Combined Dinghy Davits Solar Panel Rack?

[Russ]

That looks fantastic.

How about some more pictures of how it is attached.


--Russ

[tom clayton]

i wondered why all seem to focus towards solar panels seems like wind gereration would be easier to set up with less space?

[March]

Not sure I agree with that. Even though they supposedly work at night, in the long run the wind, turbines seem less efficient than the solar panels. You need a strong wind to get it going.

[restless]

and there are lots of mechanical bits, and have you heard them???
I've been looking at making an arch too for some time, with a tender hanger option. I do wonder about hanging that much extra weight so high above the boats centre of gravity. If it is rated for 6 in the cockpit, then 2 mega panels + rubber x height I reckon to be equivalent to a couple of folk onboard.
Another thought is to make a couple of hooks across the back and hold the dingy in a sling with the high point hung from the backstay. May help damp the macdance.. clears rudders etc... windage??
We'll see in time. BTW that hanger looks damn cool.

[Highlander]

R Rae. mod I like
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 2A#p131495

I personally think this is an easy mod & good mod for our mac's the dinghy can be raised to a vertical possition when at a slip so as not to take up more room when necc. also keeps all the weight low

J

[Highlander]

Here's some info on R Rae dinghy mod
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 3&start=30
Scrowl down the page for some good pic's & measurement 's
J

[Oskar 26M]

For those that are interested, below is some information on how the davits are attached, plus a few other details. I'll try to post this to the mods page if I can figure out how.

Everything is fabricated out of 316 stainless steel. The davit arms are each 1.2 metres high and protrude 1.0 metres from the stern. This protrusion was predetermined by the size of my solar panels. About 20mm less would be required for only the dinghy and I am planning to try moving the dinghy tackle inwards to reduce the leverage the dinghy exerts on the arms).

The davits are attached to the existing stern rails using stainless steel mounting brackets and U bolts. A clevis pin connects the rail bracket to a an upper 'sleeve' bracket which can also slide vertically on the davit. A second mounting bracket is bolted to the transom and similarly connected to a lower sleeve bracket on which vertical motion is constrained by welded collars. The clevis pins allow the davits to be easily and quickly removed for trailering.

The sleeves allows the davit arms to rotate so they can be folded almost horizontally across the stern making it easier to attach solar panels, blocks etc. (the mast support arch prevents the arms from folding completely).

Wire braces, tensioned by turn-buckles, prevent the davit arms from rotating or swaying when in use.

The dinghy is raised and lowered with a 6mm line running through a double upper block and single lower block giving a 3:1 lifting ratio. Lines are secured on horn cleats on each davit arm. The dinghy is further secured against the davits during transport to prevent it from swaying on the raising tackle.

Solar panels are secured to the davit arms with U bolts, allowing the panel to be inclined towards the sun when necessary.

The total static load on the davits is about 55 kg: 2 x 4 kg for the davits themselves, 14kg for the two solar panels and 33kg for the dinghy. The weight on the davit arms is not evenly distributed, the transom end of the dinghy being noticeably heavier to lift.

We plan to avoid having the dinghy on the davits during heavy weather, due in part to its weight, and in part to the increased windage.