I need to have a storage cradle built this year, and have been working with a local welder, but would like a second opinion on the strength of what I am proposing. I have an Oday 34, the factory weight was 11,500. I plan to construct the cradle using 3x5 rectangular steel tubing, could be either 3/16 or 1/4" thick. The base will be 14 feet long and 6 feet wide, with three cross members of the same material perpendicular to the sides, underneath the keel. The keel is approximately 6 feet 6 inches long, and I plan to space the cross members 2 feet apart from each other, roughly centered in the 14' length and centered under the keel. I don't have enough engineering background to know how to use the tubing calculators I find online, nor do I have an idea of what reasonable deflection would be. When the boat is stored, the cradle will be supported on wood blocks, but when the boat is being moved around the yard, I can't guarantee that it won't be supported only near the ends of the cradle, so I'd like to know what I need for a worst case scenario. I am guessing if my proposed structure is not adequate, it would only be the long side pieces that would need to be more substantial?
Anecdotally, it appears what I am planning is more sound than about 90% of the cradles I see in most yards!
Thanks for any advice,
Scott
Anecdotally, it appears what I am planning is more sound than about 90% of the cradles I see in most yards!
Thanks for any advice,
Scott