Building a cradle

[flyella10]

I would like to have a cradle built for my 28.5 Hunter sailboat deep keel (1986). Can anyone help me with any construction plans? I did ask for any plans from Hunter, but I'm not too optimistic.

Thanks, Rob

 

[Alan]

I built a steel cradle for my 34 years ago. Its a simple matter of measuring and cutting steel beams and welding supports. I copied a design of another boat cradle I saw in a boat yard and changed the some measurements to fit my boat.

 

[jtm]

I have my original cradle for the H28.5 shoal draft. I doubt that the deep draft would be that much different. I suspect that the difference in the shoal vs deep cradle might just be the height/rise of the front and backside stanchions/uprights.

It has the drop-in worm screw pads on the front end and the "U" bar on the rear. I guess it served its purpose in getting the boat from FL to NJ. I kinda wish it had 6 pads all around - would make painting the bottom a lot easier as I could back off the pads 1 at a time and paint that section and avoid the drama of painting the "holidays" in the slings just before splash time. Also- I have a jpg of Jay Griz's cradle-who had a deep kelel before his boat was totaled- can send that for "comparative" height reference.

I can send you dimensions and pictures - look me up in the owner registry and email me.

Jim McCue
s/v SafeHabor