Will you use it primarily for:

• transportation to and from the shore?
• entertainment?
• safety?
• ferrying people?
• carrying supplies?
• fishing or diving?

More than likely you will put your dinghy to a combination of these uses. In any case this will help you focus on the tender that best suits your needs.

Budget
Budget is, of course, an important consideration and only you can determine its limit; but be careful not to underestimate the value of a good tender to your overall enjoyment of boating. Larger tenders mean larger Davits, Weight=Cost.

Location of Tender
Where you decide to locate your tender and davit system will be the ultimate factor determining the size of your tender regardless of budget. There are basically two locations where tenders are stored - on yachts and on docks. On yachts you have many options - at the transom, on the stern rail, on the deck or bridgedeck, on a swim platform, or with our new universal mounting dinghy & personal watercraft swim platform extension cradle, aft of the swim platform.

The Stern or Off the Stern Rail
The stern is the most popular location for tender storage on boats since deck space is usually at a premium, and these are the dimensional considerations you should make:

1. The length of your dinghy should not exceed the maximum beam of your vessel. Exceeding this dimension can cause problems.
2. The pick up point(s) of your dinghy must fall within the vessels stern measurements.
3. If a motor is to be left on your tender, the davit arm must be mounted ahead of the motor by mounting a bridle 4" to 6" ahead of the dinghy transom. Full mounting and installation instructions are provided with ever davit purchased.

The Swim Platform on power vessels is often over looked as a storage solution for larger dinghies with motors.

However with our Transom mounting rotating davits and either our Universal Swim Platform Extension cradle systems or our Rolling Launch and Load systems this now can become an ideal location.

The 300 Lb. Rolling launch system may be easily removable and relies on the Swim Platform for its strength and is ideal for 8” to 10” dinghies with up to 15 HP. Motors.

The 650 lb. Rolling launch and load system is self supporting, both systems move the dinghy past or off the swim platform so the use of the platform is still possible.

Suggestion: The launch and system may extend the depth of your Swim Platform so use is still possible with the dinghy mounted on this system. See Rolling Launch and Load system.

Suggestion: a cradle can be added to extend the depth of your swim platform. See Universal Swim Platform Mounting Extension, or Rolling Launch & Load System.

Universal Swim Platform Mounting Extension
Lifting and storage of larger dinghies or personal watercraft was always a problem. Now with this storage system in conjunction with one of our rotating davits, the boater may now lift, rotate and store the dinghy on a stable platform, mounted virtually to any part of the vessel. Custom sizes may be manufactured by varying the length and width, to better suit your requirements. The three available types are: fixed, removable telescoping, ad rotating telescoping cradle extensions.

On a Dock
On a dock is very popular. The same considerations apply here as with an on deck situation with the advantage that you don't normally need to clear a railing. You may, however, need to allow for maneuvering the tender between dock pilings.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this section, the selection process is somewhat of a "chicken and egg" dilemma; so the trick is to balance your wishes with the practical realities.

One of the key engineering features of Atkins & Hoyle davits is their adjustability. That means less compromise on your part with respect to your choice of tender or storage area, and easier davit selection and installation.