Cradling on the keel, 23 ' Oday

[Flyboy69]

Hey folks!

Just curious to know how you cradle your boats.... I have a 78 Oday with the centerboard. It sits on a cradle trailer over the winter and the supports are 2x4 steel beams that run lengthwise on either side of the keel like bunks. The Keel itself is Not supported. I'm wondering if it should be resting on the keel more than just solely on the bunks???

Thoughts??

 

[Tally Ho]

Hey folks!

Just curious to know how you cradle your boats.... I have a 78 Oday with the centerboard. It sits on a cradle trailer over the winter and the supports are 2x4 steel beams that run lengthwise on either side of the keel like bunks. The Keel itself is Not supported. I'm wondering if it should be resting on the keel more than just solely on the bunks???

Thoughts??

Don't have any experience with a C/B boat, but on a fixed keel boat, yes, the boat should have weight on the keel, as well as being supported by jack stands. I also "tilt" my boat aft since my cockpit drains through the walk-thru transom (no scuppers on mine).

You may have better luck posting this on the O'Day site, but I am sure there are some Hunter Owners with C/B boats.

Greg

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Whenever you have a cradled centerboard boat supported by steel beam bunks, that is not good. Generally there will be one contact point on the hull with steel beams causing the entire weight of the boat to be supported by the steel beam which can cause damage and/or hull being pushed in.

When you look at a swing centerboard on a trailer, the 2 X 4 wooden boards are allowed to be contured to the hull so you have max contact on the hull vs. one point contact. As for the swing keel, it should be in the down position on a keel tray or if the cradel is stationairy, then on the ground against a board as you do not want a continued strains on the cable and the retaining bolts that hold that swing keel/centeboard.

crazy dave condon