Be careful in the boatyard, check those chains and jack stands...
- Thread starter nat55
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So sad. His first sailboat.
My last boat had a cradle. They are a tedious to work around, compared to jack stands. But I think of them as being safer especially compared to just two jack stands per side, which a boat that size might have used.
I copied the photo and lightened it a bit. It looks to me like the brace on the forward starboard post, let go. The weld may have failed? But even wouldn't seem to have precipitated the boat falling. The post weld must have let go, too.
And even then, if the keel is bearing flat on the cribbing (or cradle, in this case), the aft stand alone, should have held the boat. That is, unless the keel was able to rotate? Seems there should be curbs on the bottom rail of the cradle, to prevent the keel spinning. All useless thoughts now, but maybe something will be discovered that will save someone else having a similar incident with a cradle.
Horrible way to go. So sad for that family. 
I've always felt uneasy climbing the ladder and stepping on my boat when it is in the yard. I try and push that thought from my mind by telling myself that the boat is really secure and I'm being overly dramatic. Never thought about it falling ON me.
I've always felt uneasy climbing the ladder and stepping on my boat when it is in the yard. I try and push that thought from my mind by telling myself that the boat is really secure and I'm being overly dramatic. Never thought about it falling ON me. Horrible death? versus what living alone to 98 in a retirement home, stuck in a wheelchair with missing knee, ankle and hip cartilage, listening to fox news on volume 11?
Go in peace my friend.
Go in peace my friend.
Just a reminder to check the jackscrews occasionally. I found one of mine quite loose last weekend. I know it has tight last fall and over the winter.
I know it has tight last fall and over the winter.That cradle looks to be very lightly made. I’m no steel worker/welder/metal worker but I’ve stored my 28’ O’day with many other boats on cradles and I’ve seen lots of cradles over the years but I’ve never seen one made of such light weight parts.
Cradles are made specifically to the individual boat. Looking at the cradle the support braces are low with the jack screws way too high which is a major issue. Also age and use of cradle unknown to include maintenance as well
Now I wish I could un-see this thread. We’ve never felt uncomfortable working in the yard with the boat in it’s cradle. But now that’s changed somewhat. I’ll soon be worrying about this situation where my Admiral helps out tremendously. Scary stuff.
I think we don't know enough about the incident to make general statements about the safety of a cradle.
Clearly one of the supports failed, but we don't know if the boat was properly sitting in the cradle with the weight of the boat on the keel. We don't know the condition of the support, was it rusted? Was it cracked? What about that large blue tarp, was it covering the boat? Did wind catch and start rocking the boat? Had the owner lowered one of the supports in order paint under it? There isn't much information about the events leading up to the cradle collapse.
If there is a takeaway, it is that we can't take cradles for granted. They need to be inspected each year for any rust or damage. If there is damage, then it needs to be repaired properly.
Given the choice of a cradle or jack stands, I'll take the cradle any day. They are much more stable and less subject ground movement and heaving. Less chance of the boat falling off a cradle. It's hard to put a boat into a cradle incorrectly, not so much with jack stands.
@BlowMeAway Your cradle looks fine. Next year ask the yard to put a couple of blocks in middle to better support the keel, right about where your wife's feet are.
A windstorm took out 3 boats. Mine was the first one. That's not the phone call you want to get, "Hey Dave, you better go take a look at your boat. It fell over."
Clearly one of the supports failed, but we don't know if the boat was properly sitting in the cradle with the weight of the boat on the keel. We don't know the condition of the support, was it rusted? Was it cracked? What about that large blue tarp, was it covering the boat? Did wind catch and start rocking the boat? Had the owner lowered one of the supports in order paint under it? There isn't much information about the events leading up to the cradle collapse.
If there is a takeaway, it is that we can't take cradles for granted. They need to be inspected each year for any rust or damage. If there is damage, then it needs to be repaired properly.
Given the choice of a cradle or jack stands, I'll take the cradle any day. They are much more stable and less subject ground movement and heaving. Less chance of the boat falling off a cradle. It's hard to put a boat into a cradle incorrectly, not so much with jack stands.
@BlowMeAway Your cradle looks fine. Next year ask the yard to put a couple of blocks in middle to better support the keel, right about where your wife's feet are.
A windstorm took out 3 boats. Mine was the first one. That's not the phone call you want to get, "Hey Dave, you better go take a look at your boat. It fell over."
That would not be good. Was there much damage...those jack stands look fairly meager. Shouldn’t there be some lateral supports between the stands, like chains or straps?
Yes there was a good bit of damage, about $14K.
The accident had multiple causes. In no particular order:
The keel was not blocked properly, it was only blocked in the middle and not at both ends, this allows the boat to rock fore and aft.
The jack stands were chained, but these are not Brownell stands and they were chained at the top of the stand at the pad. Chaining at this height allows the bottom of the stands to move and dance. Brownell stands chain at the middle of the stand, it helps prevent movement.
The boat sat in a very exposed location with additional windage from the cover. The extra windage no doubt applied extra pressure.
The boat is on asphalt which does not drain. After a freeze thaw cycle we believe some water and then ice got under the stands lubricating them.
The boat was very near the building in the background, there was probably some extremely high localized winds as they bent around the building.
The night it blew over, it was blowing around 40-50 knots.
We believe the wind caused the boat to start rocking and moving, eventually, one stand failed, either it moved or just collapsed, then she fell over, striking the next boat in line, knocking her over, which hit a third boat that laid up against a fourth boat.
Here you can see where the chains were attached. This photo was taken after the boat was upright and in a warehouse. Notice the jackstand handle stuck in the hull. Of course the handle stuck in the only part of the interior that was not easily accessible. The boat is a Sabre 30. Sabre interiors are stick built, except for the sink and head, which are installed as a fiberglass pan. Guess what is on the other side of the hull here.
Wow, that really sucks. Thanks for sharing the images and sorry for your previous loss. Mother Nature sure has a lot of bitchy weapons in her arsenal. There’s no predicting something like this considering any cumulative weather contributions.
I’m gonna guess the head and possibly a holding tank below the waterline...just adds insult to injury.
I would think a midship stand would have prevented this. I always use three per side and a bow jack. That way, I can shift them when necessary without risking my life! I see lots of cradles with only 2 per side. On a boat over 22 feet... sounds crazy.
Don't have time to check, however, as I recall the recommendation from Bronwnell is 1 stand every 8 feet. That puts a 30 foot right on the margin of 3 or 4 stands.
Edit: Remember the jack stands are only there to balance the boat, not support the weight.
Even if the cradle is solid, boats can be blown over. The gravel ground probably contributed to the one below but there was quite a wind, gusting over 80 knots very briefly. This was with very little windage, the mast was down and there was no cover on the boat.
Very sad about the new boat owner in the OP. When I was in high school, a kid in my school lost his father when a boat fell on him. The boat was being hauled when one of the straps parted. It was very sobering and there was a lot of discussion regarding safety in the boat yard after that incident.
Very sad about the new boat owner in the OP. When I was in high school, a kid in my school lost his father when a boat fell on him. The boat was being hauled when one of the straps parted. It was very sobering and there was a lot of discussion regarding safety in the boat yard after that incident.
Ouch!
I'm assuming the storm surge got you and not the wind. There is still a lot of windage on the boat that would have caused trouble.
We have a C&C33 MK2 swing keel in a cradle but we also have a Bow and Stern jack stands and midship jack stands. we where one of the few boats still standing after Sandy came thru.