[C320-list] Dinghy storage

[David Wellerstein via C320-list]

Ahoy friends!

When we bought our boat it came with a nice Zodiac dinghy that was stored in the large portside locker. When we finally took it out we thought it too big and heavy at over 10’. We want it just as a tender and we bought one of the cool ePropulsion eLite motors for it. We wound up finding a West Marine PRU-3 8’ PVC dinghy, still new in the box, on Craigslist. Well, as luck would have it, the PRU-3, rolled up, is actually wider than the Zodiac and does not fit in the locker due to the way the aft galley cabinet reaches into the locker.

So, we have a few choices: find another storage location (port settee, v-berth), keep it inflated on the deck, keep it inflated on the transom, davits (not going to happen), remove the slats and shove it in the locker as best we can…etc.

We can also keep the Zodiac and sell the West Marine boat. The Zodiac is one of the Cadet 310 models (about 20 years old) with an inflatable floor and inflatable keel. It’s a nice boat.

I’m hoping one of you has/had a similar experience and can share. I appreciate it!

David
C320 #118 “Dream Catcher"

David Wellerstein | dwel...@mac.com | 925.301.6581 (m)

[Jack Brennan via C320-list]

I installed Weaver davits when I bought my 320 seven years ago. The fittings are on the stern swim step, and the dinghy folds up onto the stern with minimal windage.

It's a good solution if you are space-constrained in your slip, as I am. (Regular davits would place the dinghy in the fairway outside the slip.) Easy to install, Easy to use. My dinghy, at nine feet, is about the longest you can go before it gets wider than the boat.

You do have to measure and glue patches onto the dinghy to connect to the davits. I can provide a more detailed description if anyone is interested in installing them.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catlina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.
________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of David Wellerstein via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 9:50 AM
To: C320...@catalina320.com <C320...@catalina320.com>
Cc: David Wellerstein <dwel...@mac.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Dinghy storage

[P.F. Ross via C320-list]

David,

I also installed Weaver davits and would recommend them. If you look at
this string you will find more info on a post I made a couple of years ago:

https://groups.google.com/g/c320-list/c/p2DTzhrN1k8/m/HV9aix8SAgAJ

Great support from Weaver!

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL

[David Wellerstein via C320-list]

Thanks for the suggestions. Davits sound like a great idea but expensive and I don’t love the boat modifications to support something we will not use extensively.

I did come across something called Dinghy Rings (https://www.dinghyrings.se/, US distributor - https://ringed-davits.com/#monial). For $350 they sell a version that doesn’t permanently attach to the transom but seems to provide what we need. Anyone try these or even see them in the wild?

David
C320 #118 Dream Catcher

SF Bay

David Wellerstein | dwel...@mac.com | 925.301.6581 (m)

[Jack Brennan via C320-list]

David:

I can tell you from experience that it gets really old to inflate a dinghy on deck every time you anchor and need to go ashore. Storing an inflated dinghy on the foredeck is not much better because it is always in the way and blocks your view from the helm.

I know some people like to do it, but dragging a dinghy has a bunch of disadvantages and even dangers when seas kick up.

If you are budget minded, there are a number of ways you can duplicate Weaver davits without buying the kit. Installing cleats or SS rings at the edges of the swim platform, and gluing two cleats on one side of the dinghy, would allow you to secure the dinghy. Then you use lines on the other side of the dinghy, or under it, to flip the dinghy up and against the stern of the boat.

You can have the dinghy in the water in five minutes, with another five to install motor, oars, etc.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320

Tierra Verde, Fl.

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of David Wellerstein via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>

Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 9:58 AM
To: C320...@catalina320.com <C320...@Catalina320.com>
Cc: David Wellerstein <dwel...@mac.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Dinghy storage

[ART HARDEN via C320-list]

I can concur with all these comments. Storing on deck as an issue storing down below and pumping it up is a bigger issue. What I did find is something on the cheap. I bought two ratchet straps 15 feet long and use them to secure the dinghy to the back of the boat. I take one strap and hook it onto the stern rail and feed it through the grab lines on top of the inflatable bringing it around and underneath and back through the other side of the grab lines and then hook it into the stern rail. Ratchet it down and the inflatable is secure on the stern of the boat.

To use the boat, you just loosen it and tie it perpendicular to the stern.I then use a secure line to lower the dinghy motor into place. I don’t use the dinghy that often so it’s not that much of an issue putting the motor on and off rest storage.

Sent from my iPhone

Art Harden
Catalina 320 "Tortuga" 243
E-42
937.885.9380 (o)
937.477.5544 (m)

> On Jun 23, 2025, at 10:11 AM, Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> David:

[P.F. Ross via C320-list]

Interesting ideas, Art.

I will add the fact that we have an ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 which makes it
(somewhat) easy to mount and remove outboard. It is in 2 pieces, lower
unit and battery, and my 72 year old self can manhandle both onto the boat
without an outboard lift. But it does help that the Weaver snap davits
hold the dinghy securely to the transom when I am standing in the dinghy
loading and unloading the outboard lower unit.

But I see that you, David, have the ePropulsion eLite which is one piece
and lighter than my Spirit. Please let us know how it moves your dinghy
around. I can say that our Spirit (3 hp equivalent) has worked well for 4
years now. Easy to sneak up on wildlife found on Everglades islands, even
if it won't quite push the dinghy to plane.

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL

[David Wellerstein via C320-list]

Yes, the eLite will be here this week and we are excited to putter to/from the boat and around the marina. Should be fun! I think we will get a little 100w solar charger for it as well to avoid battery anxiety. I don’t want to charge it from our house battery while out. Having said that, I may have to calculate how much it would drain our new batteries…

I’m leaning towards ordering one of the non-permanent dinghy rings but I haven’t been able to reach the US reseller who I believe works out of his house. At least it’s under $400 so not too big a risk. I’ll report back if we go that route in additional to impressions of the eLite which will fit in our locker now that we won’t have an inflatable there!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

—David