A pot puller davit looks simple: it's a pipe with a pulley on the end. But the wrong size, wall thickness, or height turns every haul into a fight with your own gear. Here's how to pick one that fits your boat, your pots, and the way you fish.
Short answer: A pot puller davit is the arm that lifts a pot up and over your rail. Choose a 1.5" davit for most recreational and light commercial work, and a 2" davit for heavier commercial loads. Pick Schedule 80 pipe for a thicker wall, and a 65" or 75" height that clears your gunnel. Match your mount to the davit's actual outside diameter.
What a Pot Puller Davit Does
The davit is the lever between your puller and your pot. It holds the line high, swings the pot in over the gunnel, and takes the full load of the haul. It works with the mount at its base, so a davit is only as good as the pipe, the mount, and the hull under it.
Davits come in manual and electric versions. A manual davit uses the arm to lift while you provide the pull. An electric hauler mounts to the same style of davit and does the pulling for you.
1.5" or 2": Sizing Starts With the Pipe
Davit sizes are nominal. A "1.5-inch" pipe actually measures about 1.900" across the outside, and a "2-inch" pipe measures about 2.375". That's why measuring a pipe and ordering a mount by the number you read off the tape often goes wrong.
- 1.5" davit: the standard choice for recreational crabbing, shrimping, and light commercial use. It's also the size most small-boat setups are built around.
- 2" davit: built for heavier, more frequent commercial pulling, where the extra stiffness matters.
Your mount has to match. A 1.5" mount on a 2" davit (or the reverse) will never sit right, and the play shows up as wobble. We build 1.5" davit mounts and 2" davit mounts separately for that reason.
Schedule 40 vs. Schedule 80
Schedule describes wall thickness. At the same nominal size, Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 pipe share the same outside diameter, and the difference is in the wall. A higher schedule number means a thicker wall. For 1.5" pipe, the standard chart lists roughly 0.145" for Schedule 40 and 0.200" for Schedule 80.
In practice:
- Schedule 40 is lighter and easier to carry and stow. It suits occasional recreational pulling.
- Schedule 80 is stiffer and takes a heavier load with less flex. It's the better pick for deep sets, heavy pots, and frequent use.
Our manual davits come in both: the EZ-A403 is Schedule 40, while the EZ-A803 is Schedule 80.
65" or 75": Height Decides How Easily the Pot Clears the Rail
The most common davit complaint from fishermen is that it isn't tall enough to swing a pot over the side without lifting it by hand. A taller davit raises the line higher, so the pot clears the gunnel on its own and swings in.
- 65" tall: works for most boats and keeps the setup compact.
- 75" tall: helps on boats with higher freeboard or a rail that's hard to clear. Our extended models, like the EZ-A803X, are built for this.
A taller arm also puts more leverage on the base, so a taller davit needs a mount you trust. If you're mounting on a small hull, see how to protect your gunnel before you drill.
Fixed, Removable, or Three-Piece
Many of our davits are three-piece designs. You can pull the pins, lift the arm off the base, and stow it below instead of leaving it standing on the rail. That keeps the deck clear when you're fishing rods or running at speed, and it keeps the gear out of sight at the dock.
Match the Mount to the Davit
The mount is what keeps the davit from walking under load. A sleeved gunnel mount fits tight to the pipe, which removes the slop that causes wobble. Pair your davit with a mount sized for the same diameter, and use a backing plate where the gunnel is thin.
Pot Puller Davit Checklist
- Measure your davit pipe's outside diameter and match it to a 1.5" or 2" mount.
- Choose Schedule 40 for light, occasional use, or Schedule 80 for heavy, frequent hauling.
- Pick 65" or 75" height based on your rail height.
- Decide whether you want a three-piece davit you can stow.
- Choose a gunnel or deck mount that fits your hull and has proper backing.
- Confirm the davit works with your puller, whether manual or electric.
Manual or Electric?
If you want a simple, lightweight setup, a manual davit like the EZ-A803 pairs well with small boats and recreational crabbing. If you're hauling deeper or heavier, an electric hauler on a Schedule 80 davit takes the strain off your back. Our EZ-E80 and E80X are 1.5" Schedule 80 units, and the PRO-2 is a 2" Schedule 80 model for heavier commercial work.
FAQs
What is a pot puller davit?
It's the arm that holds the pulley and lifts the pot over your rail. It mounts to your boat through a gunnel or deck mount.
Is a 1.5" or 2" davit better?
Neither is better overall. 1.5" fits most recreational and light commercial setups, while 2" suits heavier commercial loads.
Why is my davit pipe size different from what I measured?
Pipe sizes are nominal. A 1.5" pipe measures about 1.900" on the outside, and a 2" pipe about 2.375".
Is Schedule 80 worth the extra weight?
For heavy pots, deep water, or frequent use, yes. For light recreational use, Schedule 40 is usually enough.
Can I use any mount with any davit?
No. The mount must match the davit's diameter, or the fit will be loose and wobble.
Find the Right Davit for Your Boat
For nearly 35 years, EZ Puller Inc. has hand-built davits, mounts, and electric haulers in the USA. If you're not sure which pot puller davit fits your boat, contact our team with your boat type, pot weight, and depth, and we'll point you to the right size, schedule, and height.
