Davits are metal structures used to lower items from ships or in building construction. They can move boats, cargo, and maintenance trapezes. There are four common types: mechanical quadratic, single pivot gravity, gravity roller track, and free fall, as well as several specialized varieties.
A davit is a type of metal structure, most commonly found on ships, with an arm that extends over the side of the ship so that you can lower items to the deck below. It can also be used in building construction. The term can also be used to describe a metal arm with a winch that mechanically raises and lowers items from one location to another.
Davits are most commonly used to move boats, although they can also lift cargo and anchors. They can also be used to lower a maintenance trapeze over the side of the boat. There are four common types of jib: mechanical quadratic, single pivot gravity, gravity roller track, and free fall.
Single pivot gravity davits are one of the most popular davit types. They tend to have a simple design and few parts, making it easy to adapt to different tasks. This type can also accommodate a wide range of deck types and sizes.
The gravity roller track davit is most often used with boardwalk decks, which typically consist of open walkways from port to stern on both sides of the ship. They usually have two arms and tend to be lighter than other types of davits.
Mechanical quadrants are the oldest style of davit. They were usually turned by hand and relied on pulleys and balance to work properly. Although no longer the dominant type of davit, mechanical quadrants are still in use in modern times.
Freefall davits are among the newer designs. They have snap action mechanisms that allow items to drop into the water while staying clear of the side of the boat. These are almost exclusively used to launch lifeboats into the water. Ramps extending from the end of the boat serve a similar purpose and can occasionally replace davits on a watercraft.
There are several other varieties of more specialized davits. The stored energy style has an independent power source that can be useful in areas where power outages commonly occur. A-frame styles have a wireframe that extends around the sides of the element being moved. Cantilever davits have a simple, square shape that extends from the deck of the ship and over the dock. The top style resembles the cantilever, but works through a more complex telescoping mechanism. There are also crane jibs that have an extended reach that works well with larger loads and vessels.
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