Best way to prop up 21ft jaguar fixed keel on shore

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Charlandjaci

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Hi,

Looking at taking my boat out of the water and doing some maintenance on land. I have no way of supporting it. I’ve seen the props for sale on eBay, but about £100 a pop plus delivery. Can anyone recommend a cheaper or better alternative?
Boats coming out the Medway at Hoo
 
I think the days of props are past and nothing short of a cradle is truly safe. However, we managed for twenty years with a yard propping us up, so it is possible, but I think it needs expert management. Although we were well managed, a neighbouring boat did shift slightly in a gale, so it needs careful consideration. We are in a cradle and keep our mast up but I think a propped boat should always be de-masted.
 
We used to use 44 gall[205 litres] drums and sleepers with just a few chocks on a range of keel types when I used to haul out a Rochford. They were provided by the yard and you just needed to find some and position them where you were to be placed. This arrangement was ideal for a flat bottomed fin keel boat.

Of course a lot will depend on the means of hauling out as to what they can put you on/in.
 
Charlandjaci said:
Hi,

Looking at taking my boat out of the water and doing some maintenance on land. I have no way of supporting it. I’ve seen the props for sale on eBay, but about £100 a pop plus delivery. Can anyone recommend a cheaper or better alternative?
Boats coming out the Medway at Hoo
Click to expand...

I presume you are talking about Hoo Ness Yacht Club, not the marina. I would ask for advice in the club. They may have things tucked away on site you can borrow. May be a cradle or some props in one of their containers. The members are very friendly and helpful, so just start asking for their advice. No doubt someone will also volunteer to help you.
 
The jaguar 21 hull has a flat bottom designed to sit upright in the lifting keel version. I assume the fixed keel version came from the same mold. I had a lifting keel version that traveled on a trailer sitting on its flat bottom, with the keel lowered so it's weight was taken by the trailer. There were side pads to give stability on the road.
I know someone who built two wooden trestles out of 4x2 timber to over winter his boat and work on the keel. I can't remember the exact design, but each trestle had a top and bottom beam with three possibly four verticals, with feet under the verticals to give stability. The boat was lowered on to the pair of trestles and triangular wedges were made from 4x2 to give stability to the hull and fixed to the trestles. I think the trestles were then tied together with diagonal bracing. In that case the keel was then lowered so the weight was on the ground. In the case of a fixed keel it would need chocking to take the weight. It worked very well and was completely stable.
 
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I believe the Anderson owners website has a design for a cradle that can be used in keel down mode so would not be too dissimilar and is made from CLS timber
 
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