The pre-eminent issue for cradles is Health and Safety. The cradle must be sufficiently strong with appropriate bracing to perform the tasks required, namely retrieving and launching the boat and side hauling. While cradle design has developed over the years there are now a set of requirements that must be met. The rules are set out in the Haulage Rules document downloadable from this site and take precedence over the summary notes below.
Cradles must be built of steel.
All bracing must be solid (i.e. chains are no longer acceptable).
Timber skids, attached under the bearers, must be hardwood and bolt heads must be countersunk well below the surface.
Cradle arms need timber extensions that are accessible from the deck of the boat for hauling purposes such as attaching ropes to secure while hauling in or out. These arms are usually padded with carpet.
All bolts must be of the correct size and be in top condition – any with stripped threads or other damage must be replaced.
All components of the cradle must be of size and strength to accommodate the boat being hauled.
An exception to the rule about wooden cradles is made for a small number of boats that have traditionally hauled at DYC on their cradles which are kept in top condition.
Below is the standard design for an appropriate cradle.
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