Stern Arch for 45DS

[ianpowolny]

We are looking at the possibility of fitting a stern arch to our 45DS this winter. We want to be able to day sail with the dinghy suspended from the arch and also reduce the anxiety when lowering the outboard on to the dinghy. We'd move the GPS aerials on the arch as well as add a couple of solar panels.

I'm looking for thoughts, pictures and designs that would fit our boat.

Ian

[Deleted]

If you really want an arg for your solar panels etc. then my thoughts are not relevant. We installed Kato Davits on our 45 DS and they work wonderfully - carrying our AB 10.5 Dinghy with it's 9.9 hp Tohatsu attached.

We day sail most of the time but cruise for several weeks a year and both dinghy and engine are comfortable on the davits. Kato also has a solar panel option.

[ianpowolny]

I had a quote from Kato last year. I really like their product but the shipping costs added about 30% to the total bill and at over $10,000 was just prohibitively expensive. I had a look on their web site again last week and could do with some more detail photos if you could do that for me.

We spent the last 5 months sailing and getting the dinghy and outboard on an arch would save us a lot in marina fees. Solar would a secondary outcome.

Thanks Ian

[Deleted]

Ian

Here is another photo's showing the install. Given size limitation I'll have to send photo's separately.

Regards,Norm




Attachment Deleted

[Deleted]

Ian

Photo from above.



Attachment Deleted

[ianpowolny]

Folks, I asked for input about an arch and here we are. We finished the installation today so there are a few small issues to fix. We haven't added solar panels but have run the cable to the battery area. This is a fully custom builtarch by a company in Vigo Spain - Franinox. They integrated the pushpit in to the arch with the 25mm uprights replaced by 42mm. Their attention to detail has been realy good down to the specially made cleats and their work is excellent.

Now waiting for the bill but expect it to be the same as the estimate. Less than some of the premade arch estimtes I received.







Note we have added grab rails along to top of the cockpit table. Great for heavy swell days. Designs to allow a safety line to slid along the rail.

Special thanks to Tafika and Brent.

Ian

[Tafika II]

Hi Ian!
Project looks great. Not sure how I helped, but I'm glad is was able to!

[sfh]

Hi Ian

Looks like a great solution.

A couple of quick questions:

1. How did you integrate the existing bimini?

2. I can see that you have developed some kind of "sliding" solution that allows for the dinghy to be pushed further out before it is lowered. How is that working?

3. Would you be keen on sharing the total price?

Cheers
Steen

[hoppy]

Nice looking setup

I was thinking of adding sliding/removable poles for the dingy but because of the way I got them to mount the rear poles of the arch onto the pushpit I realise it will not be a good idea.

I spent the last 3 weeks with my dingy rolled up on the deck and I so much enjoyed not having it on the foredeck and this has convinced me to do something this year to correct the arch design. I might also move my liferaft to the pushpit to give me better visibility.

I take it that with your davits, you extend them when lifting/dropping the dinghy and then bring it in close to the arch for sailing? I guess there is some sort of plastic sleeve inside the davit tube?

[ianpowolny]

We lifted Affinity out of the water last Thursday and have been on a road trip since then. Tonight we have really good wifi access so here some answers.

1. In talking to Brent we cleared our minds to what we actually wanted and what cables needed to be run; that the tube suggested was an acceptable specification and that the price quoted was acceptable. At €3000 plus tax we thought this was fair. We do need to add in a day and half of electrical work with 2 electricians.

2. Integrating the bimini tubes in to the arch was as simple as undoing them from there original position on the old pushpit rails and welding the necessary clips to the new arch structure. We worked with the welder to agree a postion. That moves the tubes above head hight.

3. Vasko suggested that we should be able to climb on to the arch so that we could clean the solar panels. Hence the lower two pushpit rails are at the height Jeaneau set them. The one above that is set so I don't hit my head when I lean back and allows access to the top of the arch.

4. The davit sliding tube solution isn't perfect in that we can slide the davits in when we lift the dinghy but due to the way the hoisting rope runs its not possible to push the davits out as we lower. I'm going to buy two furling line stanchion blocks and fit them high on the top cross rail to see if this helps. Having said that lowering the dinghy is no great issue as we just push it clear as we lower it.

5. Yes the fabricator custom made plastic sleeves to ease the movement of the sliding davits.

6. Other points to think about if you are considering going the custom made route: make sure when replacing the aft stanchions that they follow the original pushpit line as this helps you to lean back when looking forward; add a couple floodlights (we have some halogen ones that need replacement H3 led bulbs); add a third lifting point to allow for the outboard to be brought on board when detached from the dinghy; the attachments plates through the deck are designed to match the line of the deck both on top and below deck; we may need to add strenghtening between the transom and the pushpit to help hold the life raft firm but that is really an arch specification issue.

Let me know if there are any other questions and I'll try and answer them.

[Trevor]

Nice job Ian,

I am toying with the idea of building an arch for our 42DS. The hard part is the design. I still have to convince my formidable sailing partner (my wife) it is a good idea.   I'm still working on that.

Great to see you have had such success because it is a big deal to take on so congratulations.

Regards,

Trev

[whaley]

Hi Ian, I have just brought my new (to me) 45DS back to my home in Portimao, Algarve. We have a Walker Bay 10 dinghy and are really keen to fit davits (and possibly solar, though that may go on the bimini aft of the backstays).

Are you in Spain at the moment or, by any chance, coming South to Portugal? I would love to see what you have done.

Did your Stainless guy make any plans or do the job mostly by eye? I have guy here that i could use, but if your Vigo guy made drawings he might be able to reproduce them.

Cheers, Rory