4788 davit cable failure-gctid820872

[stargazerwa]

Our cable broke yesterday while lifting the dinghy off the boat deck. A great place to have it break since it only fell an inch. We are in the San Juans and am looking to get it fixed, no luck so far. I found an old thread on this and two lengths are reported 40' and 50'. Does anyone know for sure? Sounds like I need 1/4" stainless. Would a hardware store stock this?

In two days we will be in Victoria, does anyone know a rigger there that could tackle this?

[sockeye]

When we installed the bow thruster last year,the shop who did the work (North Harbor Diesel-Anacortes)

noticed some fatigue in our davit.When they replaired it they changed the steel

cable that was on the boat with Amsteel

The invoice says 30 - 814012706030 Amsteel at $1.24 for a total of $37.20

If you google that part number you will see its Amsteel winch cable from Fisheries Supply

in Seattle so i would say there is 30 feet of cable

Hope this assists you

[kwb]

There are a number of places to get you a cable if you can't find stainless to save the trip - my first stop would be IMC in Lopez, next Friday Harbor. IMC is probably best bet on stainless.

[Norton_Rider]

Hardware store cable will not be stainless and may not be the diameter you need.

Contact Ian Sloan at Anacortes Rigging: (360) 293-2030, [email protected]. He's made a few cable for me and may be able to make a cable for you. Many 4788 owners on this board are using synthetic line (Amsteel, etc) instead of cable. Ian can also provide this.

Ian's place is not far from the Anacortes ferry dock. You could leave your boat in FH, walk on the ferry and have Ian meet you.

[smitty477]

30' pf cable will be sufficient of you are using steel cable and only a single line pull.

If you added a block and are using a double line pull you will need the 40'.

The steel cable is easy to replace with the end fitting into a slot in the take-up drum fastened by a single set screw.

You put the steel cable end into the slot and tighten the screw with the first few cable wraps taking up the load.

I am not a fan of synthetic line for overhead lifting although we do use it extensively for towing.

If you do use synthetic line for this davit:

- you will need to leave at least a dozen wraps on the drum to stay safe, add 5' to length

- you need to braid the appropriate termination for the drum attachments side

- you will need to braid the appropriate loop around a thimble on the pickup side

Remember that the synthetic lines will block and chunk when lowering loads and can be sensitive to UV.

[ksanders]

If the cable failed while the boat is still on the boat deck then did t fail near the termination?

If it did why not re-do the termination with a couple steel cable clamps, available at any hardware store, and continue your tip?

[stargazerwa]

It failed at the position that it would normally rest across the pulley. We leave our davit raised and attached to the dinghy harness. Got a call backthis AM from a service in FH that can fix it today!

[Norton_Rider]

"stargazerwa" post=820901 wrote:
Got a call backthis AM from a service in FH that can fix it today!

[smitty477]

"stargazerwa" post=820901 wrote:
It failed at the position that it would normally rest across the pulley. We leave our davit raised and attached to the dinghy harness. Got a call backthis AM from a service in FH that can fix it today!

The pulley at the end has a groove in the center to guide the cable around.

I have seen where the cable jumps the pulley groove and rests around that pulley axle which exerts a lot more load on the cable and the winch.

It can be more of a problem with the synthetic cord which can fit through this space easier - in some installations a fixed plastic block is added to reduce the space between the pulley and the winch top which will mostly stop the cable/line from being able to jump out.

[point2]

My line was rusting so I use a line that is made for that. Very successful with the cord and it will lift 8000 lbs.

Just saying.

Stephan

[stargazerwa]

A mechanic repaired the davit today. He first tried to fish the old cable back through with the idea of cutting a couple of feet off and making a new loop. Oddly the cable pulled off the spool when he ran it out. He said failure where the cable sits on the pulley is common and that it's a good practice to cut a couple of feet off every year.

He installed 32' of synthetic and it works great! Nice to get a repair for less than $300 on a Sunday in the height of tourist season!