Davit

Davit
Boat suspended from davits.

A davit (pronounced /ˈdævɨt/ dă′·vət or /ˈdeɪvɨt/ dā′·vət) is a structure, usually made of steel, which is used to lower things over an edge of a long drop off such as lowering a maintenance trapeze down a building or launching a lifeboat over the side of a ship.

The development of the davit from its original "goose neck form" to the current devices advanced greatly when A.P. Schat patented a number of systems in 1926 that allowed the lifeboat to glide over obstructions on a ships hull known as the "Schat Skate". This was followed by a self-braking winch system that allowed the lifeboat to be lowered evenly and then the modern davit was invented.

Davits have always been designed to fit into deck spaces that the naval architects deemed necessary and a variety of designs emerged:

  • GRA - Gravity roller track davit (Miranda) – usually above promenade decks.
  • SPG - Single pivot gravity davit (Radial) – for many different deck spaces.
  • FFD - Free fall davit – For free fall lifeboats on stern
  • QD - Quadrantal davit – Old mechanical style, often hand cranked into outboard position

The standard became so common that shipyard specifications call for Schat type davits from whatever source.

Davits can also refer to single mechanical arms with a winch for lowering life rafts and raising spare parts onto a vessel.

Recent developments are based on aft-launched ramps where the lifeboat is allowed to free fall, as opposed to being lowered by a winch, into the ocean. Thus its name, free fall lifeboat, is apparent. Similar systems developed by Schat companies are used on offshore oil/gas rigs placed around the structure.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Davit — Zwei Davits Ein Davit (dt. [ …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Davit — Dav it, n. [Cf. F. davier forceps, davit, cooper s instrument, G. david davit; all probably from the proper name David.] (Naut.) (a) A spar formerly used on board of ships, as a crane to hoist the flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Davit — nennt man kranartige Ausleger an Bord der Schiffe, an denen die Beiboote geheißt und gefiert werden (Bootsdavits) oder die Anker an Deck genommen werden (Ankerdavits), und zwar Katt und Fischdavits. Die Davits werden meist aus Rundeisen… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Davit — (engl., spr. dehwitt), hölzerner oder eiserner Kran an Bord von Schiffen zum Aufheißen der Boote (Boots D.), zum Fördern der Geschosse aus den Munitionskammern an die Geschütze (Geschoß D.) etc …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • davit — also david, crane like structure used to lower things off a ship, etc., late 15c., apparently a use of the masc. proper name DAVID (Cf. David) on the pattern of applying common Christian names to useful devices (Cf. jack, jenny, jimmy) …   Etymology dictionary

  • davit — ► NOUN ▪ a small crane on a ship, especially one of a pair for lowering a lifeboat. ORIGIN Old French daviot, from david, denoting a kind of carpenter s tool …   English terms dictionary

  • davit — [dā′vit; ] also [ dav′it] n. [ME & OFr daviot, dim. of David, prob. with reference to the slaying of Goliath] 1. either of a pair of uprights that can be swung out over the side of a ship for lowering or raising a small boat 2. a crane in a ship… …   English World dictionary

  • Davit — Da|vit 〈[ dɛıvıt] od. [da:vıt] m. 6 oder n. 15; Mar.〉 schwenk od. kippbarer eiserner Kranbalken zum Bewegen kleiner Lasten an Bord, für Rettungsflöße, paarweise für Bei u. Rettungsboote [engl.] * * * Davit   [ dævɪt, englisch] der, s/ s, kleines …   Universal-Lexikon

  • davit — noun /ˈdeɪvɪt,ˈdævət/ a) A spar formerly used on board of ships, as a crane to hoist the flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the sides of the ship. b) a crane, often working in pairs and usually made of steel, used to… …   Wiktionary

  • Davit — Da|vit [ de:vit] der; s, s <aus gleichbed. engl. davit, vielleicht zum Eigennamen David> drehbarer Schiffskran …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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