cradle - side supports. A question

[sarabande]

I have almost finished fitting my new (second hand) cradle round my little boat today.

The boat is in a shed, so wind forces are not my primary concern. However, the vertical arms are quite long and it looks as if, in their shortest configuration, the pads will not provide upward support to the underwater part of the hull.

The boat has a long keel on which she sits very happily in the shed, and is a hard chine shape. So before I take a disc cutter and halve the length of the vertical arms, can I have the forum's view on whether support in a cradle is 'best' working

1 - upwards at the outer edge of the chine, or

2 - inwards near the hull-deck junction.


TIA

 

[Tranona]

No need to hack the supports - they are only stopping it from falling over. All the weight is on the keel. Just think of all the boats that sit happily with just a pair of legs bolted to the topsides.

 

[johnalison]

I will venture to suggest that your boat's weight will be much more happily supported by the keel than points on the hull. The only disadvantage of your arrangement seems to be that the support will be subject to a bending force, but it appears to be man enough for the job.

 

[Lakesailor]

As high as possible.
I have personal experience of the balance of a boat on a trailer very similar to your cradle.
It was a fin keel boat and one arm became detached at the base when I was towing it. I noticed in my mirror and stopped. The arm was leant over with the boat against it and all that was retaining it was the steel mudguard on the trailer.
I got a warp on a cockpit coaming winch on the leaning side of the boat and took it over to the remaining solid arm and made it fast to prevent any further movement.
The previous owner of the boat (I had just bought it) arrived as he had been following along behind.
We wondered if the three of us would be able to push the boat vertical again to allow the arm to be re-attached (I pinched a bolt from the jockey-wheel clamp).
It was leaning about 2 feet over from the vertical (it was an 18ft Foxcub).

It pushed back up easily. Only one of us had to do it.
Around the vertical position there is very little moment away from the vertical.
The higher the pads the less force there may be on them.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Don't hack it.

The only thing I would check is that the pads are on or close to a bulkhed, if this is not possible, consider raising them to the hull deck joint to eliminate possible flexing of the hull panel.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[Blueboatman]

Couple of poles or overlong fence posts, drill hole through each at one end, lash/chain/bottlescrew/ block and tackle downwards to the chain plate on each side. Fold cradle supports out of the way completely for painting etc.

 

[Sans Bateau]

One thing you could do is to run a hefty ratchet strap under the boat and around each opposite supports.

Its a shame I did not know before that you were collecting this when I saw you on Friday, I have 4 pads in the garage at home you could of had, they could be useful.

 

[Simonpk]

My previous boat, Hunter Europa, had side supports & never had a problem. And personally I prefer side-supports, my GK has shorter supports below the water line, & the the pads are a pain when antifouling.

I presume you have 4 supports, & looking at the weight of them if they were to give way the weather conditions would be that bad you'd be beyond caring.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Might just put a pole under bow and stern, as you are obviously going to be doing a lot of work over a long period