Boat cradle load capacity: how to choose it

When you are looking for a boat cradle, the first question is almost always the same: how much can it carry? The right answer is not a single figure. The safety of a boat resting on land all winter depends on the supports as a whole, on how many there are, where they are placed and the condition of the equipment.

How should you approach the capacity of a cradle?

A boat is never carried by a single cradle. Several supports share its weight, and it is their combination, properly placed under the hull, that holds it up. To size them correctly, three pieces of information matter:

• the real weight of the boat, not just its length: for the same length, two boats can weigh very differently;
• the shape of the hull and, on a sailing boat, the type of keel;
• the useful dimensions: width at the supports, the support height you want and the overall length.

How many cradles does a boat need?

The longer or heavier a boat is, the more supports it needs, spread across the load-bearing points of the hull. There is no universal number. That is why the Cradle B quote request includes a configuration calculator: from your measurements and the weight of the boat, it gives a minimum number of support legs and the models that suit. Allowing a margin above the strict minimum is sensible for a boat that stays in place all winter.

Can one big cradle replace several cradles?

No. Safety comes from spreading the load across enough well-positioned supports. A single support, however strong, does not make up for an insufficient spread if it is badly placed, and it concentrates the load on a single point of the hull. Conversely, too many supports that are badly adjusted add nothing: position matters as much as quantity.

Which support height should you choose?

The Cradle B range covers support heights from 85 to 210 cm, with four models (G, M, P and X) that share the same logic of use and are completed by a mobile or fixed extension depending on the floor width you want. The height is chosen according to the shape of the hull and the height at which you want to place the boat, for example to keep the propeller clear of the ground or to be able to work under the hull.

Which material suits a cradle stored outdoors?

A cradle spends the winter outside, sometimes for several years. Our cradles are made of S355 steel, treated against corrosion. They are developed, machined, welded, treated and pre-assembled to guarantee the quality of the whole. Whichever manufacturer you choose, a regular visual check remains useful: deformation, corrosion, condition of the fastenings.

What should you check during winter lay-up?

Above all at the start. The ground can settle under the weight of the boat, which changes how the load is shared between the supports. A check after the first few weeks, then at regular intervals, lets you correct any shoring that has moved. Poor shoring can deform the hull or cause a serious fall: see also our safety instructions for shoring a boat.

The most common mistakes

• choosing supports without knowing the real weight of the boat;
• concentrating the load on too few points;
• forgetting the keel on a sailing boat: it plays an important part in taking the weight;
• no longer checking the supports once the boat is in place;
• confusing the strength of a single support with the safety of the whole.