Build a Storage "Cradle?"

[Casey]

I chose the "Trailering" forum because I didn't see anything more relevant....

Have any Brat's built a cradle for storing their boat? I know most of us keep our boats on trailer's, so the question of a "cradle" wouldn't normally come up.

Most dry-storage facilities (...botels?) put boats on large racks using a giant forklift. Many of them will also have temporary racks/cradles for owners to use before/after boating, to do clean-up or maintenance chores.

I'm not thinking of a moveable cradle, just a stationary wooden cradle to keep the boat on. Here's why:

I'm planning on cruising Southeast AK (hopefully) most of the summer of 2011. If all goes well, I might even want to do the same thing for a succeeding summer (or two?), and leave "Katmai" on a storage cradle, winterized and covered somewhere in Southeast AK. At the moment my choice would probably be Wrangell (AK).

Wrangell is one of my favorite places, has a fenced dry storage lot, and a large lift. Wrangell is also serviced by Alaska Airlines, and going to/from the Lower 48 would be a LOT easier if I could just fly-in and fly-out for the cruising season. And ... considering the cost of driving to Prince Rupert, and storing the truck and trailer - the airfare would be relatively cost effective.

The only main problem (so far...) is that I might not have "Katmai" for the Powell CBGT for a year or two!

Any thoughts on the idea? ...and if anyone has an idea of where one might find heavyduty brackets that could be fabricated into a cradle (using dimensional lumber) that would be great!

Best,
Casey

[BrentB]

Here is m2cw

We have davit lifts and I got tired of blocking and cribbing the boat so I bought boat dollies and removed the wheels and replaced with wood blocks. I saw them in a dealer showroom with a 30' + Searay on 2 dollies and it was easy to move. They are fully adjustable (height and width), built from 2" square tubing and purchased locally so no shipping fees but came in 2 boxes and filled the Suburban's cargo area. Thank goodness they helped me load them. With wheels each dolly is rated for 4800 lbs. Obviously under rated with that huge Searay sitting on 2 stands. Without wheels, each stand is rated for 10,000 lbs or more according to the owner. Other options I considered was a trailer with and without wheels and axles and a metal frame stands with lumber runners made locally per your specs.
In my situation, the stands are very useful and worth every penny and built to last forever except will need to be repainted bca they are not powder coated. I can wash and wax the boat easily and perform other chores and not worry about working inside or under the boat

[Two Bears]

Two thoughts Casey
1. The yard where ever you leave it probably had stored lots of boats and taking care of that detail would be routine.
2. Missing the Lk Powell gathering is a deal killer.javascript:emoticon('')
Chuck

[Sea Wolf]

Brent-

For those interested:

Any photos of your cradle?

Cost?

Name of supplier?

Thanks!

Joe.

[BrentB]

I posted pictures at
http://picasaweb.google.com/salbrent/1994Parker2320EC#5400251775589554418
These were taken during initial install and height adjustments. All of items under the keel are gone and the boat rests entirely on the stands. I purchased them from Yardarm Marine in Beech Grove, IN. Their web site is http://www.yardarm.com/marine_products/boat_handling_jacks.htm
and paid $712 for the pair without the wheels.

The only item left on this project is to shorten lift cable drops and add a front spreader bar so the bow will be higher than the stern

[thataway]

All you need are two 2 x 10 on edge for each side--set up like boat bunks. This is the way that most lift cradles are set up. Our Tom Cat is on 4 beams like this--two for each hull. It is cheap and gives good support most of the length of the boat. Much easier on the hull than a couple of independant points. Getting back to properly blocking boats--if you are going to leave it in a yard, as noted above, the yards are set up with keel blocks and jack stands, or secondary blocks.

[BrentB]

Bob

Do the 2 x 10s have cross braces or ties?