Combined Dinghy Davits Solar Panel Rack?

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

The load rating on our dinghy is 1,100 lbs posted on the transom. We've got quite a ways to go to reach that point even though our youngest has now crossed the 100lb mark. Our crew of 5 is right around 660lbs right now, throw in 30lbs of dogs and even the extra 115lb girl friend my oldest brought on one trip and and there is still plenty of margin. We never could have carried that load in our old 8' dinghy.

[The Mutt]

The load rating on our dinghy is 1,100 lbs posted on the transom. We've got quite a ways to go to reach that point even though our youngest has now crossed the 100lb mark. Our crew of 5 is right around 660lbs right now, throw in 30lbs of dogs and even the extra 115lb girl friend my oldest brought on one trip and and there is still plenty of margin. We never could have carried that load in our old 8' dinghy.

Duane, you have hanging around a male dominated environment for too long, young ladies don't like people talking about their weight. If I broached that topic my family jewels would be hung up to dry!

Glenn

[rockman]

I have a set of mounts at the back of the mac - over the engine (there should be a photo in the mod section).

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ewimg=1853

Comments: One big panel is heavy to lift and get into position, but 120W give you plenty of power to play with.
Originally I bolted the support arms to the mast holding structure, but the bolts kept working loose during transport (even with locktight nuts and rubber washes), so I have welded the arms and bolted them - those suckers are never coming off. I would not trust the arms to also hang a dingy off - as the base supports may need some reinforcing. I have seen a 26M where they had replaced the factory support structure with a 40mm alloy frame, that followed the pullpit up from the base, so that there was extra support. This also made the entry and exit area much wider. I think there may be a post in the Mod section with this shown.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=497

Good Luck

[Hamin' X]

Link to rockman's mod:

Solar Panel Mount

~Rich

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

You might consider mounting the arch the way BWY does their large aft arch on the M. They added a second set of sockets below the ones for the factory arch and designed the large arch to attach to all four points instead of just two. The sockets are attached to a stainless plate on each side of the transom. This makes it much more secure yet still keeps the top two sockets in the original location so the factory arch can also be used.

[Rick Westlake]

I have seen a 26M where they had replaced the factory support structure with a 40mm alloy frame, that followed the pullpit up from the base, so that there was extra support. This also made the entry and exit area much wider. I think there may be a post in the Mod section with this shown.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=497

I definitely like the notion of putting the mast high enough that the spreaders don't interfere with the lifeline stanchions, when you're stowing the mast for travel. But, on my X, I believe I'd need to add extra support for the middle of the mast ... Duane, was it you that posted a photo of a PVC-tube mast support at the tabernacle?

The more I look at this, the better I like the notion of using that Big Air wake-tower (linked ref in my post above) as a solar arch. It would certainly be robust enough, probably even to haul the trailer with the solar panels in place. Maybe a winter project.

[Captain Steve]

I posted a PVC support. See

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=456

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

That's certainly much more complex than my support.



Mine is simply a section of 2" ABS pipe I had lying around. I cut a vee in the top to mate up with the aft mast shape. Below that I drilled a hole that allows one of my cinch it bungees to pass through securing it to the mast. At the bottom I cut a vertical slot that slides over the bolt from the mast raising gear (which I never remove) keeping the base securely in place on the mast step. It's all just a single piece of pipe with no fittings at all. Cheap and simple, it has lasted two years so far. If it breaks I'll just cut out another one.

Obviously the M has a different type of mast raising gear so there would have to be some adaptations.

My arch is much higher than the normal factory location but I still have to deal with the spreader / lifeline interference. I placed it ectra high so I could keep my bimini folded back in the up position and still lower the mast. I think if you were to get it high enough to stay above the lifelines you would be over the 14' height limit at the tip.



My solution to this is a simple set of keypin shackles at the aft end of the forward lifelines. They simply release from the mid pulpit and allow the lines to go slack. This allows the mast to be rolled forward and placed on the bow pulpit without any concern for the spreaders. It takes no time at all to slack or tighten up the lifelines.

Being able to slack the lifelines also is handy when loading and unloading the dinghy from the bow. It makes it easier to get the boat on and off.

[puggsy]

Hi Oskar...I am green with envy...getting up to Shark BaY...WHAT A PLACE...lots and lots of shallows where nothing but a can operate... when you get up there, do not miss out on stopping at GNANGA BAY RESORT, 50 kms short of DENHAM. Spent a tourist season there in the 90's.
Mistral mistook you for me because of where we are.
And Duane Dunn made me laugh...about the LOCKS we have to negotiate...hahaha...
Enjoy your trip...G.

Your idea is good...if you can get the dinghy to hang Above the top level of the motor....
The shallows up there are so extensive, you could park up stern first to just about ANY beach , stay afloat and wade ashore...you might find the dinghy is not necessary... Cheers.

[Mistral]

Hi Oskar, Puggsy,

I noticed my error, but I thought you might understand the error seeing you are both in WA. Hope you didn't take offence.
Why not become members of the Aus. MacGregor Yacht Association.

Dirk

[Captain Steve]

Duane's keypin mod for the lifelines works great. and I will admit my mast prop may be a bit over engineered. But why use one piece when 3 will work too!

[The Mutt]

Duane's keypin mod for the lifelines works great. and I will admit my mast prop may be a bit over engineered. But why use one piece when 3 will work too!

I have the same problem of over engineering you do Steve, I use a 2.5 ton strap to hold the mast in place while trailering.

Glenn

[The Mutt]

Instead of davits and having to beef up the arch etc, what about a bracket of some sort hinging up from the transom to hold one side of the dinghy high enough to clear the outboard and winch up the dinghy. I'm trying to get the grey matter around adapting the Sea Wise Davit System, possibly too much weight to add to a Marlin board.





The Dinghy-tow system holds the dinghy too high for my liking when storing the dinghy.

Another thought is two hinge down davit supports connected to the upper transom near backstay connection and at equal height port side with bracing going back to the transom near the rudders, could even run the lifting lines through blocks to the cabin winches to lift/lower the dinghy above the motor. For that matter the dinghy outboard could easily be left on

I'ts only to get the dinghy out of the way, I intend to use the area in front of the mast as the main storage area for our dinghy..

Glenn

[Oskar 26M]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the thoughtful responses and helpful suggestions

We cant get the davits/solar supports made in time so have returned to our earlier interim solution as proposed by KayakDan "Wings on the Mac"

Here are some pics of the starboard installation of one of the Unisolar US64W. Port panel is just a reflection of the starboard design.




The panels are not fully articulated but can be 'rolled' 180 degrees around the SS stanchion rail to improve the angle of incidence to the sun. We are not planning to leave them fitted while towing, but will store them in the cabin.
They do not interfere with any of our lines. However, we only run a jib. Genoa users could find them problematic

With the benefit of hindsight, the main change we would make would be to increase the thickness of the aluminium strips that attach the SS rail to the stanchions. We have used 3mm x 50mm x 400mm strips. 3mm looks a bit light, so 5mm would be better.

The panels are attached to 20x20x2 square section aluminium channels which in turn are 'U' bolted to the 2300x 25mm SS rods between the stanchions.

We hope its gonna work okay! I guess we will let you know in October when we/if get back!

[Oskar 26M]

We eventually found a local guy who was able to fabricate the combined dinghy davits and solar panel mounting rack we designed.

Here are some pics from our sea trials yesterday.




Launch and retrieval of the dinghy has never been so easy, and its great to have the solar panels mounted clear of the deck and able to be inclined towards the sun.