www.iFourWinns.com

I am looking at picking up an inflatable tender that will be mounted our 268 Vista with Weaver Davits.

On the short list is a Grand S250 RIB.

Does anyone have experience with Grand RIBs?

Does anyone have experience with Weaver Davits on a 268 or a similar boat?

All input welcome.

Thanks.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

I have a a Mercury 280 Dynamic. Picked it up at the boat show a few years ago and have been very happy with it. I also have weaver davits, everyone who looks at my set up says it's the best weaver setup they have seen. We can still walk across our swim platform with no bars in the way.
I'll take a pic for you next weekend when we get back up to the boat.

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Alex, I've only seen pictures of one 268 equipped with davits and an inflatable. I have a cheaper West Marine roll up 8' 6" inflatable and a 6 hp Merc. I pull it up on the swim platform and use a ratchet strap from one rear cleat around the dinghy through the front handle and to the other cleat. Yes it is in the way at times, especially when docking and getting off the boat. It does limit your view to the rear especially when sitting in the rear seats. I have had a wave or boat wake hit the back end of the tube and move the dinghy around a bit on the swim platform, but I have not lost it. You can see in the pictures that the dinghy is pulled back a little to allow us to get off and on the boat. We trailer the Vista and typically deflate the dinghy and put in the bag when we are done with it for the week. I put a mounting base for the grill on the left rear corner of the swim platform. I need to launch the dinghy to use the BBQ grill or put the ladder down. My dinghy with the motor weighs a little under 100 pounds. I can pull it up on the swim platform by myself, but it takes some effort.

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http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/ ... yzodlb.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

If you do davits, be sure to mount the dinghy at least as high as the swim platform, or find a way to support the dinghy in a more horizontal position. There are times when the swim platform and dinghy may catch a little water getting on or coming off plane. This may possibly affect performance getting on plane. You will want to give some thought to davit location and will probably need to launch the dinghy to put the swim ladder down.

Any way you look at it though, its still worth having the dinghy along to go play with.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

Thanks for the input guys.

Acguy, pics would be great if not too much trouble.

Surface Interval, the Weaver Davits would put the boat in a similar position to how you transport yours... High and dry.

This season we had 2 inflatable rafts that got us to shore, and they kept the boys entertained. That said, its time to get a real tender.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

I had Weaver davits with on my 298 with a wood floor dinghy and it worked well. I should have bought the davits that drop 6 inches since the height of my swim platform put stress on the hardware that is glued to the dinghy. You will also want the quick kit to remove the davits when they are not in use. The one minor thing that I did not like about the davit is the interference of the dinghy mounted portion while using oars.

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

The 6" drop would reduce stress when the dinghy is in the water and still connected to the Davits?

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Yes, it was convenient (for me at least) to be connected to the davits while attaching my outboard as it provides good stability when maneuvering the outboard from the swim platform to the dinghy. Without the six inch drop version my weight along with the outboard weight caused the pads to peel away from the dinghy. My swim platform is approximately 12 inches from the surface of the water.

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2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

Mine are 6" drops because of the height of the swim platform. also best to use the arc arm on the transom to relieve stress off the tubes.

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

This summer I installed http://hurleymarine.com/hurley-products/dinghy-davits/ The H2O model.

What I like, if I change inflatables I don't have half the davits glued on the old inflatable. Also, its not standing up catching the wind.

I am going to pick up the Grand Dinghy on Friday. It has the arc transom Davit mount installed.

I am going to watch for a deal on the 6"?offset davit arms and quick release plates over the next few months. I am pretty surprised by how costly these Davit systems are... But I guess that's boating!

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

Found a pair of 4"x6" offset davits on kijiji for $250. They were delivered today and are mint. I am almost completely setup now... Is it spring yet?

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP

It's worth the time when installing your davit set up to try and get the davits on your Vista swim platform aligned well with the davits on your inflatable. I'm not sure how much your swim platform height would change between little fuel and full fuel, but I would try and figure the height from the water to your Vista davits using your swim platform's most common height.

I say this because if you take the time and try to get both davits height (Vista/inflatable) aligned well, you can then enjoy the convenience of easily detaching and attaching your inflatable without needing to lift the inflatable a bit or stepping on the inflatable to lower it in the water in order to get the davits to function as intended. I've seen some pretty shitty davit installations, may as well do it right the first time.

Having your inflatable attached to the davits makes taking the outboard off/on so much easier.

Have fun with the inflatable, I very much enjoy touring around with ours.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Great advice, thanks.

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2004 - 288 Vista
Twin - 5.0 Volvo Penta GXi DP