How to Install a Boat Anchor Davit

An alternative to the anchor winch, the anchor davit is actually a light crane that uses a light tackle, either a twofold purchase or a guntackle, to winch an anchor out of the water well away from the hull of a boat. When the anchor has left the water, the davit can be turned to swing the anchor aboard the boat without damaging the hull or the people raising the anchor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric drill Adjustable wrench China marker Pencil Safety glasses

1. Set the anchor davit base on the gunwale or deck in a location where the anchor will have free movement over the side without rubbing on the gunwale or hull.

2. Using the mounting holes on the base of the anchor davit's mounting plate as a template, use the china marker to mark the locations on the gunwale or deck where you will need to drill holes to mount the anchor davit. Draw a line with a pencil around the base of the anchor davit as an additional reference.

3. 
   Mounting the davit base

   Mount a drill bit appropriate to the size of the davit's mounting bolts in the electric drill, and drill the mounting holes in the deck to mount the davit. Set the davit's mounting plate in place and insert the mounting bolts through the mounting plate and deck.

4. Use the adjustable wrench to tighten the mounting bolts used to secure the anchor davit to the deck.

5. 
   Setting the davit boom and tackle in place

   Set the boom of the davit into the mounting base. Before using the davit, mount the block and tackle to the end of the boom.

Tips & Warnings

• Any stray marks from the china marker can be removed with a glass cleaner.
• Be careful when working with electric tools, and the use of personal protective equipment is encouraged.

References

• Figure 4.3, TM-55-1930-208-24 Barge Liquid Cargo Non-Propelled Steel 120 Feet Design 231C NSN 1930-01-313-9472 Manual; U. S. Army.
• Anchor davit (picture)

Resources

• The Complete Anchoring Handbook

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