Cradles and high winds

[Sailfree]

Some while ago I started a thread on cradles as it struck me that my boat was one of the larger at my clubs Marina and I could not see many large cradles.

Finally bought a 8 leg cradle from yacht leg co. Price hurt the wallet but wanted boat safe.

Someone else put their 40' boat on a 4 leg cradle and with extra props but not part of cradle. Insurance assessor was down yesterday assessing damage in high winds.

My boat is OK so thanks to those that advised me and Yoda that sent me a PM.

 

[Concerto]

My Westerly Fulmar is in a yard cradle with the main weight resting on the keel with 4 side props that are then strapped together. The yard have also added 4 extra wood props. On Sunday I did feel the boat flex in the wind, especially when working on the foredeck. It was positioned cross wind with nothing to break the wind. Most of the time the wind was in the 25 to 35 knot range, but I did see one gust hit 51 knots and plenty at 49 knots. Just hoping the winds today are not any stronger, but feel my boat is definitely securely positioned in the cradle.

Will only be truely happy once back in the water.

 

[stuartwineberg]

As a mobo user so with a low CofG it doesn't affect me much but I was interested to see that Premier demand all sails off and all dodgers removed for any sail boat in their yard and they use proper cradles

 

[johnalison]

I have seen shore storage areas abroad where there are rings set into the ground each side of the allotted spaces, to which the craft can be tied down. This seems very sensible to me.

 

[prv]

I was interested to see that Premier demand all sails off and all dodgers removed for any sail boat in their yard

No official requirement for that in our yard, but I would definitely do it anyway.

Pete

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I researched cradles a couple of years ago for my Rival 41C. Apparently so called 'Marina Cradles' are all 8 legged based on a recommendation by an association, I cant remember which. The sales pitch was that the 8 leg cradles were more secure. Most of the companies I looked at also offered 6 leg cradles for the private consumer but again the sales pitch was that 'you are only allowed 8 leg cradles in marinas for HSE and insurance purposes'. I don't dismiss the sales pitch as out of hand because with lighter layups and small section keels, then an 8 leg cradle may offer the securest support for a marina that has to manage different designs.

Anyway, I ended up purchasing a second hand 4 leg cradle and she has sat through F10 on the beam and bow. The cradle is an old Yacht Leg's design where the weight of the yacht is taken on her keel, transferred into a base plate, and the 4 x arms support the hull on the sides (no hull props) from toppling over by triangulating any side force into the plate that the keel sits on. My Rival being 12 tonne with an encapsulated keel can easily sit on her own keel all day long. My mast and spray hood are down. I feel her moving in the gusts, like a slight elastic sway, very slight.

What style of yacht was on the 4 leg cradle that suffered damage?