Installing Our New Hurley Davit System

Hurley Davit System Worked for Kismet!

We had been towing our dinghy for over a year when we finally decided to get serious about finding a davit system. Towing is easy and inexpensive, however towing can also become problematic in rough seas or at higher speeds, so we wanted to find a solution, a viable launch and retrieve system where the dinghy would rest upright while overhanging the swim platform slightly. We thought it should be lightweight and detachable when needed, We also needed it to be somewhat flexible, so we could still use our swim platform without completely launching the dinghy.

After much research and contemplation, we found a davit system, made by, HURLEY MARINE. It fit our specifications exactly. This will make things simpler for us, we won’t have to always be conscious of having to pull up the dinghy line when we slow down for a bridge or lock opening or to anchor or dock. We won’t have to concern ourselves with how the dinghy is holding up because it will be safely resting on our Hurley Davit system, high and dry.

We ordered the unit from Hurley before we left home to cruise the Tennessee River. We packed it in the bed of the truck along with all the other gear we would need for our trip south along with the necessary tools for installation. When we had a spare moment at Grand Rivers, I unpacked the davit to assess the requirements for installation and see what tools or equipment might be needed while we still had the truck close by and could run into Paducah for supplies. We needed to do this before we left Grand Rivers, and our truck, to cruise south down the Tennessee River.

Two days after we left Green Turtle Marina we found a free afternoon at anchor in Cypress Creek. The installation was easy as could be with calm water in a well-protected anchorage. We are happy we waited to find just the right dinghy rig, the Hurley Davit System fits our needs perfectly.