Fitting the Standard Garhauer Davit for lifting a dinghy

Casey · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 6:53 am Post subject:

Gauhauer has a good product. Depending on your application, they will also supply main poles of different lengths (we needed a longer pole to lift the kayak high enough to load atop the cabin). We also needed a somewhat longer arm on the circular support, to keep it vertical. Garhauer was able to do both with no problem.

Best,
Casey&Mary

Rock-C · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 12:24 pm Post subject:

We installed a Gauhauer several years ago & have been very happy with the workmanship & performance. We custom ordered a taller support and a longer horizontal arm, to reach over the center of the cabin top. It is a little clumsy rigging & lifting the dingy, but it saves the back. The critical measurement is the distance between the bottom of the lifting hook and the cabin top. Although I ordered a taller upright, I still had a clearance problem. So, i ordered a longer upright. Gauhauer changed the diameter of the tube so now I have a 65" lower tube that doesn't fit the upper tube. Oh well. 😞

thataway · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 5:15 pm Post subject:

There are two weight limits and thus two tube sizes. I had the larger on the Tom Cat (and had a trailer hitch mount made for it--the one on the current 22 is the smaller, and the hitch mount doesn't work---so anyone want a hitch mount for a larger Davit tube?

The moral is look up what tube you have now, or when you order.

olsurfdog · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2015 1:19 pm Post subject:

Bob,
I recall in the past you have talked about using a tackle for recovery in a MOB. The weight limit on the Gerhauer Davit is not enough to lift a very big person. Do you think it would work for that in an emergency? Thanks!

thataway · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:15 pm Post subject:

There are two models of the davit, and the basic difference is the tubing diameter--The smaller tubing is rated at 100 lbs, and the larger is rated at 150 lbs. The rest of the davit seems to be pretty much the same.

In an emergency, I would pick up a person. I would not consider unless it was an emergency. For the 150 lb davit, I think it would be reasonable for a 200 lb person, and the 100 lb davit, a 150 lb person.

I am sure that there is a considerable safety factor built in these davits, and that the weakest links are the tubing itself, the upper attachment and the support for the arm. You can hoist using one of two methods--one is thru the davit arm, to a jam cleat on the body of the tubing, and the other is thru a cam cleat on the upper arm. I would use the latter for hoisting a person, since it puts less down force on the arm out beyond its pivot point.

thataway · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 6:50 pm Post subject:

Some time has gone by and we have used the davit for several years--it is now improved, and is a very easy operation, can be done by one person--but slightly easier with two. No heavy lifting:

Below are 3 different views of Thisaway, with the dinghy on top, and davit holding a little of the weight--so no weight on the Bimini bows.

[img]http://www.c-brats.com/albums/Thataway/DSC01575.jpg
[/img]

These last two photos show the final secret of success--a way of lifting, which gets the dinghy up above the roof, and allows for an easy swing onto the pilot house roof.

This is a "spreader bar. It is a 3/4" sq aluminum tubing, with a 5/8" dowel epoxied in the center. This keeps the bar stiff and it does not bend with the weight. To achieve slightly better balance, the dinghy Torqeedo motor lower unit i left in the bow of the inflatable (tied in place.) We start with the dinghy in the water, and attach the spreader bar to the "D" rings (safety straps for the crew to hang onto)--these D rings can be glued to any inflatable--on the inside.) The last photo shows the Caribiner Ring which latches into the D Ring. I then settle with one foot on the deck, and the right leg on the cabin top--behind the davit--this gives me a good advantage to pull with two hands--left above the davit and the right beyond the jam cleat. We pull the dinghy until "two blocked", then swing it over the back, pivoting the aft pontoons over the Bimini, and up against the anchor light stanchion of the Radar arch. The bow then is held up by the davit. The dinghy is held in place with lines form the hand rails. Just as easy as some electrical davits we have owned on larger boats.

Casey · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 5:54 am Post subject:

We sold our Hobie tandem kayak a couple years ago, so no longer need the Garhauer lift we had mounted on "Dessert 1st." (Pictures in our album.) The lift has been gathering dust in the store room....

If anyone is interested, send me a PM - I'm sure we can come to an arrangement. (Shipping may be an issue, but we can work it out.)

Best,
Casey&Mary

OffLeash · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 9:04 pm Post subject:

Bob...Nice job.
The bar on the dingy is the solution I have been looking for since I did not want the boom to be too high above the boat.
Was there a reason you set the bar beam wise verses forward aft?
Also doe the bar have any impact on the radar?
again...nice job

thataway · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 10:31 pm Post subject:

localboy · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 6:32 pm Post subject:

I'm installing a davit on the port side. Question for the brain-trust:

On the base, do I need to thru drill and install bolts/washers/nuts or would screws be sufficient? The area is thick and re-enforced by what I assume is sandwiched wood, but who knows. It's over 1.5" thick. I can't see enough lateral force being applied that screws would not suffice, but...

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=AU-KAI&id=davit_base&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

thataway · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 6:46 pm Post subject:

I used #10 bolts, over drilled, and put thickened epoxy in, then re-drilled. I also made a base fitting out of "Starboard, to fit the contour of the deck, and have an even base for the davit to rotate. Takes a little time on a belt sander to get the profile correct. I knocked off the top of the diamond non skid pattern to give a better fit--4000 under the Starboard, and the SS ball mount fitting.

localboy · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 7:35 pm Post subject:

I made a base to level it out of 1/2" Starboard; some fine tuning with a belt sander. I plan on epoxying as normal procedure, since the wood (I assume) is present. I have screws but I guess thru bolting would be stronger. Just trying to be lazy and cheap, I guess.

CC Rider · Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 1:08 pm Post subject:

I have a Garhauer davit that I will be installing on my 23. It would fit better (more vertical and a little higher), if I could mount the lower ball onto a bracket that would bolt to the side of the cabin wall. I seem to recall someone had a picture of a fabricated bracket, but darned if I can find it again. Anyone remember seeing this pic of the bracket?

olsurfdog · Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 2:27 pm Post subject:

CC Rider,
Here is a mount SweePea made, would work on cabin side

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=SweePea&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php&page=6

Here is one Dr Bob made

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Thataway&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php