Building a Cradle

[CYQK]

Have a 42 foot boat and getting ready to build a cradle for it.
Was in Duluth last week and noticed a lot of cradles were in the 12foot length measurement
How long would you build your cradle for a 42foot boat?

Thanks

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

A lot will depend on the construction but this question should be deferred to Beneteau. The office is in Charleston, SC but you will get the factory as all phone calls are routed to there. Ask for customer service as I would tend to think the appropriate response will come from them and ask them how many supports and or bunks. Better yet, they might be able to shoot you a photo of one. Good luck with your project.

 

[CYQK]

Think 16 foot long would do?

 

[Siamese]

The determining factor for the location of cradle length will be based on how far apart the pads are. And pad position will be dictated by where the hull is best supported (in most cases, where the bulkheads are located). Simply picking a cradle length based on a random sampling of boats in the marina is arbitrary.

I agree that contacting the manufacturer is the best course.

If I needed a cradle, I suppose I would consider building one, but only after finding out what it would cost to have one fabricated out of steel, with adjustability for the pads.

 

[quadrille38]

Ask them to send you the prints for the cradle for your boat. They most likely contract that out and don't build them themselves anyway.

Guessing at the size isn't going to get a properly designed cradle.

 

[joker460]

There are quite a few threads with regards to cradles.
This place is in NC http://www.jowi.com/reservations.html
This place is in Ontario http://www.cradleridetrailers.com/Products.page?CategoryID=5149&CurrentPage=1&ItemID=20627
They built a collapsible cradle for me for around $1500 CDN.
You give them the model and they can make the cradle.
Gives you peace of mind, liability wise.

 

[CYQK]

Thanks Joker
Will contact beneteau
Nice looking product