Max Dinghy size for 44 Ocean?

Matt Clark · Apr 5, 2023

Considering a Freedom Lift (once I rob a bank as I am tired of all the crap that goes with taking off the motor, flipping the dinghy up on the platform, etc. Of course the wife would like an upgrade on the dinghy so.....I have the 44 Sportfish and not sure of the transom width as my boat is in storage at the moment. I know the 15'2" beam really narrows at the stern but I cant recall how much.

Current dinghy is 9'10" and I would like to go to an 11"2" but not sure if the slip stream wash will hit it or not. The other option is a 10'5" . Considering the Walker Bay center counsel model.

Let me know. Thanks

motoryachtlover · Apr 5, 2023

No room on the bow? A lot of times it is not that big a deal to install the davit on the bow. I think it is better off on the bow instead of the transom, but understand if the transom is the best option. Roskelly Olsen used to make a heavy duty apparatus that would handle some weight but I am sure it would require some transom reinforcement.

wac45 · Apr 7, 2023

We keep ours on the bow and it works out great. Out of the way but is still easy to launch. Had this set up on our last two boats, a 41 ft and the current 45 ft.

Matt Clark · Apr 8, 2023

Thanks for the feedback but bow would not work for us as we use the dinghy a lot in the marina and I like to keep it out of the water. I couldn't use it when I would be in the slip and the wife doesn't like the look on the bow for our boat. I was hoping someone will chime in who has a 44 foot so I can confirm the size of dinghy she can take off the transom.

45SS · Apr 9, 2023

I have a 45 with a 15'2" beam and I'm right about 12 at the transom.

Maxwell · Apr 12, 2023

Not an Ocean, however we installed a Freedom Lift on the 42 Tiara open we previously owned. We loved the lift, but my advice would be to get the smallest/lightest dinghy that you're comfortable with. I did a lot of research and tried a few different boats on the lift under way and while some were within the acceptable weight range for the lift, they made the big boat a little tender. We settled on the Walker Bay Generation 11 LTE as it was ~600lbs wet and were happy with it for what it was.

Matt Clark · Apr 12, 2023

Ok that is a big help. Curious as to how wide your Tiara beam size is at the transom? Is it 14'11" at the Transom as well? I looked up the beam specs on a Tiera 42 Open so I assume they are similar regardless of year. My Transom beam narrows to 12' at the top of the stern and 10'8" at the bottom so I think I am relegated to the 10'5" Walker Bay and will have to nix the 11" 2" option that you bought. Weight will be a factor as well.

Maxwell · Apr 13, 2023

The beam on the 42 was fairly consistent beam all the way to the transom. I would see if anyone around you has a similar dinghy that you can try on the lift prior to making a decision. If you happen to be anywhere near Traverse City, our old boat went there, the owner is a great guy and would likely let you try it. With your boat narrowing at the stern, you'll obviously have to be more aware of the dinghy etc when docking. We regularly ran in fairly heavy seas and occasionally in a quartering sea when the boat would roll a little, the skeg of the dinghy would catch some water, otherwise it stayed dry. When they install the lift, pay attention to how it's back plated and tied into the stringers. Knowing how we used the boat, I had our yard re-engineer the back plating and high tension cables to be more rigid.

cleanslate · Apr 13, 2023

Matt Clark said: ↑

Ok that is a big help. Curious as to how wide your Tiara beam size is at the transom? Is it 14'11" at the Transom as well? I looked up the beam specs on a Tiera 42 Open so I assume they are similar regardless of year. My Transom beam narrows to 12' at the top of the stern and 10'8" at the bottom so I think I am relegated to the 10'5" Walker Bay and will have to nix the 11" 2" option that you bought. Weight will be a factor as well.
Click to expand...

You also need to add in the increase in length for the outboard, that may come into play. Depending if you can run with it down or may have to be tilted up sticking out.

Matt Clark · Apr 13, 2023

All great points to my points. Thanks everyone!

Matt Clark · Oct 16, 2024

Following up if anyone is interested. I ended up biting the bullet and splurging on the Freedom lift and I love it! Shout out to the Freedom lift company as they were fantastic to work with . The new lift saves my back and the hassle of taking off the 83 lbs motor and flipping the dinghy up on the transom every weekend. I went with a Highfield 10'2" and it fits great. With the extra weight of the lift and newer heavier dinghy luckily it didn't change the way the boat sits in the water or hindered performance. Pic attached and video link via Google photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/daPdH7YjHA6A5tL98

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Max Dinghy size for 44 Ocean?

Matt Clark Member

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wac45 New Member

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cleanslate Senior Member

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Dinghy Pic Smaller size III IMG_8851.jpg