Yacht A Fun, our Gemini sailing catamaran, gets its dinghy….
Yacht A Fun’s dingy is wider than the one for which the davit system was made
At the middle of last week, urgency was added to the need to get our dingy off its trailer at Village Storage in Oriental. The end of last week was to give us quite a drop in temperatures. I did not want to operate the dinghy in cold windy conditions. To beat the cold weather, and to test the dinghy on our Gemini catamaran’s davit system, I needed to get on with the project.
Mercury Outboard service was done: lubrication of articulation points; topped off the drive leg gear oil; checked the engine oil; lubricated throttle and shifter wires; and changed fuel filter.
We launched at the Wildlife “put in”. The engine started fine and ran well all the way around the peninsula to Whittaker Creek and to Deaton’s Marine docks.
However, due to the width of our Rigid Inflatable Boat’s beam, raising the dingy while fully inflated is difficult due to the depth of the davit’s overhang. The davit system has a pair of fixed legs on starboard and port. Dinghy bladder chafe, against the outermost davit legs, also has to be minimized.
My grandmother wore a girdle. Why not our dingy?
Diann bought a canvas remnant at one of Oriental’s shops. I measured and estimated the dinghy’s partially deflated beam. Together we created a 12” wide by 9 feet long cloth band which is synched up with a short length of rope.
Diann sews the canvas for the dinghy girdle
By dropping a nylon leader line over the dinghy’s stern and then “keel hauling” the girdle under and around the dingy, the girdle can be drawn up.
the girdle offers chafe protection, too
Sure enough, the cold front brought constant 20 mph winds with gusts above 30 mph. The dingy stayed in place on the davit- and without chafe.
Gemini catamaran Yacht A Fun davit system with dinghy raised
Saturday and Sunday these multiple fenders were necessary to absorb shock from the moving boat as it strained on the dock lines and the water level changed.
multiple fenders due to shifting winds
Sunday night we made chili. It simmered on our gas stove for at least three hours.
chili fixings
Zoey did what she does best…… found a snuggle spot to nap.
Pomeranian, Xoey, snoozes on one of Diann’s rag quilts
This morning work continues on the DC system upgrade. Perhaps tomorrow we can test the new Raritan Elegance electric toilet.
Ahhhhh, progress……………..