plane on Georgian Bay on 4-5 hour crossings with no issue. I do secure the dinghy with a bow and stern lanyard of 1/2” line to the transom cleats. I also beefed up the transom straps onto the system with stainless ratchet straps. I had Sea Weed make a special clip for me on that catcher of the system to attach the ratchet straps.
The keel of my dinghy is 32” from the surface of the water and is 18” up from the surface of the swim platform. The dinghy’s keel is cantilevered 18” off the back of the boat. The weight is supported by four struts and the mounting brackets which are supported by two, large, 1/4” marine grade aluminum backing plates.
The dinghy is a Highfield 360 with a 30 HP and weighs 530 Lbs.
The water does not come in contact with the dinghy. From time to time, while on plane, water will splash down the port side of the boat and hit the lower unit of the engine. The lanyards stabilize the dinghy when this occurs.
Due to the fact that the dinghy sits so high, I can slip between the dinghy and the storage box. I also walk across the top of the box with no issue. I normally ask for a port side tie when out, however, I have a starboard side tie while at my home slip. I never have an issue with going from side to side.
Due to the fact that the dinghy sits so high, it does block our field of view while sitting in the cockpit. When we are anchored out, I normally kick the dinghy into the water and float it behind the boat.
See the attached pics.
Thank you!
What kind of cruising speed you get on plane with the weight back there, did it affect it much?
Do you have the Volvos? I get 15.5-16 knots at 2400 no dinghy full of fuel and water.