boat cradle

[DougC]

Planning on building a boat cradle (cradle boat?) for my friends, she's due in Jan. so I have a little time. No problem with coming up with a boat plan to adapt, but what are the specs for a cradle (LOA, bottom, beam, freeboard)? I haven't a clue.

[AngWood]

Maybe the first step would be to buy a mattress for a cradle and let that determine the design parameters.

[Keith Wilson]

The two I've built, to rather different designs (one sort of whitehallish, one a double-ender) were about 48" overall, about 20" beam. Freeboard was maybe 20% higher than an equivalent real boat; I used athwartships rockers and I didn't want the kids to fall out. They won't fit any matress known to man, but a quilt works well. Dories are good because of the flat bottom, but it doesn't matter much. Honestly, most cradle boats mainly get used as containers for stuffed animals rather than beds. I built them lapstrake from 1/8" lauan doorskin plywood. You know that according to tradition you're supposed to include at least some wood from a real boat, yes?

[ 09-29-2002, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: Keith Wilson ]

[Meerkat]

The Expectant Father's Cradle Boat Book
by Peter H. Spectre (Contributor), Buckley Smith (Illustrator), Richard Gorski (Contributor)

Amazon buyer review:

Reviewer: William B. Winner from Durango, CO
I purchased this book with the idea a boat cradle would be a unique gift from boat crazy Uncle Bill for my soon to be niece or nephew. Although not extensive, I do have some experience building strip built sea kayaks; very similar to the method used for the Bahama dinghy cradle discussed in the book.

Overall, the instructions are fairly clear and easy to follow. There are, however, a few pitfalls to avoid before construction starts. If you plan to enlarge the plans and patterns included in the back of the book with an architectural reprographics firm (as I did), be cautioned. The 600% enlargement specified by the book proved inaccurate. 548% brought them to scale without distortion and this was expensive (over $50). Once the plans were to scale, any stated measurements on the plans were not necessarily accurate so again, beware. Some measurements had to be coaxed from the plans and the exact placement of the transom mold still eludes me. Also a little confusing is that all the patterns are not square on the graph and, in fact, some patterns are not symmetrical. In particular the transom and rocker patterns. Purchasing the available full size plans may be the way to go.

Again the book is fairly well written as an instructional guide, even for someone like me with little boat building or woodcrafting experience. I'd have rated it much higher had the supporting plans and patterns better lent themselves to more rapid and better construction and less head scatching.

Peter Spectre, of course, is/was WB's editor for a long time.

[WWheeler]

Doing full size plans with enlargements at a copy shop or repro house is never recommended. The equipment is probably not calibrated accurately enough. You have to work off the lines to get an accurate measurements.

For full size plans, see Duck Trap's site. They have some nice lapstrake wooden boats, and cradle boat plans (full size), with lines. www.duck-trap.com. (http://www.duck-trap.com.)

[ 09-30-2002, 09:58 AM: Message edited by: WWheeler ]

[TomRobb]

Do a search (upper right of these pages)of cradle boats for some discussion.
Try www.jordanwoodboats.com (http://www.jordanwoodboats.com) too. I built two of his and found the plans more than adequite.
You've got less than nine months. I wouldn't dawdle too much ;)

[DougC]

Thanks for the info. I will be scaling down a dory or skiff -- looks like I will have to start with something beamier than I usually go for, though will try to keep it in the ballpark of what I would like to build for real. Doug

[Kermit]

Doug, when I built my first cradle I visited a geezer in town who had built many. He said the only bit of knowledge that he felt it was indispensable for me to have was that the rockers should have a RADIUS of 22 inches. He was right. And for safety's sake, put a "ball" end on 'em. If you draw a circle about the diameter of a Kerr jar lid and extend the top line of the rocker, the ball should be tangent to and below this line, with half maybe a third of it extending below the bottom line (the 22" radius line) of the rocker. This'll keep the wee thing from heeling too far and winding up on its beam ends. I'd draw a picture, but you get the picture.

[cdragon]

Doug,
I built two (for my twin boys born 6/7/00) of the Bahamian Dinghy Cradle Boats from the Expectant Fathers book. They are beautiful and I enjoyed building them as much as I enjoyed seeing my boys sleeping in them and the accolades from admirers...A very salty old friend of mine upon seeing a photo of the boats and the kids exclaimed "Wow! Those are really beautiful!! And, uh, the kids are pretty cute too..."
I have to admit though, I bought the kit from Jim Shotwell (see WB) which really streamlined the process-not having to build the jig etc- The worst part about the whole thing is they only sleep in 'em for about four months after all that work!!

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

Dont put rockers on, hang it from the ceiling! I built Jordans boat cradle and canned the davits. Our ceiling in the Master BR at the time was almost 10' and the cradle would rock and rock for several min. Never had trouble w/ daughter sleeping! Course I cursed the damn lapstrake planking having never done it and the boat ended up slightly "pooched" or full looking in the bow. You'll also be best served going to a Foam/Rubber supplier and getting a piece cut to fit the final boat.