Is there a better alternative to towing my dinghy?
Towing your inflatable creates drag, and as conditions worsen beyond Force 3-4, there is a real risk of losing the dinghy altogether or inverting it, potentially flooding the engine. In such scenarios, bringing the dinghy aboard becomes a necessity, no matter how challenging or risky the operation might be.
The alternative is to fit a dinghy davit capable of managing a fully equipped marine RIB with a mounted outboard engine, eliminating the need for towing.
This is where our Dinghy Derrick dinghy davit provides the perfect solution; it is in technical terms a compound double derrick crane. Manufactured in mirror polished Grade 316 stainless steel, it is fully electrically automatic in operation and capable of handling a 130 kg load.
With our system you no longer need to tow, deflate, or stow your dinghy. Dinghy Derrick can also be removed in about 15 minutes for storage, if not required for any period of time.
How Dinghy Derrick provides the solution
The Dinghy Derrick davit effortlessly performs the following four tasks:
-
Dinghy elevation (at anchor or in port)
The Dinghy Derrick davit elevates the inflatable dinghy, sliding up a pair of tracks to the top position where it is locked for safety. This frees up the stern so the crew can walk underneath the dinghy which in turn enables docking stern-on to a quay, receiving visitors or using the swim platform for bathing when at anchor.
-
Dinghy carriage (normal sailing position)
Dinghy Derrick carries the dinghy at the bottom of the sliding tracks, in the wind shadow of the yacht. This position can be adjusted higher or lower to suit weather conditions, such as if the yacht is likely to heel over in strong wind during tacking when there may be a benefit to having the dinghy a little higher.
-
Dinghy launching position
The dinghy is not dropped vertically downwards; instead it is lowered at an angle into the water at an adjustable distance away; this allows use of a drop down platform, or to clear a raked stern.
-
Emergency use of dinghy
Most importantly the Dinghy Derrick inflatable dinghy davit system includes an essential safety feature enabling you to launch your dinghy in approximately 20 seconds, even without electrical power, for emergencies, or when a person overboard recovery is required urgently.
How is it operated?
You can do all this by using a small pendant control hanging on a neck cord, which conveniently can even be operated as you approach an anchored yacht. There is also a switch on the deck panel that you can use instead if you prefer.This is all unique to Dinghy Derrick.
Installation
Find out more about Dinghy Derrick installation and specifications in our Dinghy Derrick technical guide.
In the videos below we explain how Dinghy Derrick works and run through the benefits of using this davit system. (Click on the lower right box to expand to a full screen view and use ESC key to return to embedded view).