I am currently in the process of acquiring an F33. Just curious what the hard dinghy options are that other people are using and whether they are carried onboard or on davits. The only possible place onboard I can see would be behind the main mast upside down in the dinghy was shallow enough.
The first change I made when I bought my F 40/40 20 years ago was to add Kato davits. Towing a dinghy is miserable, especially if the weather gets foul or when you’re trying to dock in a tight spot. What do you do in a storm if the dinghy is filling up with water? Risk your life to save a piece of rubber? Do you really want to mount the engine on your rail and have to lower it onto the dinghy every time you want to use it? No matter where you mount the dinghy on board, it will always be in the way and it will be a pain in the neck to launch and retrieve.
Davits are very easy to operate. I find it very convenient to keep my 9.8 hp engine on my 12 foot RIB. I have a power sail winch which I use to raise the dinghy’s stern with the engine, although it is not hard to pull it up by hand. A 5 hp engine is not much lighter than a 9.8. 3hp is very light. Raising and lowering the boat onto the davits is quite easy and it keeps the boat completely out of the way when sailing or motoring.
I have found that rigid fiberglass bottom boats are the best to get. They are much more stable than inflatable soft bottom boats. There is a big difference between a 10 foot and a 12 foot dinghy, but if 12’ is too big for your boat, 10’ is a good tradeoff.
I bought one from WestMarine 20 years ago and just replaced it this year with the same exact model. It was on sale for $2000 and I could not pass it up.
Hypalon is probably best especially if you’re in a southern climate, but PVC can work quite well and his less expensive. Things to look for is what kind of storage compartments might there be? The seating arrangements vary but it is not hard to add a seat. If you’re towing, make sure you have gold rings, attached the right spot on the dinghy otherwise it is easily swamped when towing.
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Hello,
My coachroof top is obstructed by a vertical anchor winch with warping drum and the vent for a Dickenson drip-feed diesel heater, both to starboard beside the aft end of the forehatch.
I have had a number of dinghies over the years
- Fairey Duckling (Uffa Fox 9 foot hot moulded) which would just and no more go on deck. I never sailed with it up. It towed superbly in all weathers.
- A 9 foot Avon inflatable with big tubes. Went all over the Med. Best deflated and rolled up but would easily stow on deck with just the bow deflated.
- A small inflatable with slatted floor. This would go on deck fully inflated.
- My present Walker Bay 8, polythene dinghy with the optional inflatable tubes making it very safe, but with two adults, rowing is a problem. Rows well with just me and dog and great with a 2hp outboard. This can be brought on deck and turned upside down with halyards from each mast and with the bow on the forehatch, the stern lodges on the frontsail track - need to block up maybe 40mm to let the halyards run freely fore and aft. With the track out of use, I take the front sheet to the base of the back mast. It fouls the dinghy a wee bit but not really a problem.
The WB is very light, about 80 lbs (about 36 kg) and easy to handle on the shore but has twice blown over afloat. Once in a gale while tied astern - outboard on. Again in F6 with overfalls, it turned right over and started to porpoise astern. How the painter did not pull out of the boat I do not know. Had to go at 2 knots until we came under a weather shore and anchored where we could use halyards to get it sorted. On this day I was caught out by the wind and had not rigged the preventer painters to the lifting handles on each side of the bow which I take to either side of the Freedom’s wide transom. Most of the time I tow it as the dog needs ashore several times each day.
Davits will cost you a fortune in marinas.
I may have photos, please ask.
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A good set of David’s cost $2-3g. Not cheap, but not a fortune. Each sailor needs to determine cost/benefit for what they do with their boat. I would not go without them. Others prefer a different setup..
Thanks, that may be the way to go then for me too. I just figured the rudder sticks out past the transom so thought it may get in the way of the dinghy being lowered from Davits
Never had them before, but worth getting them it sounds like.
Carl
I suggest you contact Kato Marine. They are responsive and have a lot of experience designing davits for many types of boats. They may have direct experience with your particular model. Even if you don’t go with that manufacturer, you will learn a lot by talking with them.
I will relay one harrowing experience I had a few years ago. I was securely anchored with a 55# Delta and 6:1 chain and snubber in Oswego Harbor on Lake Ontario for a few days with my dinghy in the water tied with a painter to the stern and a kayak tied to the dinghy another painter. One day everything dramatically changed. All of a sudden a huge squall came up with 180° change in the wind direction and the wind was gusting to 60 kn. Since the harbor was relatively shallow with a lot of weeds, the change of wind direction dislodged my anchor, and I started dragging towards a bunch of other boats and a dock. I did not have towing rings on my dinghy, so the painter was tied to the bow ring. The waves almost completely filled the dinghy and capsized the kayak while I was trying to get the anchor up, so I didn’t drag into the other boats and a dock. I had to leave the dinghy and the kayak to the mercy of Neptune, because getting the anchor up full of weeds in a tight spot was very difficult.
I eventually was able to move the boat and secure it with two anchors and ride out the 2 hour storm. I eventually was able to bail out the dinghy and right the kayak but lost the kayak oars.
i’ve been in a lot of major squalls on Lake Ontario and I’ve always been very glad to have my dinghy up on davits and not dragging behind me
For hard dinghies, there are a few options that could work for you, depending on how you want to store it.
Since you mentioned space behind the main mast, you might want to consider a smaller, lightweight dinghy that you can easily flip upside down and store. Many F33 owners go for something compact like the Zodiac or similar RIBs (rigid inflatable boats). They’re easy to manage and fairly tough for the kind of sailing you’ll likely be doing.
As for storage, using davits is definitely the way to go if you want to keep it out of the way but still accessible. If you’re limited on space and don’t mind a bit of extra work, foldable dinghies can also be an option — you just need to make sure it fits the space without causing balance issues.
Also, if you’re planning to use it regularly, I’d suggest looking into securing it with a good locking system so it’s safe from any unexpected movements, especially when you’re out on the water.
Thanks. I think Davits may be the best option based on your comments. Appreciated!
Carl
I have kato marine davitts on my 49/40. They are perfect !
Typo? Is it a 40/40?
Yes that was a typo. Sorry
It is a 33 cat ketch
Thanks
Carl
Sorry. I was replying to Eben.
Hi, the ‘fortune’ is the extra length you will be charged for in marinas etc. Say extra 2 metres on a 10 metre boat, 20% surcharge each and every time. Need to take them off for winter storage.
Thanks. Good information to know. Appreciated
You have raised several good points. The only thing that still puzzles me though is the prevalence of ribs. I have used them recreationally and commercially and the one problem is if your motor fails, they are not great to row as a rule. A 12 foot Herreshoff sailing pram could be rowed or sailed if the motor were to fail. Other than weight savings and cost, I haven’t been convinced that a rib wouldn’t strand me on a beach or leave me drifting
What a gorgeous pram! A treasure. And, nice workshop.
Having said that, my 12’ RIB has served me well for 18 years, until I replaced it this year because of leaky tubes for $2,000 on sale at West Marine. I could probably buy 15 RIBs for the cost of your gorgeous boat. Although my RIB is a solid boat that is easy to row, I would choose your pram over my RIB any day.
I pay for an extra 4’ at my marina because of how the RIB on davits extends the length of my F 40/40 is a 10% surcharge. It is a cost to keep in mind.
Lol not my tender though I wish it was. Have been contemplating getting one built though. I would never tire of looking at it