Weaver Snap-Davit Capacity

[hawkeyes01]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at options for attaching my dinghy to the swim platform of my Santego. It is a 10' dinghy with a 5 HP motor on it. It doesn't move too quickly, but it works for us.

It has a motor mount that allows the motor to swivel 90 degrees so the motor can be stored on the dinghy even when the dinghy is stowed.

I was looking at the Weaver snap davits, but I can't seem to find any specs on the capacity they can hold. The dinghy weighs less than 150 lbs with the motor attached. I suppose pulling the dinghy up with the motor attached would put a lot of stress on the davit and the davit pads, so that may be why Weaver doesn't specify the weight capacity....to prevent people like me from trying this type of thing. Or maybe I just missed it on their website.

If anyone has any other recommendations, let me know. I'd like to keep the price for the davit system as reasonable as possible, but I really don't want to take the motor off every time we stow the dinghy.

Thanks!

 

[btoran]

i had a fiberglass bottom rib, swivel motor mount, and 8 hp engine on weaver snap davits. the setup was way heavier than 150 lbs (the engine itself weighed 85 lbs) and it worked fine. i later replaced the rib and mounted the pads myself. what a mistake! even though the setup was no heavier than before, the pads were always coming off. my advice would be to find a pro to install the pads.

the other thing that may surprise you is how difficult it is to pull the dinghy and motor upright. you may need assistance or a winch.

it's important is to ensure the dinghy is secure, especially f you're boating in less than ideal weather. if you have an inflatable, it will tend to bounce in big wakes or waves. add a weighted engine to it and there's the potential for damage to the dinghy, motor, swim platform or all of them.

 

[Starry Night]

Btoran,
I will disagree with you on this. I can attest that the system works perfectly.
This is what you will need Hawkeye.

1 set of weaver snap davits
1 set of weaver pads
1 weaver leaver swival mount for the engine
1 weaver engine support
2 weaver stand offs.

I used this sytem for 9 years on my Carver Montego. My dingy was a Zodiak 11'2" air floor Cadet Fastroller with an 8hp yamaha and then a 15 hp Mercury 2 stroke. I installed the pads myselfand all other hardware. Follow the direction exactly as they say. Do not do this near water or your marina. Bring the boat home and in a area or place with little humidity. A basement is perfect.
From a safetly level, this dink never moved even in 5 ft seas coming of Block Island. As far as lifting it, I used a dock line tied to the handle of the dink. Everyone who saw this set up was amazed how easy it was to use.

Here are some picture of it. The last picture shows the stand offs. Wish I had some better pictures. Take a look at Weaver Industries on the web. I have the weaver leaver engine mount and engine stand if your looking for one.

 

[rnbenton]

Bob,

I am getting ready to put a set of Weavers on my boat as well. If I may, I have a couple of questions.

1. How far apart on the swim platform did you mount the clips? (how much space between them?)

2. Same question for the stand offs. How far apart on the transom? How much angle to the dink?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Starry Night]

1.If your boat is in the water the best way to install the pads is to line your dink up to you boat while it is in the water.
2. Center the dink between your boat.
3. Take the pads and place them on your dink to see where they lie in relation to your snap davits and platform.
4. The purpose of this is when you come to the boat with your dink you should be able to snapo the dink into the snap davits that are installed on your boat. Your dink should floating level. If the pads are install to high or to low you will have problems.
5. You will want to install the davit pads on the straight edge of the tube. Not were the tube curves. Keep the aft pad in front of the stern engine mount.
6. Mark the dink / trace the pads with a penvil while on the dink.
7. Mark the platform were the weaver snap davits will be placed.
8. The distance between the davits will depend upon your dink and platform.
9. The stand offs should be measured when the dink is standing up and in a vertical position.
I used the bow D rings that was installed for the front stand off. I install an L bracket to the stern where the engine was mounted for the aft stand off.

Don't rush the install. It will take time and measuring. Once it is installed you will enjoy using the dink.

 

[rnbenton]

quote:

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Originally posted by Starry Night

Once it is installed you will enjoy using the dink.

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Bob, Thanks for the info. Lots of help.

Bob