Cradle vs. Jackstands

Kyle Ewing · August 20, 2024, 04:17:57 PM

Are the benefits of a 34 year old cradle worth the time and expense to truck it 80 miles to another yard?

I'm considering switching winter boat yards from Chicago south side to Kenosha. If I do, I need to make a decision about shipping my cradle or using jack stands. My cradle is the original four pad shipping cradle and is showing it's age. The yard I'm considering charges a "cradle handling fee" that's essentially the same as jack stand rental.

I expect strong winds being on Lake Michigan.

Jim Hardesty · August 21, 2024, 05:30:03 AM

QuoteIf I do, I need to make a decision about shipping my cradle or using jack stands.

Done right both ways work well. I use jack stands on the shore of Lake Erie, lots of winter winds. My club is a hands-on club I set and adjust stands myself. Never had a problem. I own and use 9 stands, would be happy with 7. One advantage of stands is that they can be moved to bottom paint. Disadvantage is stands need to be checked over the winter, the ground freezing will change the tightness of the stands.
Suggest you search here lots of posts on both.
Jim

Ron Hill · August 22, 2024, 02:30:10 PM

Kyle : You mean that a yard is going to charge you to use your own cradle??
If so - I just might look for another yard!! That's a forecast of other things/expenses to come!!

A thought

Ted Pounds · August 23, 2024, 09:38:51 AM

Quote from: Ron Hill on August 22, 2024, 02:30:10 PMKyle : You mean that a yard is going to charge you to use your own cradle??
If so - I just might look for another yard!! That's a forecast of other things/expenses to come!!

A thought

I think what they're charging him for is to store the cradle when the boats in the water. That's the way my yard in Illinois was.....

Kyle Ewing · August 24, 2024, 03:32:40 PM

Ted is correct. My current yard in Chicago (Crowley's) includes cradle storage and movement in the fee as most boats store on cradles. The yard I'm looking at (Southport in Kenosha) is about half cradle so they charge a cradle fee with lower storage so overall price is comparable.

If I move, I'm leaning toward renting jackstands and selling/donating my current cradle.

Dave DeAre · August 25, 2024, 04:28:03 AM

Southport will not allow owners to paint under the cradle pads upon launch. If they apply the VC-17, they will paint under the cradle pads. If you rent the jackstands, you might move to paint under them. Seems a little risky and not sure what the yard's policy is on owners moving jackstands.
I just let them paint the bottom every 2 years.

Ted Pounds · August 25, 2024, 04:29:21 PM

Quote from: Dave DeAre on August 25, 2024, 04:28:03 AMSouthport will not allow owners to paint under the cradle pads upon launch. If they apply the VC-17, they will paint under the cradle pads. If you rent the jackstands, you might move to paint under them. Seems a little risky and not sure what the yard's policy is on owners moving jackstands.
I just let them paint the bottom every 2 years.

At Skipper Bud's in Winthrop Harbor they would move the jackstands upon request. I always did my own bottom work. However that was almost 20 years ago....

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