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Has anyone built, or seen an easy to build rolling cradle. I have an '89 Montauk that needs a little T.L.C. The boat will fit in my garage, but the trailer is to wide to get through the door. The wife and my HOA have issues with me keeping it in the driveway.

I was thinking I could build something off of two or three furniture dollies from the Depot.

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It sounds like you've got a dilemma. While making a cradle of some sort would get the boat in the garage, you may need 10 men and a small boy to get the boat off the trailer and onto the cradle.

I suppose you could build something in your garage that would approximate the bunks on your trailer. Mount those (with some of those bunk slicks on top) on some very well braced blocks set at roughly the same height and width as your trailer bunks. Back the trailer up to those and push it into the garage.

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I've also seen this done...........cut a small door in the bottom of the garage door that will let the tongue stay outside. You could hinge it so you could close and lock it when the boat is not there. :D

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I built one out of 4x4's and 4x6's - It has bunks - The bunks are the same height as my trailer bunks - When I am ready to transfer I strap it tight to the back of my trailer - Tie the back of the boat off to something stationary (tree, car trailer hitch etc) - Then I start to pull the trailer out - The straps then pull the cradle under (its on nice size casters) - Its really quite easy - Unfortunately I do not have pics of the process - I can take some of the cradle if you are interest - My sons little sailboat is sitting in it now waiting restoration. Let me know
Scott

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Scott, you've GOT to post some pics of that! Sounds great.

The "tongue door" idea won't work for our inquirer. He mentioned that his trailer is too wide, not too long, for the garage.

If you have a Harbor Freight store near you (they sell tools, and I think they're becoming nationwide) I saw some furniture dollies at very cheap prices that purported hold 1000# each. You could use a floor jack to barely lift the boat off the trailer, move the trailer a little, and then block it and use the jack again. A couple of cycles like this and your trailer is now out. (See my personal page for a picture). You could then roll your dolly setup underneath, lower the boat onto that, and push it in the garage. (Hopefully, your driveway is fairly level.) I would think you could build something simple with three of those dollies and some 2X4s -- two dollies on either side of the keel by the transom, and one on the keel forward.

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I'd like to see pics. :D

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The trailer appears to be wider than necessary.

What about trading the trailer in on a narrower one?

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I will snap some pics today - remember it will show my sons small sailboat and not the Whaler right now.

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Joe make a good point. TNelson: where are you located? Your member info is incomplete.

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Ok - here are the pics - Its really handled my 15 well - I would not hesitate putting a 17 on there at all -
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/sraab928/Rage%20Conversion/S6000458.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/sraab928/Rage%20Conversion/S6000459.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/sraab928/Rage%20Conversion/S6000460.jpg[/IMG]

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Thanks Scott. Great idea. Simple too.

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Guys, Thank you the pictures are exactly what I was looking for.

Regarding the trailer. Yes, it is very much over kill, including the full breaks. It is a new trailer, that came with the boat when I bought it. So new, there a still nubs on the tires.

I believe you could use this for up to a 22'.

I am in Denver. Any thoughts on how to trade it. I talked to the local dealers, and they are more than happy to sell me a smaller trailer, but not trading for mine.

I would trade even if I could get it in my garage.

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Yes the idea is simple but effective. Makes storing and working on the boat a breeze - All four casters (the most expensive part) are vinyl coated and swivel so one person can get the boat just about anywhere in the garage.

As for selling the trailer - I would throw and ad up on your local craigslist. You would be surpised the reponses you get - I sold two waverunners and two Boston Whalers on there this spring. Oh yeah and the best part - its free!

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Everyone who replied, thank you so much. I did make a rolling cradle, just like the one pictured.

But, I was unable to slide the boat from one to the other, so I rented two engine hoists, "Cherry Pickers???" and picked the boat up entirely. $20 and 15 minutes later, the boat is on the cradle.

I would recommend this method for any transfer.

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Tnelson - Lets see some pics of how she looks in the garage!

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Here is my Montauk in the garage. As you can see, I do not have a large shop style garage like other rehabs I've seen on this site. You could say, I live in the typical suburban house.

Now, at least I have the boat near by to get some work done.

Here are two pictures. If anyone needs better pictures to recreate, please do not hesitate to let me know.B)

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Sorry, not sure how to do multiple pictures.

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Great job!!

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Wow, that sure was a whole lot of work just to get it in the garage. I see a few issues with this. First, the boat isn't as useable as it once was when it was on the trailer as it would take a lot of work just to take her out for an afternoon. Secondly, with the time, effort and money spent on building a cradle; wouldn't it have been easier to take a loss on the sale of the old trailer and purchase a new or used trailer that was a lot narrower? As it is now, the utility of this beautiful whaler is lost.

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[color=navy]CES,

You make a valid point, but, a few things to consider are:

1. This is a one time deal, once the restoration is complete, I will no longer anticipate needing the cradle, or keeping the boat in the garage.

2. The retail and/or resale boat trailer market in Denver Colorado is somewhat limited as you can imagine.

3. I have a 3- yr. old daughter, a 2- yr. old son, and a newborn son at my house. Do you honestly think I'll get out on the water anytime soon. This restoration is in lieu of psycho-therapy.

So just think of how much money I save right there on my mental health.

Thank you for your input. :D[/color]

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Ya, great points. You're right about the therapy, I am a single dad with a 14, 6 and 4 year old and I too am in the process of a whaler restore..........enough said about that...lol.

You have a beautiful boat, good luck with the restore.