Greetings !

I'd like to build a steel cradle that could be adjusted for different
sizes [up to 50' and say, 30,000#] to transport boats on a flat bed
truck, obviously in the least expensive, safe manner.

Detachment from the flatbed, being disassemblable into man-size
maneuverable components, and being capable of being "sledded" across the
ground with a boat in-cradle; would also be desirable.

Recommendations appreciated,
--
Courtney Thomas
s/v Mutiny
lying Oriental, NC
WDB5619

"Courtney Thomas" wrote in message
...

I'd like to build a steel cradle that could be adjusted for different
sizes [up to 50' and say, 30,000#] to transport boats on a flat bed
truck, obviously in the least expensive, safe manner.

Detachment from the flatbed, being disassemblable into man-size
maneuverable components, and being capable of being "sledded" across the
ground with a boat in-cradle; would also be desirable.


Your upper size range is going to make this difficult-too nearly impossible.
Once you get the boat and cradle on a low-boy trailer, the overall height
will be more than the 14' limit of most highways.

A boat hauler trailer is designed to get the bottom of the keel down low and
normally only hads a foot to 18 inches to the overall height.. They use have
a special drop axle design and the keel rests well below the wheel center.
With a cradle you boat keel would be several feet off the road bed.

What your considering might work for a boat in the 30 ft range without
much cabin truck. In this case you could load the boat on a regular boat
trailer that could then be loaded onto a flat bed (wheels removed if more
clearance is required).


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Assuming you have a 48' flatbed semitrailer and not a flatbed truck,
you're still stuck with a boat ht. of 13.5'-(trailer_4.5'+cradle_1')~8'.
Like Steve said, few boats over 25'LOA will fit that profile. If
you are serious about moving and storing a lot of boats up to 50' you
have to consider a trailer designed for the job. The trailers used by
the transporters are slotted lowboys with lots of tiedown points and
stake pockets to make them adjustable mobile cradles. And that begs the
question: why do you want cradles? There's no efficient way to load
and unload big, cradled boats without a crane. Cradles are necessary
for some rail and ship transport, I guess. But jacks are the preferred
storage system elsewhere.
Regards, Boatdreams
-------------------
Courtney Thomas wrote:
Greetings !

I'd like to build a steel cradle that could be adjusted for different
sizes [up to 50' and say, 30,000#] to transport boats on a flat bed
truck, obviously in the least expensive, safe manner.

Detachment from the flatbed, being disassemblable into man-size
maneuverable components, and being capable of being "sledded" across the
ground with a boat in-cradle; would also be desirable.

Recommendations appreciated,