Single Person Dinghy Launching

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If you have the dinghy rigged properly, and hanging over the side at anchor, single person launching is quite simple.

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The dinghy bow line is attached forward and slack. The halyard winch is positioned so it can be eased while standing at the rail.

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Ease the halyard with one hand, push it away from the topsides with the other.

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Free the halyard snapshackle and you are ready to go.


Posted by Steve Dashew  (February 9, 2011)




3 Responses to “Single Person Dinghy Launching”

  1. Matt Marsh Says:

    I’m curious, Steve, have you ever had wheels like those fitted to one of your dinghies? I suspect they could be quite useful for launching and beaching a dinghy that’s too heavy to lift, and would cut down on wear and tear considerably. But they look a bit awkward to deploy or retrieve.


  2. Steve Dashew Says:

    Morning Matt:
    The center of gravity on our present dink is too far forward to make transom mounted wheels practical. We did design hard spots for wheels but have not gone further. If dragging the boat ashore is required we anchor it with a retrieval line or take the light rowing dink. In the past, with inflatables, we have considered wheels, and without a second rowing dink would use them, but did not pull the trigger.
    The right designs are actually easy to deploy – just ugly.


  3. RayG Says:

    Sightly better looking dink wheels: http://www.beachmaster.co.nz/