You are on our: 8'2" (2.5m) Nesting pram dinghy page
Our 8ft 2" Nesting Pram Dinghy is often specified as a yacht tender, and during the buying process potential customers often ask us "what's the best way to launch?" A difficult question, as very few yachts have the same deck layout, but here is a method that seems to work well in calm conditions with two people. This picture shows a typical yacht-spec Pram Dinghy nested over the forehatch of an Oyster 37 Heritage. |  |
First of course you need to lift the stern section off the bow... | ... and stand it, transom down, on the yacht's deck.  |
If you have specified the sailing rig - and therefore have rudder gudgeons -
we can build a "tripod" for the dinghy to stand on, rather than dig the
gudgeons into your yacht's deck. Most people using the dinghy as a tender
want the optional rubber fendering anyway, and in this case it will go around
the outside of the tripod, so the dinghy stands on three rubber "feet".
Depending on the weather, width of your deck, height of lifelines etc you can
often just rest the stern section against the lifelines, but - again dependent
on the yacht - could also lash one of the handles on the stern section
(an option generally specified on yacht tender versions) to a shroud.
Next stage is to lift the bow section into place, aligning the hooks into the slots, then doing up the bolts. | Then the painter (not visible here because of the colour) is taken to a halyard, and you can start hoisting.  |
At this stage one of you will be on the winch - not a problem if your halyards
are led aft, but even easier if you've got one at the mast as here - and the
second person's main function is to stop the dinghy bumping into things on
her way up.
Once the dinghy is above lifeline height, turn her 180 degrees... | ... and start lowering. Person 2 is now fending off from the hull side. |
This is all quite easy, as the weight of the dinghy is on the halyard.
A judicious shove will avoid the transom scooping much water... | ... and she's afloat! This whole process took just under two minutes. |
We should clarify the two minute claim. It took much longer the first time,
while we worked everything out - as we have said, every yacht is different -
but was down to two minutes by the third occasion.
Some other methods include launching "horizontally", from a three or four-
point sling - better in strong wind - or putting your lifelines on pelican hooks
so you can assemble the dinghy across the foredeck and just slide her into
the water over the yacht's gunwhales (foam pipe insulation recommended
if you have an aluminium toerail).