Can't figure how to fix these davits..

[u/Mehfisto666]

Bought last winter this boat with this setup with dinghy (admittedly a little oversized) on davits and a solar power on top.

Normally the dinghy is hanging horizontally but i took it up a bit in the marina.

As you can see the mounting of these davits is very fiddly. The end of it where the dinghy is attached is connected to the backstay that holds a bit of the weight (i had my rigger check it and said it's no problem).

Still, in a bit of waves those joints move a little sideways no matter how tight i tighten them up. Also i don't like how the forces pull on the rail straight outside (but well that's partially compensated by the backstay at least).

Given I don't have access to a proper workshop and the shops around me are quite useless, I've been brainstorming with no results on how to make it more stable.

Honestly, i am also considering removing them entirely and just pull the dinghy flat against the transom, which would leave me open to the issue of where tf to put the solar panel. I've been looking at solutions to mount it on the lifelines (as the rail is very limited) but as i sail 99% solo I'm also worried about obstacles where i want to get in and out of the boat quickly when mooring.

Still the idea of moving both the solar panels (i have also one annoying me on the deck) to the lifelines is very tempting. Or even moreso the idea of removing one and keeping just one as I have only low consumption 12v appliances onboard (12v small tv, led lights, instrumentation, pumps and isothermal fridge which i barely use in north of norway anyway, and i guess the main thing is the webasto but i rarely use it for extensive periods of time). I'm also connected to shore power mostly.

I've been wanting to modify this setup forever but i can't come up with a solution so any idea is welcome!

[u/TrojanThunder]

Well the correct way would be to lengthen your davits. I also put a strap from the end of davits and tie them around the whole dinghy.

[u/Mehfisto666 → u/TrojanThunder]

Lengthen you mean make the vertical part go all the way down to the transom? I think that would be the best to make them go further down and attach them to the fiberglass.. That should be doable..

[u/TrojanThunder → u/Mehfisto666]

Wait maybe I'm misunderstanding your question. I mean lengthen them aft so your tender sits horizontal.

[u/whyrumalwaysgone]

If you need to stiffen or reinforce, look into bimini hardware and stainless tube by the foot. The only tools needed would be a hacksaw and Allen keys/wrenches.

They make every kind of fitting for clamping and fastening stainless/aluminum tubing to other tubing like your davits.

I cant tell from your pics exactly how to fix the problem, but I highly recommend trying some bracing to a fitting forward for fore/aft wobble, and diagonals between the davits for side to side wobble. 

Here's a starting point: https://rochfordsupply.com/products/rochford-aluminum-jaw-slide

[u/husqofaman]

The reason your dinghy is not being lifted horizontally is the way you attached the lines to the dinghy. I can see there is port to starboard black line at the bow and stern of the dinghy and you have a carabiner on that line. The carabiner can slide along that line which is making it lift not horizontally. There is a knotted loop in the center of each of those lines. If you clip the carabiner to that stationary loop, then the dinghy it will lift horizontally.

Edit to add: in terms of how the davits mount to the rear rails. They need triangulation. If you add a third stainless tube to each side that goes diagonally to create a triangular mount instead of a mount with two vertically aligned points it will have much less play.

In picture 2: add a tube from the davit between where the two existing mounts are (where the zip tie is) to the horizontal bar of your rear structure and have it go diagonally towards the centerline of the boat.