GB2153336A

GB2153336A - Yacht davit

Info

Publication number: GB2153336A
Application number: GB08327081A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Richard Stammers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-10
Filing date: 1983-10-10
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: GB2153336B; GB8327081D0

Abstract

A portable stowable yacht davit 2 comprises an upright 4 carrying a winch 12 and line 16 whereby a person may be lifted out of the water and hoisted high enough to be swung over the guardrails 10 on board the yacht. The davit 2 has a pedestal 6 which is seated on the yacht's toe-rail 8 and which prevents fore and aft movement but which allows the davit 2 to be pivoted inboard after completing the hoist. The davit 2 is restrained from outboard movement by a tie 20 which can be attached to the yacht's mast. The pedestal 6 has a channel base which can be varied to suit toe-rails 8 of different cross sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Yacht davit This invention relates to portable yacht davits by means of which a man in the water may be lifted out of the water and swung back on board.

No entirely satisfactory method exists to haul on board a yacht crew member who has fallen overboard. The weight of an average man fully clothed and immersed in water can be as much as 100-130 kg. Methods rec ommended have included the following: a. Launching a partially inflated dinghy.

While this can enable a conscious person in the water to reach comparative safety it does not meet the problem of pulling him back on board, when can be difficult if he is weakened by exposure.

b. Lowering a bight of sail and hauling the bight back with the man inside it. This is very difficult in rough conditions and takes too long to prepare.

c. Hauling on board by use of the main halyard or spinnaker halyard. This is probably the best available method but is difficult in conditions where the yacht is rolling, since the position of the point of traction, i.e. the top of the mast, swings wildly. Also the average yacht halyard winch is not sufficiently low geared to enable the load to be lifted easily.

Unless selftailing winches are available, two crew members are needed on the winch, perhaps leaving rio one to assist at the point of lift.

Any instrument for meeting this require ment would ideally have the following charac teristics: a. Stowable in the average yacht locker.

b. Capable of very quick assembly.

c. Usable midway along the yacht's length where pitching has the least effect.

d. Usable on either port or starboard side.

e. Operable by a woman single-handed to lift a load of 1 50 kg.

f. Adaptable to various types of yacht.

The davit of this invention has all these characteristics.

General description The present invention provides a stowable yacht davit comprising an upright carrying a low-geared winch intended to haul in a flexi ble line entrained over a pulley or like low friction member positioned at the upper end of the upright so as to be outboard of any guard rails, the upright having a predestal in tended to be seated over the yacht's toe-rail whereby the upright is stabilised against fore and aft movement but is free to pivot inboard.

A tie of adjustable length is fastened to the top of the upright, the other end of the tie being secured to the mast or a fitting thereon, so as to limit the outboard pivotal movement of the davit.

Detailed specification.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic side view of the davit in its lifting position, together with a perspective view.

The davit 2 of this invention is light and small enough to be portable and easily stowed in a yacht's cockpit locker. It comprises an upright 4 having a pedestal 6 intended to be seated on the yacht's toe-rail 8 and to pivot about it as necessary. The upright is cranked outwardly in its upper part so that the top is positioned outboard of the guardrails (stanchion 10 being shown). Above the guardrail the upright carries a winch 1 2 operable by a handle 1 4 to haul in the line 1 6 led over a pulley sheave 1 8 at the top of the upright.

Also fastened to the top of the upright is a tie 20 which can be secured to the mast or to a mast fitting.

At its free end the line carries a spring hook 22 which can be secured either to a sling passed around the person in the water or to a becket on that person's life jacket or harness.

The davit pedestal consists of a channel section attached to a tringular plate 24 fixed to the upright. The channel section can be inerchangeable and chosen or adapted to suit various types of toe-rails, while the rest of the davit remains standard. The davit material may be aluminium. The davit upright has at its head a tab 26 to which the mast tie is shackled or otherwise attached. The pulley sheave is set in a slot cut through the top of the upright. The winch will be selected from standard winches already available on the market for other uses.

When required for use the davit is mounted by having its pedestal seated on the toe-rail at a position opposite the mast. The tie is attached to the mast or to a fitting thereon so as to hold the davit with the line hanging over the side of the yacht. The winch has a ratchet which is released to enable sufficient line to be unwound to reach the person in the water and be secured. The ratchet is then engaged and the winch rotated to wind in the line until the person has been hoisted high enough for the tie to be pulled down bringing the person over the guardrail and inboard.

1. A portable davit comprising an upright on a pedestal designed to be seated on a yacht's toe-rail and carrying a winch from which a line extends to a sheave intended to be positioned above and outboard of a yacht's guard rails whereby a person in the water can be hoisted out of the water and swung back on board the yacht.

2. A portable davit as claimed in Claim 1 including a tie able to be attached to the mast

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Yacht davit This invention relates to portable yacht davits by means of which a man in the water may be lifted out of the water and swung back on board. No entirely satisfactory method exists to haul on board a yacht crew member who has fallen overboard. The weight of an average man fully clothed and immersed in water can be as much as 100-130 kg. Methods rec ommended have included the following: a. Launching a partially inflated dinghy. While this can enable a conscious person in the water to reach comparative safety it does not meet the problem of pulling him back on board, when can be difficult if he is weakened by exposure. b. Lowering a bight of sail and hauling the bight back with the man inside it. This is very difficult in rough conditions and takes too long to prepare. c. Hauling on board by use of the main halyard or spinnaker halyard. This is probably the best available method but is difficult in conditions where the yacht is rolling, since the position of the point of traction, i.e. the top of the mast, swings wildly. Also the average yacht halyard winch is not sufficiently low geared to enable the load to be lifted easily. Unless selftailing winches are available, two crew members are needed on the winch, perhaps leaving rio one to assist at the point of lift. Any instrument for meeting this require ment would ideally have the following charac teristics: a. Stowable in the average yacht locker. b. Capable of very quick assembly. c. Usable midway along the yacht's length where pitching has the least effect. d. Usable on either port or starboard side. e. Operable by a woman single-handed to lift a load of 1 50 kg. f. Adaptable to various types of yacht. The davit of this invention has all these characteristics. General description The present invention provides a stowable yacht davit comprising an upright carrying a low-geared winch intended to haul in a flexi ble line entrained over a pulley or like low friction member positioned at the upper end of the upright so as to be outboard of any guard rails, the upright having a predestal in tended to be seated over the yacht's toe-rail whereby the upright is stabilised against fore and aft movement but is free to pivot inboard. A tie of adjustable length is fastened to the top of the upright, the other end of the tie being secured to the mast or a fitting thereon, so as to limit the outboard pivotal movement of the davit. Detailed specification. The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic side view of the davit in its lifting position, together with a perspective view. The davit 2 of this invention is light and small enough to be portable and easily stowed in a yacht's cockpit locker. It comprises an upright 4 having a pedestal 6 intended to be seated on the yacht's toe-rail 8 and to pivot about it as necessary. The upright is cranked outwardly in its upper part so that the top is positioned outboard of the guardrails (stanchion 10 being shown). Above the guardrail the upright carries a winch 1 2 operable by a handle 1 4 to haul in the line 1 6 led over a pulley sheave 1 8 at the top of the upright. Also fastened to the top of the upright is a tie 20 which can be secured to the mast or to a mast fitting. At its free end the line carries a spring hook 22 which can be secured either to a sling passed around the person in the water or to a becket on that person's life jacket or harness. The davit pedestal consists of a channel section attached to a tringular plate 24 fixed to the upright. The channel section can be inerchangeable and chosen or adapted to suit various types of toe-rails, while the rest of the davit remains standard. The davit material may be aluminium. The davit upright has at its head a tab 26 to which the mast tie is shackled or otherwise attached. The pulley sheave is set in a slot cut through the top of the upright. The winch will be selected from standard winches already available on the market for other uses. When required for use the davit is mounted by having its pedestal seated on the toe-rail at a position opposite the mast. The tie is attached to the mast or to a fitting thereon so as to hold the davit with the line hanging over the side of the yacht. The winch has a ratchet which is released to enable sufficient line to be unwound to reach the person in the water and be secured. The ratchet is then engaged and the winch rotated to wind in the line until the person has been hoisted high enough for the tie to be pulled down bringing the person over the guardrail and inboard. CLAIMS

2. A portable davit as claimed in Claim 1 including a tie able to be attached to the mast and which can be pulled down to pivot the davit inwards and bring the rescued person over the yacht's guardrails.

3. A portable davit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 including a length of channel forming a pedestal and co-operating with the yacht's toe-rail to prevent or inhibit fore and aft movement of the upright.

4. A portable davit as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the channel of the pedestal is of variable section to suit toerails of different types.

5. A portable davit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upright is so shaped as to position the point of lift outboard of the yacht's guardrails while the lower portion of the davit remains inboard.

6. A portable davit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.