Radar/Solar arch with davits for small dingy

[newt]

Go ahead and tell me I'm crazy but I think it will work. What if I removed the rear pulpit and put in a arch-pulpit combo that would have
1. greater access to the rear of the boat for using the ladder and the outboard.
2. an arch for putting solar panels on
3. davits on the rear of the arch to mount a small dingy.
Like the Island Packets I used to charter, only smaller...
What do you guys think?

[kchunk]

You're crazy!!    lol...

Just kidding. Are you talking about a 23? One question I have is how much of a weight difference are we talking about? I know on my 23, the last thing I want is more weight aft.

--Greg

[newt]

Yeah, I have a 23/3. It has a big honda 9.9 on its rear which I plan on getting rid of.  It balances really well right now, with just a little weather helm, but maybe a dingy will be too heavy...hmm something to think about.

[curtisv]

Go ahead and tell me I'm crazy but I think it will work. What if I removed the rear pulpit and put in a arch-pulpit combo that would have
1. greater access to the rear of the boat for using the ladder and the outboard.
2. an arch for putting solar panels on
3. davits on the rear of the arch to mount a small dingy.
Like the Island Packets I used to charter, only smaller...
What do you guys think?

Seems like a reasonable idea but I don't know about the weight of a dinghy plus having an outboard.  A large outboard is 80-100 pounds (6-8HP, with the 100lbs being electric start and alternator).  Most hard dinghies are about 80-150 lbs.  You did say small dinghy.  Lose the outboard and you'd be fine - fore and aft trim at least.

Would work for the solar panels.

This summer I might chase down someone local who welds truck lumber racks and see if he's up for this sort of project.  I'd mostly be interested in mounting solar panels.  A split backstay mounted to the arch might not be a bad idea too.  More likely I'll just sail and not bother changing anything this season.

Curtis

[newt]

thanks for the reply Curtis! I am just finishing up my wood dingy, got the paint on it and it probably weighs in at 80 lbs. I figured to go to a light electric motor, solar panels and my dingy will make it about  the same weight as my 9.9 Honda with the generator on it. The trolling motor I got weighs  about 20 lbs. And the shade is free!
The backstay is a bit of an issue, as well as the boom coming most of the way back into the cockpit. I guess I could just go under the boom, but that would make it too low. More likely I will just have a most of the structure to the aft, with a bit of canvas coming off the front of the arch and fixed by straps along the side of the cabin. I will probably weld this on my own, or local anyway.
Has anyone else done something like this?

[curtisv]

If you go with an arch with solar panels you might want to switch to mid-boom sheeting.  Good time to install a traveller in the cockpit.  One thing leads to another.

Curtis

[newt]

My boats previous owner already did that. I keep forgetting its not factory. I cannot see aft boom sheeting- it seems like it wouldn't work as well.
BTW- dingy is almost ready. I want to go out and explore some islands!

[curtisv]

My boats previous owner already did that. I keep forgetting its not factory. I cannot see aft boom sheeting- it seems like it wouldn't work as well.
BTW- dingy is almost ready. I want to go out and explore some islands!

Having sailed on boats with a traveler, I'd say its definitely worth adding.  I can't see why the factory does end boom sheeting the way they do unless they feel that most new boat buyers are likely to want the cockpit room and not understand that a traveler would perform much better.

Curtis