Launching and retrieval of a large dinghy is probably the riskiest endeavor on any yacht. Pete Rossin, of Iron Lady (FPB64-3), has written up the system he uses, the link for which is at the end of this article. Before checking his blog, here are some things for owners of all types of vessels to consider in the dinghy handling process.
- Inspect the lifting bridle before each cycle. Check knots (which should be seized in some fashion), and make sure the bridle connections to the dinghy have a fair lead and are not binding.
- With the halyard tight, but not yet lifting the dinghy, double check turning blocks to make sure everything is in line, and that the halyard block itself is not twisted.
- Inspect the shackle pin on the halyard to see that it is 100% engaged.
- Have halyard tail flaked so it will run freely, and is not underfoot.
- Before lifting look around for wakes or wave sets that would rock the boat before the boom has been swung out.
- Make sure nobody ever stands under the dinghy or boom.
- Once the dinghy is lifted, without delay, get it over the lifelines and down so it cannot swing back with a wake (i.e. it is blocked from coming across the boat by the lifelines or topsides).
These checks take no more than a minute. The entire process is simple that we almost always bring our dink on deck before nightfall, so we are ready to depart at a moments notice.
To read Pete Rossin’s blog and study his photos click here.
Posted by Steve Dashew (October 2, 2011)
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Hi Steve,
From looking at your photos over the years it certainly appeared that your boom system would function quite smoothly. Seeing this post and Pete’s link brings it right home.
Those beautiful dinghies that Circa are making for you look like they’ll last as long as the FPB’s. I’m curious how much they weight though. I’m sure it isn’t insignificant and the dynamic loading on the boom & rigging must be quite high. Did you originally factor having a dinghy of this size and weight when you designed Windhorse? I can’t quite remember, but didn’t you used to carry a rowing dink and a rib, so did you have to modify the boom & rigging when you decided to go with one of these boats? How much of a factor is all that mass up high on the 64’s?
Cheers,
David
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Hi David:
The Circa dinks, all up, weigh around 900 pounds/400kg. Without looking up the details, I think we have full factors of safety at this weight. In terms of VCG, this has been in the calcs from the beginning. The aluminum dink on Wind Horse is a touch lighter, but has always been part of the weight budget as well. The booms are capable of lifting more if the topping lift is moved inboard..
October 5th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
With that stout center console, I wonder if it would be possible to just put a single lifting eye on its top and dispense with the 4-lead bridle altogether.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Hi Bill:
A series of attachment points is required to stabilize the dink, especially given the center of gravity is going to vary.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Hi Steve,
It’s hard to tell from the pictures how much vertical and lateral distance there is between the top of the center console and the ring where the 4 leads come together, but if a single lifting eye were rigidly mounted to the center console to occupy the same point in space as the ring now does, the system would behave just like the 4-point bridle. I thought about this every day on my first cruise since I had the habit of tripping over bridle lines in the dink (but it has been a while since I took Statics!)
October 5th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
Bill – fixed points work, IF the center of gravity stays th same. But changes in fuel, water in the dink, a bag of groceries, will upset the balance.