What Is a Davit Crane?
Davit cranes are, at the fundamental level, lifting equipment consisting of a base, vertical mast, an adjustable arm (also known as a boom), and either a winch or hoist of some kind to control lowering and raising. Davits are used in a whole host of industries for various purposes, as their functional flexibility, durability, and strength allow them to fulfill a variety of lifting, lowering, and positioning roles. This adaptiveness is one of the biggest differences between davits and similar solutions like jib cranes — read more on those distinctions here — and makes davit cranes one of the most popular choices for lifting equipment.
Types of Davit Cranes
There is plenty of variety when it comes to davit cranes, with options available to fulfill all kinds of needs. Whether you want a crane for heavy lifting, unmatched versatility, working in limited spaces, or one that can stand up to harsh conditions, there’s a davit for you.
Portable Davit Cranes
Portable davits are made of lightweight materials that are easy to manipulate during use and also move from one place to another. By installing multiple bases, portable davit cranes can be disassembled, moved, and reassembled quickly at a different location. This makes them ideal in industries that require lifting equipment for remote jobsites, marine maintenance, wastewater facilities, construction, and other often-changing tasks. Portable davits can also be used as stationary cranes since you only need to move it if your application requires portability.
Portable davit cranes are generally on the lower end of load capacity, as their lighter construction can’t manage heavier loads — 2,000 lbs is about the heaviest load capacity you’ll find for a Thern portable davit.
Stationary Davit Cranes
As the name suggests, stationary davit cranes are meant to be a more permanent installation. These cranes offer a higher load capacity than their portable counterparts and are often made of heavy-duty materials like carbon steel. Stationary davits offer higher capacity with longer horizontal hook reach and greater hook height.
Stationary davits are often used in industrial facilities and warehouses, for rooftop lifting and maintenance systems, and wastewater treatment plants.
Adjustable Davit Cranes
Both permanent and portable davits can be adjustable. By using a telescopic rather than fixed length arm, adjustable davits can offer increased utility, boom angle adjustments in a wide range of heights, and variable reach. These cranes are exceptionally useful in situations where different lifting heights are needed and there isn’t space (or budget) for multiple cranes.
Electric vs. Manual Winches for Davit Cranes
When it comes to your davit’s lifting mechanism, both electrical and manual hoists and winches are available. Electric winches are better suited for repetitive use and heavier loads, which makes up a good chunk of davit use. However, manual options are still valuable, especially when absolute precision is required and the loads are on the lighter side. If you want to get a more in-depth exploration of the electric and manual davit cranes and what tasks both are best suited for, check out our breakdown.
Common Davit Crane Materials
The material your davit is made from can play a big role in how effective it is. Some of the most common materials used for davits include:
- Aluminum
- Carbon steel
- Composites
- 304 SST and 316 SST
Based on your needs, certain materials will have a significant advantage over others. For example, an aluminum davit offers a lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and easily moveable option for wide ranging applications, including harsh environments. Stainless steel is the most common material used for corrosion resistance, so these cranes can also stand up to the elements and offer portable options.
In addition to material choice, different finish options can help improve the crane’s overall longevity and performance. For example, both galvanized and epoxy finishes can help improve corrosion resistance.
Mounting Options and Base Designs
When selecting your davit, consider where it needs to be mounted and the base options that are available. For instance, if you are limited on space, a wall mount could be the perfect solution. If your application requires a portable davit, you have base options! Pedestal mounts are the most commonly used base used with portable davits, as they make it easier to mount and remove the crane. Flush mounts create, as the name suggests, a uniform and flat surface, usually by pouring concrete around the base.
Reach & Height Considerations
If your crane is too short or too tall, it isn’t going to do you a whole lot of good. When you’re trying to find the right crane for your job, take the time to figure out the reach (the horizontal distance of the arm) and lift height (the vertical clearance that loads will need to be raised or lowered) requirements. Knowing these measurements will not only ensure you’re meeting functional specifications, but can play a key role in ensuring worker safety.
For applications that require extra flexibility, adjustable boom arms are a huge benefit. If you have a unique situation that requires a custom solution, reach out to the experts at Thern. Our engineering services are capable of designing and building a davit to your exact specifications.
Understanding Davit Crane Load Capacity
Can your crane lift everything you need it to? If not, you’ve probably selected the wrong crane. Before choosing any davit, get an accurate measurement of the heaviest load it will need to lift and narrow down your options to cranes that can comfortably handle that weight. Every piece of your crane must handle the work you ask it to do.
Environment of Use
Where you use your davit may not be quite as important as the load capacity, but it’s a lot closer than many people think. The temperature, exposure to chemicals, harsh environments (like salt spray), humidity, and seasonal changes can all take their toll on your crane. However, if you match your crane to fit the conditions it will be working in, you can mitigate the issues your davit will encounter. Maintaining weatherproof coatings or choosing corrosion-resistant materials like aluminum can extend the life of cranes used in outdoor jobsites, water treatment facilities, oil and gas rigs, manufacturing plants, and other difficult environments.
Choosing the Right Davit Crane
When it comes to selecting the right davit crane, the choices don’t have to be overwhelming. All it takes is a little information gathering to get data on these key details:
- Load, reach, load capacity, and height requirements
- Best crane type for your job — portable or stationary
- Material or finish suited to the working environment
- Base style
- Winch type (electric or manual)
- Budget
By ensuring you get the correct configuration for your davit, you will get the best return on investment for your crane as it provides the performance you need day after day. If you want to make the selection process even easier, use Thern’s product selector tool. For some extra help before making a decision, you can also contact our team of experts — we’d be happy to help you find the information you need to pick the perfect davit.