The trailer for my used Tiger came with hull cradles that look like the ones listed as "INTER CRADLES FOR CAT TRAX" in the Catamaran Sailor online store. They are basically U-shaped and don't fit the front of the boat very well. While no damage has resulted (yet), I wonder if there isn't a better choice. Recommendations?

I know what you mean that they do not fit. Most of the sailors around here just use them anyway.

I use Hobie 20 Cradles in the front and Tiger cradles in the back. I happened to have some and checked them against the hulls they are a nice fit. They have held the tiger for 2 year now.

Later,
Dan

We are also dealers for Playaboule (Euro Trax) and am not sure that they will fit a trailer, but they do have different shapes.
They won't be shown on the www.onlinemarinestore.com site, but you can call our office manager, Gen and she can check the suppliers.
Tel is 866-451-3287
Rick

I suspect if the hulls haven't dented yet, the ones I have are okay. I'm interested in these cradles:

http://www.onlinemarinestore.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jmoscqmqh4

(made for H-20 bow N 5.7 stern) since they mount direct to the 2x2 frame tube, and I would like to lower the bows some while on the trailer as they ride pretty high now. I can't imagine why they wouldn't work as well as the current cradles.

Dan - are those the H-20 cradles you are using, or are you using the Hobie H-20 cradles? (the Hobie cradles have a flat 3" x 6" bottom for mounting rather than a cutout that goes around the trailer frame).

Actually the cradles that I am using came off the catwheels that I used for the Hobie 20. The trailer was made with this round piece welded to the top of the trailer to accomodate cradles for catwheels. I was just lucky that the person that bought my Hobie 20 did not want the wheels and I was able to use those cradles for the front of the trailer and they fit great! I made the others. That is the back ones for the trailer and the catwheels. If you are not particularly good with the materials it is best to buy them.

Later,
Dan

Just a thought.., They have that styrafoam or some kind of insulation material in a can that you shake and shoot out of a can.
Perhaps you can use wax paper around the hulls and make a form out of the stuff.
Who knows, it may work.
Rick

Jeff, I was able to lower my front cradles by about four inches simply by moving my trailer's support bar from atop the frame to beneath the frame.

Note that this may cause problems with both storage box mounting and with 'box to dolphin striker' clearance.

GARY

I've tried to use that stuff for molds before - it really doesn't have much structure too it and I crushed it with some really light vacuum bagging. It might suffice for some light duty padding for something - but it would flatten pretty quickly with boat weight.

I used that type of foam in 5 ltr rectangular plastic water containers about 7 years ago. It made them very solid. I ran a loop of shockcord through a hole in the end, with a stopper knot inside the container (before I squirted in the foam). The shockcord went round the hull and was held around the neck of the container. The guy who bough my Hawk is still using them.

Gary, my front crossbars are welded to the frame and also have a small diagional bracing piece welded in, so they would be a bit of trouble to move. Good idea for bolted together trailers though.

I went ahead and order these:
http://www.onlinemarinestore.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jmoscqmqh4

They just arrived and I held one up against the hull. Just forward of the current cradles there is a little extra room on the sides, just aft of the current cradles they are a bit tight on the sides, so I expect a darn near perfect fit when I get them mounted. The current cradles are roughly 18" forward of the front beam when the boat is in its proper position on the trailer.

Another problem with the current cradles is that they are built with "pockets" in the center. Although they were supposedly sealed when made, they now leak and collect water. Not good in a climate with freezing temps. Also, the carpet sags over the pocket so you end up with a little support strip just foward and aft of each pocket. This design seems to be common to a lot of cradles.

The new cradles don't have these pockets so they can't collect water or sag in the middle. I'll post again when they are mounted and maybe provide a picture.

I noticed the same thing and was worried about what damage would occur to my Tiger as I drug it from Iowa to Rick White's sailing seminar, in Key Largo. I solved the problem using four carpet samples, contact cement, and bedding foam material (dimpled on one side). I first cut the carpet sample to size, using the cradle as the template. I put contact cement on the fiber side of the carpet and on the smooth side of the foam. I put the foam in the cradle, cement up (of course) and dimples down (dimples increase the friction against the lined cradle). Then I laid the carpet on the foam, cement down (of course) and edges aligned. I eased the boat down onto the combination. Do it three more times. Result: a perfect pad to rest hte boat on, that conforms to the cradle shape. The foam, against the lined cradle prevents the pad from sliding. The boat sits in a very soft pad, with no gaps. I did more than 3200 miles, round trip, to Rick's class, without any damage. Pretty cheap, too. As long as you get the cement in the right direction!

I currently just cut out a piece of 3/4" plywood to shape and put a bit of carpet over it Then another piece on the other side of the support. This is not recommended although no problems but I don't trailer it far.

I am about to make new supports and it just occurred to me to try a new way to make them. I have not figured out exactly how to do it, but essentially I am going to get some wide (probably 2 or three inch webbing) which I will attach at the ends somehow to the frame of the cradle so the boat makes it's shape and spreads the stress out. Somewhat like a strapping used to sling a boat at a boat hoist.

Anyone ever try this?

The webbing should support the hulls with no problem but won't the boat move fore and aft as the straps will move? The tie downs will have to be very tight to stop the movement.

good point hobie1616. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Maybe spread some silicome sealant on the straps, cover with polyethylene plastic, and then put the boat in it till the silicone sealant sets and then remove the boat, then pull off the polyethylene, so the silicone would take an impression of the hull. This would make the straps non-slip. This might cause some minor chafing?

Or maybe have two straps at each station. Each strap starts at the top on opposite sides, then goes down and part way up the other side where it is attached... Creating a rounded X ... The bottom part of the X would be flattened out... This should stop the fore and aft swaying and lateral swaying.

As fate would have it, I have some old heavy heavy webbing that was used to carry sling loads below a helicopter.

Has anyone tried supporting the boat by the crossbars?

Here's the solution I arrived at. I did order the cradles from Rick's store that are recommended for Hobie 20 bows. They fit like a glove, the only caveat being that the best location is about 2 feet ahead of the front beam. Farther back and the hull is too wide, farther forward it is narrower.



To lower the boat I unbolted the center section of the trailer frame from the tongue and from the wheel assembly and flipped the whole thing. It was a bit of work, but the results work great. The cross beams are very securely welded to the longitudinals, so I don't anticipate any problems there.



Oh, and here's a picture of one of the old cradles that shows just how little area was supporting the hull (the previous owner glued on the stupid astroturf - very abrasive stuff - bad idea).

send me a cutout of the hullshape and I can custum make them for the tiger... contact [email][email protected]..[/email]
southerncross fiberglass

those seem to fit well. great work