Cradle advice needed for O'Day 322

[KayRay8454]

We have an O'Day 322 that has a wooden storage cradle on its last legs (no pun intended). So, last year, we bought a used metal storage cradle designed for a 36' S2. Unfortunately, our boat didn't fit the cradle very well. They had to leave a sling foreward, as the pads didn't touch the boat, and the rear pads caused oil canning, which created difficulty opening the head door when the boat was launched.

So, our choices this fall are to mend the old wooden cradle, or try to make the other cradle work. In hindsight, we should have ordered a brand new cradle, but that's not an option now until next summer.

The owner's manual recommends that we do NOT put all the weight on the keel, which is customary in other designs (we have a winged keel). Does anyone have helpful information, or a design for a cradle that will work, so we know how to modify ours to fit? The owner's manual doesn't have this.

 

[wdowychyn]

Never heard of the fact to not put the weight on the keel.
What marine is doing your haul out?
Port Superior puts many boats on jack stands for the winter. the side pads are only for balance. to keep the boat verticle. This last spring I placed stands under my boat,loosened the pads to sand the bottom and put them back up. I felt no heavy weight on them during this time. You can rent the pads from marina for the season if you want to forgo getting a new cradle until next year.
talk to Steve there. They can re-weld the legs so that it fits your boat.

If you need more info: wdowychyn@q.com
See you on the lake...

Northwind
Oday 40
Port Superior, Bayfield Wi

 

[KayRay8454]

Thanks for the info, wdowychyn! I'm going by the owner's manual, which states that not all the weight is to go directly on the keel (which is a winged keel). They also state to check the docking section of the owner's manual, which is not included in the manual we have. We are at Roy's Point, and, for reasons unclear to me, the haul out and launch price is doubled when a boat is placed on jack stands, rather than a cradle which can fit on their trailer. It has something to do with how many times the boat is lifted, I think. Thanks for the tip on Port Superior, as well as Steve for re-welding. We are hoping to find the specifications for a cradle for the O'Day 322 in the next week or so. We will look for you when we're out in the Apostles : )

 

[Pat]

We have a 272 w/ winged keel as well....I think they don't want you to place or support the boat by the wings...directly under the center portion of the keel has been okay for us...our manual says the same thing....I have great drawings for an O'Day 302 wooden cradle but you would have to adapt the cut out for the hull to match your 322 dimensions..the basic design would be fine I believe....pat

 

[Bw whisper]

About the hull twisting and the head door not closing.

[Did the bulkhead eventually fall back into place or did you have to have it repaired? What did it take to re align the bulkhead? I am looking at a 322 with the same issue, about 3/4" out of alignment.
Thanks




quote=KayRay8454;1142690]We have an O'Day 322 that has a wooden storage cradle on its last legs (no pun intended). So, last year, we bought a used metal storage cradle designed for a 36' S2. Unfortunately, our boat didn't fit the cradle very well. They had to leave a sling foreward, as the pads didn't touch the boat, and the rear pads caused oil canning, which created difficulty opening the head door when the boat was launched.

So, our choices this fall are to mend the old wooden cradle, or try to make the other cradle work. In hindsight, we should have ordered a brand new cradle, but that's not an option now until next summer.

The owner's manual recommends that we do NOT put all the weight on the keel, which is customary in other designs (we have a winged keel). Does anyone have helpful information, or a design for a cradle that will work, so we know how to modify ours to fit? The owner's manual doesn't have this.[/quote]

 

[KayRay8454]

[did The Bulkhead Eventually Fall Back Into Place Or Did You Have To Have It Repaired? What Did It Take To Re Align The Bulkhead? I Am Looking At A 322 With The Same Issue, About 3/4" Out Of Alignment.
Thanks

It Actually Went Back Into Place When The Boat Was Launched. This Year, It Did The Same Thing, Except It Didn't Bend Out Of Shape As Badly. We Are Having The Cradle Adjusted This Year So It Doesn't Have The Same Difficulty.




Quote=kayray8454;1142690]we Have An O'day 322 That Has A Wooden Storage Cradle On Its Last Legs (no Pun Intended). So, Last Year, We Bought A Used Metal Storage Cradle Designed For A 36' S2. Unfortunately, Our Boat Didn't Fit The Cradle Very Well. They Had To Leave A Sling Foreward, As The Pads Didn't Touch The Boat, And The Rear Pads Caused Oil Canning, Which Created Difficulty Opening The Head Door When The Boat Was Launched.

So, Our Choices This Fall Are To Mend The Old Wooden Cradle, Or Try To Make The Other Cradle Work. In Hindsight, We Should Have Ordered A Brand New Cradle, But That's Not An Option Now Until Next Summer.

The Owner's Manual Recommends That We Do Not Put All The Weight On The Keel, Which Is Customary In Other Designs (we Have A Winged Keel). Does Anyone Have Helpful Information, Or A Design For A Cradle That Will Work, So We Know How To Modify Ours To Fit? The Owner's Manual Doesn't Have This.

[/quote]

 

[Tally Ho]

I bought a O322 last year. Our marina will only use jack stands (no cradles allowed to be kept there). We put weight on the keel, but under the center (not the wings) and not ALL of the weight. We used 3 jacks stands on each side.

Here are some photos...

First is the PO's wood cradle.

Second photo is how we blocked it last fall. The marina guys put too much "nose up" pitch on it I think, but it worked. My on can see in both photos that the keel is blocked, but in a way not to put a lot of weight on the outside of the wing.



Greg

 

[fireman416]

Post might be a bit old but I would like to ask a question from the group. I have my 322 on a cradle that has a pad in the middle of the stern supports. Every year we haul the boat I have difficultly balancing the boat on it keels while not putting too much weight on that center pad. I'm thinking of doing away with that pad next spring and would like to get your thoughts on the idea.

 

[Tally Ho]

Don't know if these will help, but the PO kept this O'Day 322 on a wooden cradle. Hard to see, but it looks like it is curved to the hull shape, and padded with some carpet.

My Marina does not allow cradles, so I keep mine on jack stands over the winter.



Greg

 

[fireman416]

Thanks Greg
I don't see any reason why I need a center pad support and doing away with it would make it easier to get the boat on her cradle. I see Tally Ho had a wooden cradle, we don't allow those at our club either.

 

[Tally Ho]

That cradle is what the PO used at his Marina in Holland, Mi.

My home port is East Chicago, IN and my Marina won't allow storage of cradles, so most people, including me, use jackmstands.

Greg

 

[Pat]

you can support the keel w/blocks, etc. centered under the actual keel stub only, but not under the wings as the wings themselves are clearly not designed to support the weight of the boat.

 

[DayDreamer41]

Could you not just measure the wood cradle you have to get the CL to CL of the supports and adjust the steel cradle you have to those dimensions? As for height you have that as well, with the majority of the load being carried by placing timbers under the centerline of the keel.

 

[Pat]

Are they instructing you to not have a wood cradle on the ground? We allow wooden cradles but they are on flat bed trailers
and function very well.....I have cradle drawings somewhere for a 302, but not a 322.....the only significant difference would be the radius of the hull is of course different for the larger boat (322).....I've shared this cradle drawing several times to 302
owners...it is one beefy dude of a cradle.....fine on the highway...we use to spend many weekends at Lake Texoma on his
302....cradle'd it back to Wichita with no issues at all. Patrick in Wichita.

 

[AndreNJ11]

To add my experience, my marina has used jack stands and blocks under the center of the keel on my O'Day 322 for eight years. I have seen about 10 other 322's and every one of them used jack stands, with a block under the center of the keel. Just don't put a block under or any weight on the wings. The jack stands supply the lateral balance to keep the boat upright, they do not carry much weight. I would not want the bother, cost, and summer storage of a cradle. Hope this helps.