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Cradle
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| A boat is a major investment,
and when it comes time to store a boat, it should be done with an eye toward
protecting that investment. No method of boat storage will support the hull
as well as the water; making any other means a compromise - to some degree.
Keels can generally support up to 95% of a boat's displacement. The sides and bottoms of most modern laminated hulls should never be required to accept concentrated loads, i.e. a large amount of weight on a few pads. If possible, supporting means used against the hull should be located at bulkheads and/or stringers. Never store a boat with the mast stepped unless the masthead is secured to the ground to prevent the boat from tipping. The side area of a mast is more than sufficient to turn a boat over in high winds. Boat stands, on the surface at least, seem to be an economical means of storing a boat. The problem with stands is that each one transfers its load to a separate patch of ground, and the ground is not a stable platform. When the ground cycles from wet to dry, freeze to thaw, etc., it moves in relation to itself. If stands are not constantly adjusted to compensate for this, they can loosen and spill the boat. Typically in today's tightly packed commercial boat yards, this has meant that whole rows of boats go over like dominoes. There have been several instances of this, even in yards staffed with people with years of boat handling experience - just think about the responsibility involved in storing your boat at home on boat stands. For these reasons, among others, some insurance companies refuse to cover boats or yards that use stands for boat storage. Before putting your boat on stands, it might be wise to check with your agent or boat yard. Cross stands off the list of options and that leaves you with cradles, both wood and steel. The problem with wood cradles, besides rotting and thereby losing strength, is that they will eventually sag and permanently warp. Once this has happened, the cradle will no longer fit the hull it was built for, and therefore can no longer properly support it. Serious damage can be caused by an ill-fitting cradle. Which leaves us with the proven best and safest means of storing a boat - the JOWI ADJUSTABLE FOLDING STEEL CRADLE. The boat rests on a sturdy steel tube frame with integral vertical steel tubes and screw/pads that can be adjusted to exactly the right angle and pressure for the hull. When the earth moves, the boat and steel frame move as one with it. The steel frame will not twist or rot, nor will it sag and take a set. Every time your boat is cradled it will fit perfectly. JOWI cradles also fold flat when not in use to conserve space. And, surprisingly, considering its many advantages, a JOWI adjustable, folding steel cradle is competitive with wood in cost. |
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