Plans for wood cradle?

[preserved_killick]

Hi all,

I need to move a 22 foot full keel boat around 400 miles. I'm having trouble getting a boat moving service to fuss with the job. I do have access to a solid flatbed trailer though. I'm considering moving the boat with a cradle on the flatbed, bit only if it can be done safely.

Part of the process, is figuring out the cradle design that is solid, then will that structure fit on the trailer...then will the loads be ok.

I've seen plenty of wooden cradles are boat yards, never really focusing on them. Google search does not turn up much for wood boat cradles, unless baby beds count!

Does anyone have any plans or good images of a well made wooden cradle for a boat?

[Woxbox]

Got a photo? That would speed the reply process greatly. If it has a long, straight keel, the job will be quite simple. The keel would sit on the trailer and carry all the weight. Then all you need are some simple supports to keep it upright and straps to keep it from shifting. If you can put fasteners into the trailer bed, life will be simpler still.

[113bob]

Check out Maynard Bray's (terrific) article "Trailers, Cradles, Planks & Rollers" in WoodenBoat #69, March\April 1986. It answered all my questions and I expect it will answer yours as well.

[preserved_killick]

Thanks 113Bob. My collection is spotty for those years and I don't have WB69. Still, I did find a bunch of articles I can read though.

I'll try to post a photo. I can't put fasteners into the trailer bed, straps all I can do.

[wizbang 13]

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...and&highlight=
In this thread I build a wood cradle on a flatbed trailer for my 24' keel boat.

[Don Z.]

Thanks 113Bob. My collection is spotty for those years and I don't have WB69. Still, I did find a bunch of articles I can read though.

I'll try to post a photo. I can't put fasteners into the trailer bed, straps all I can do.

Which you can download a digital copy, at a cost of less than five dollars...

https://www.woodenboatstore.com/coll...16904243937370

[preserved_killick]

Which you can download a digital copy, at a cost of less than five dollars...

https://www.woodenboatstore.com/coll...16904243937370

Thanks! I did exactly that and it's a great article.

[preserved_killick]

http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthre...and&highlight=
In this thread I build a wood cradle on a flatbed trailer for my 24' keel boat.

THanks, well done! Cradle looks great. I was wondering where I'd be able to get long timbers on short notice and laminating 2x lumber seems like a good solution. Was the whole thing stable on the trailer? How far did you go?

[preserved_killick]

I had a good talk with one of the older owners of the yard where I keep my boat. He remembers when they only used cradles and we talked about the challenges & tricks. They still move some boats this way. Here's a boat they move on a cradle/flatbed. The setup is similar to what Marnard Bray describes in that article. Seems like a reasonable thing to do.

[Stiletto]

Yes, good support for the hull and plenty of triangulation for the structure. Bolted or nailplates rather than just nails.

[jpatrick]

I think if I were facing this situation I'd take the trailer to the boat yard loaded with a variety of timbers etc., unload them onto the ground, then have the yard's travel lift set the boat directly onto the trailer bed. I'd then use some of the yard's adjustable stands to support the boat while I cobbled up a support system to fit the hull/trailer exactly. I'd use a lot of lapped and bolted connections rather than nails. Then throw some heavy duty straps around the whole deal to firmly tie boat and trailer together.

Jeff

[preserved_killick]

Thanks everyone. Boat was lowered onto a basic cradle foundation using a gantry lift, and we built the structure to meet the hull while hanging in slings. It all worked great. 400 miles back to home with no issues.

IMG-20200921-165111.jpg

[Hugh MacD]

Nice boat! Will we get to see more?