This page is designed to help you with some of our most frequently asked questions. If you need any further assistance please do not hesitate to call or email us at anytime.

Quick Jumps

Why are Atkins & Hoyle designs different? Go

What about dissimilar metals? Go

Why does Atkins & Hoyle use an aluminum-magnesium alloy? Go

What are the advantages of bright polished 316 stainless steel? Go

What is anodizing? Go

Are Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. davits removable? Go

What does “safe working load” mean? Go

What if my rail is not strong enough to support a rail mounted davit? Go

What is the best lifting ratio for a davit? Go

If I have an angled transom or large swim platform, how do I get the extra reach that I need? Go

There is no rail on my transom; can I still mount rotating davits? Go

Why are there no welds on your products? Go

Can my hatch be repaired? Go

I broke a knob on of my ports and I ripped the screen off of two others, can I get replacements? Go

Where can I purchase Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. products? Go

How do I contact you? Go

Why are Atkins & Hoyle designs different?

What about dissimilar metals?

Why does Atkins & Hoyle use an aluminum-magnesium alloy?

The conditions and forces that we expect our products to go trough demand that we use a super strong, super light alloy that will not corrode in salt water. The best alloy for these specifications is Almag 35, an aluminum-magnesium alloy. This non-ferrous, anti-corrosion metal alloy is perfectly suited to the marine industry because it is lighter stronger than ordinary aluminum. Almag 35 is the lightest, strongest and most corrosion resistant alloy for marine use available today. It provides a 40% elongation, meaning that instead of breaking, the davits are flexible, absorbing shock loads, it has a tensile strength 44000 lb. per square inch and is 20 % lighter than aluminum

 What are the advantages of bright polished 316 stainless steel?

Chlorides in the marine environment are very corrosive to most metals. Beyond the reactivity of some grades of stainless steel, such as 304, 316 stainless steel is very resistant to this corrosive environment. This is why it is considered the only true marine grade stainless steel. Be sure to choose any product for your boat that only uses 316 stainless steel to maintain their look and strength. Atkins & Hoyle only uses 316 stainless steel. To increase the corrosive resistance and give a beautiful mirror look, we bright polish our stainless steel. This crucial step eliminates tiny cracks and holes in the exterior finish which is where the corrosion begins.

 What is anodizing?

An electrical process that etches and penetrates the surface of the casting to further add corrosion resistance and enhance the aesthetics.

Are Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. davits removable?

Our rail mounted davits are very simple to remove and can be stowed away in merely a few minutes. We also have an optional removable shoe for our larger deck and transom mounted davits. These features make removing your davit system when you want a breeze.

What does “safe working load” mean?

Our davits our rated to a safe working load that is well below their tested maximum capacity. This means that we test our davits beyond what we ultimately rate them at because we know that there is a lot of extra load when your boat is on the water. Make sure that any davit system that you are considering quotes only a safe working load and is not simply the useless “maximum capacity” that many other davit manufacturers use. Other manufacturers’ tubing is not stronger than ours, not only because the unique way that we produce our products, but in the fact that the wall is reduced during their bending process. Simply put, all other davit manufacturers overrate their products

 What if my rail is not strong enough to support a rail mounted davit?

Atkins & Hoyle is the only davit manufacturer that has designed way to take the load off your rail and transfer it on to the base. This is accomplished by an independent compression strut that is free to rotate with the rest of the davit. By avoiding a fixed welded strut, our design is the only that truly transfers the weight towards the base, eliminating 40% more horizontal torque. No other davit system on the market uses a compression strut in the independent way that we do.

 What is the best lifting ratio for a davit?

We believe in providing the highest lifting ratio for our davits. All of our rail mounted davits have a 6:1 block and pulley system, our 300 lb. fixed model 2000 has 7:1 and our 750 lb. model 5000 has a 12:1 system plus a 6.8:1 winch. All of these purchase systems are designed to give a maximum 30 lb. pull on the rope. This provides 100% safety advantage while other manufactures provide optional block systems that exceed the tolerance of their davit systems. This ensures that you have to expend the least amount energy as possible to secure your tender.

 If I have an angled transom or large swim platform, how do I get the extra reach that I need?

Atkins & Hoyle davits are fully adjustable, allowing you get the most reach that is possible with a davit system. This is accomplished with our innovative spline casting that locks our modular units after a one time adjustment, thus allowing you to tailor suit the height and reach for your particular boat. Our 1900 model can also have added length to the tubes if you require even more reach, up to 12 inches. Our systems also have the ability to hold the davit away from the rail or transom to give the maximum reach that you need.

 There is no rail on my transom; can I still mount rotating davits?

Yes, all of our davit systems can be mounted in a variety of ways. The universal base mount can be fitted to any angle so it can lie flat against your deck or transom in place of a rail mount.

 Why are there no welds on your products?

Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. feels that welds represent a short cut in the design of a marine product. They are ugly, can corrode, leave stains, and above all do not provide a great deal of added strength. We use super strong, super light castings to join our modular pieces together. This provides the most strength that is possible when joining the various aspects of a davit system.

 Can my hatch be repaired?

Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. is the only official hatch repair shop for our hatches. A long history of dealing with manufacturing, installing and repairing hatches means that we have a great deal of experience with refurbishing hatches. We have access to the chemicals and glues that are used to ensure a water tight seal for decades to come. We only use cast acrylic sheets which are far stronger and more resistant to breakdown than extruded acrylic.

 I broke a knob on of my ports and I ripped the screen off of two others, can I get replacements?

We supply the full range of parts for all of our products including, port knobs, screens, gaskets and glue, hatch arm assemblies and much more. Be sure to check out our parts list found on our homepage.

 Where can I purchase Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. products?

Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. deals with customers on a first hand basis. Not only does this factory-direct approach mean that you get the best deal, but it means that you have access to the designers and producers of the product you are interested in. We ship internationally and are excited to do business overseas. Please send us an email or call us direct if you are thinking about choosing Atkins & Hoyle Ltd.

How do I contact you?

Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. can be reached by a toll free number within North America 1-877-415-5167, within Canada at 416-596-1818 and of course online at atkinshoyle@dapa.com. We also have a convenient form that links directly to our email found here.