Fitting the Standard Garhauer Davit for lifting a dinghy

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.
 
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.

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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.

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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
 
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
 
OffLeash":xhmqvfdh said:
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
Click to expand...

It is traditional to have a spreader bar going fore and aft for davit lifting. The spreader bar lowers the point of attachment considerably. In our case, we have to pivot the boat slightly stern up and then slightly bow up as we swing the dinghy aboard. We had determined that the lifting point of these D rings was very near the center of balance. Putting the Torqeedo lower unit made it almost perfectly balanced. The bar is shorter, and can be of smaller material for an athwartship orientation. We could have put another set of D rings down even lower in the boat, but this gave us the clearance which was necessary. The photo was taken just after we had cleaned the boat, so the pontoons were not fully inflated, nor was the keel or air floor inflated.

A small bar, or the davit close to the radar makes no difference, since the Magnatron is about 24" wide. We have mounted radars on masts which were 9" in athwartship measurement, and it made no difference with a 24" magnetron, even though the aluminum mast was only a few inches aft of the rotating magnetron.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
Thanks! The Swee Pea one was the pic I was trying to find, but now after seeing the Dr. Bob bracket, I am re-thinking to copy his idea .... :)

Thanks again! :D

Chris
 
Here is the mock up of the bracket,. It was made in SS and cost about $100 at the local welder:

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This is the plate in the fishing rod holder package:

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In the smaller boats I have been just deck mounting the davit. On the 25, I had the lower section of the davit made 12" longer to give more clearance:
 
Thanks Bob, it was the plate that I couldn't find.... it seems only Sea Dog makes something like this now.
I will see if a fab shop can make a slide-in plate and a bracket to fit the lower davit mounting ball. I sure like the idea of being able to remove the mounting ball when not being used.

Chris
 
Although a good machine shop can make the mounting plate (and perhaps a stronger one?). Sea Dog sells the plate only in the past.
 
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