Posted by Dan on June 19, 2003 at 19:52:41:
In Reply to: Re: Cradle/dolly for Console Skiff posted by Eric W. on June 18, 2003 at 21:40:24:
Eric,
Thanks for pointing out the 2x4s. I didn't notice them at first. I'll have to find that reference in the instructions.
Are you concerned at all about internal voids in the hull panels? Believe it or not, I live 15 miles from the Massachusetts ocean coast and it is difficult to find marine plywood. I too have considered good quality exterior (very available and less $$), but I am concerned about internal voids. I did find a plywood dealer in Maine (Maine Coast Lumber) that will deliver any order over $200 to my door for a $8 (yes, that is eight dollars) packing charge. They carry many marine grades of plywood, but marine ply is not cheap. I am considering $35 DF (3/8") or $43 BS1088 Meranti (3/8"). I may split the difference and use marine ply for the hull/keel panels and then good exterior for the rest.
Thanks,
Dan
: Glad they helped. The plywood is A/C Douglas Fir that I got from a lumber company in St. Louis. It was about $18 per sheet for the 3/8" if I remember correctly. A little more than the Home Depot stuff but better quality.
: Regarding the position of the supporting arms - I just got them to where I thought they would be close and then snugged up the bolts semi-tight. Then when I put the hull on the cradle they pretty much conformed to the hull shape. This is easier in the aft section because the hull angle is pretty much linear. For the forward support arms, I just pulled up on them a little to contact the hull better while tightening the bolts. I was a little worried that it might deform the hull at that point but it seems to be fine.
: Also somewhat visible in the second photo are the 6' long 2"x4"s that are screwed to the aft section of the hull to keep it in alignment. The instructions strongly recommend installing these and I'm glad I did. They overlap the aft cradle support arms with a half-lap joint (half the cross section cut from each board).
: Feel free to ask any more questions that you have. I'm certainly not the most knowledgeable CS builder but anything I can do makes me feel that much more important (ha ha).
: Eric
: : Thanks for the pictures! They are very helpful. Did you fix the position of the supporting boards (contacting the boat with carpet on them) or did you allow them to swivel and conform to the angle of the hull section it is supporting?
: : Also, what kind of plywood did you use? It looks like fir. I am trying to determine which plywood I should use.
: : Thanks!