Lifting Davits

What Is a Lifting Davit?

A lifting davit is a small crane or lifting structure consisting of a mast, boom and lifting mechanism designed to raise and position loads within a defined working area.

Unlike a conventional overhead crane, a davit can provide a lifting point from a relatively compact installation. Many davit cranes can rotate through 360 degrees, allowing the load to be moved between the lifting position and a nearby landing or working area.

Portable davits can also be removed from their mounting base and relocated when required, making them useful where the same lifting equipment needs to be used at different locations.

The exact lifting capacity, reach, height and rotation available depend on the davit model, configuration and mounting arrangement.

Types of Lifting Davits

Different lifting applications require different davit configurations. Our range includes portable davit cranes in a variety of materials, capacities and arrangements.

Portable Lifting Davits

Portable lifting davits provide a flexible lifting point that can be installed and removed as required. They can be particularly useful for maintenance teams, contractors and applications where lifting is required at multiple locations.

Many portable THERN davit cranes use quick-disconnect mounting arrangements, allowing the crane to be removed from its base when it isn’t required. This can make the system easier to transport, store or move between lifting locations. THERN’s First Mate series, for example, is designed as a lightweight portable davit with a quick-disconnect anchor and 360-degree rotation.

Steel Lifting Davits

Steel lifting davits provide a robust solution for industrial and maintenance applications where a durable lifting structure is required.

The THERN Commander range includes welded steel construction, adjustable boom positions and a choice of manual or powered winch configurations. Depending on the model, capacities extend from approximately 300kg through to 907kg within our current range.

Stainless Steel Lifting Davits

Stainless steel lifting davits can be particularly useful in environments where corrosion resistance, hygiene or regular cleaning is important.

Our range includes stainless steel THERN Ensign and Commander configurations, providing lifting solutions for demanding environments where material selection is an important consideration.

Galvanised Lifting Davits

Galvanised lifting davits provide additional corrosion protection and can be suitable for applications where the equipment may be exposed to moisture or more demanding environmental conditions.

The THERN Ensign range is available in galvanised configurations alongside other finishes and materials.

Choosing the Right Lifting Davit

Selecting the right lifting davit involves more than simply matching the crane to the weight of the load. The complete lifting arrangement needs to be considered, including the required reach, height, mounting location, rotation and lifting mechanism.

Key considerations include:

• Working Load Limit (WLL) – the davit must have a suitable rated capacity for the intended load and configuration
• Load weight – consider the maximum load that will be lifted rather than the typical load
• Reach – the boom length and position need to provide sufficient clearance around the load and landing area
• Hook height – available vertical lifting height can be important where loads need to clear handrails, platforms or other obstacles
• Mounting arrangement – the base or socket needs to be suitable for the installation and structure supporting the davit
• Rotation – a rotating davit can allow loads to be moved between different positions within the crane’s working area
• Winch type – manual, electric or other powered options may be suitable depending on lifting frequency and application
• Material and finish – steel, galvanised and stainless steel options can provide different levels of corrosion resistance and durability
• Environment – the location of the davit and exposure to water, chemicals, weather or other conditions should be considered
• Available space – the overall dimensions of the mast, boom and operating area need to be suitable for the installation

For more specialist applications, the mounting structure and complete lifting arrangement should be assessed before selecting the davit.

Lifting Davit Mounting Options

The way a lifting davit is mounted can be just as important as the crane itself. Different installations may require different base or socket arrangements depending on whether the davit is intended to be portable, semi-permanent or permanently installed.

Available mounting arrangements can include:

• Surface-mounted bases for installation onto suitable structural surfaces
• Wall-mounted arrangements where space or site layout makes a wall connection more appropriate
• Cast-in sockets where a removable davit is required and the socket can be incorporated into the supporting structure
• Portable bases for applications where the davit needs to be installed and removed as required

The supporting structure, fixings and mounting arrangement must be suitable for the loads and forces generated during the intended lifting operation.

Lifting Davit Winches

The winch is an important part of the complete davit lifting system and should be selected according to the load, lifting frequency and operating environment.

Depending on the davit configuration, available options can include:

• Manual hand winches
• Spur gear manual winches
• Worm gear manual winches
• Electric winches
• Hydraulic winches
• Pneumatic winches

Manual winches can provide a practical solution for occasional or lower-frequency lifting, while powered winches can be more suitable where loads are lifted regularly or where reduced manual effort is required.

THERN’s portable davit range supports both manual and powered operation, with electric, hydraulic and pneumatic options available on suitable models.

The winch, wire rope and lifting accessories must all be suitable for the davit’s rated capacity and intended application.

Portable Lifting Davits for Different Applications

Lifting davits can be used in a wide range of applications where a compact, dedicated lifting point is required.

Typical applications include:

• Water treatment and wastewater facilities
• Utilities and infrastructure
• Pump and motor maintenance
• Machinery and equipment servicing
• Maintenance access areas
• Industrial plant and production facilities
• Confined or restricted lifting locations
• Construction and site maintenance
• Equipment installation and removal
• Tank and vessel access areas
• Lifting equipment and components in service areas

Their relatively compact footprint can make davits particularly useful where a larger crane or permanent overhead lifting system would be impractical.

If you have a bespoke lifting davits application then contact our Manchester design team. 

Portable vs Fixed Lifting Davits

Portable and fixed lifting davits can both provide dedicated lifting capability, but they are suited to different installation requirements.

Portable lifting davits are useful where the crane needs to be removed, transported or used at multiple locations. They can be particularly suitable for maintenance teams and applications with several designated lifting points.

Fixed or semi-permanent davit installations can be more appropriate where lifting is regularly required at the same location and a permanently available lifting point is preferred.

The correct arrangement depends on how frequently the lifting point is used, the site layout, supporting structure and operational requirements.

View our full article comparing these options here.

Lifting Davit Safety and Working Load Limits

Lifting davits are lifting equipment and must be selected, installed and operated correctly for the intended application.

The rated Working Load Limit (WLL) must not be exceeded, and the complete lifting arrangement should be considered rather than looking at the davit in isolation.

Before lifting, attention should be given to:

• Davit WLL and configuration
• Supporting structure and mounting arrangement
• Base, socket and fixing condition
• Winch capacity and condition
• Wire rope and lifting accessories
• Load stability and centre of gravity
• Boom position and operating radius
• Clearances around the load
• Avoiding side loading or unsuitable lifting angles
• Keeping personnel clear of suspended loads

Portable davits should be installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, with particular attention to the condition and suitability of the base or socket into which the davit is installed.

Lifting Davit Inspection and LOLER

Lifting davits and associated lifting equipment should be appropriately inspected, maintained and thoroughly examined where required to ensure they remain safe and suitable for use.

Depending on the equipment and application, davit cranes and associated lifting equipment may fall within the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).

Inspection and thorough examination can identify conditions such as corrosion, deformation, excessive wear, damage to the boom or mast, problems with mounting arrangements, wire rope deterioration or issues with the winch and associated components.

If you need support with lifting equipment inspection, LOLER examinations, testing or certification, our team can help with your requirements.

Bespoke Lifting Davit Solutions

Standard lifting davits can provide an effective solution for many applications, but some installations require a more specific configuration.

Where requirements such as lifting capacity, reach, mounting position, access restrictions or the operating environment fall outside a standard configuration, a bespoke davit lifting solution may be more appropriate.

Working alongside our divisional partner Dale Lifting and Handling Specialists, Lifting Gear Products can provide technical support and bespoke lifting solutions, including lifting davits and suspended lifting systems. Our wider design and manufacturing capability includes CAD design, design calculations, structural verification, manufacture, installation and commissioning for site-specific lifting systems.

This allows the lifting solution to be considered as a complete system rather than simply selecting a standard davit and adapting the surrounding installation afterwards.

Need Help Choosing a Lifting Davit?

If you’re unsure which lifting davit, mounting arrangement or winch configuration is suitable for your application, our team can help.

Tell us the load weight, required WLL, lifting height, required reach, mounting location and how frequently the davit will be used, along with any other site requirements.

We can help identify a suitable lifting davit and associated equipment for the application.

Browse our range of lifting davits or contact our team to discuss your lifting requirements.

Lifting Davit Guides and Resources

Explore our collection of Lifting Davit guides and useful information, covering the different types, applications, product and brand comparisons, selection advice and practical considerations to help you find the right lifting solution.