Boat cradle: fixed, adjustable or mobile, how to choose?

Choosing a boat cradle isn't just a matter of grabbing the first support available. Whether the boat is stored year-round, laid up for a few winter months, or moved regularly between several sites, the right cradle choice changes completely. Here are the main families, and how to find your way around them.

Fixed cradle: the solution for stable storage

A fixed cradle is designed to stay in place, with no adjustment needed between uses. It's the logical choice for a boat stored in the same spot over a long period: a dry stack marina, extended winter layup, a boat park. The trade-off: it's built for one specific boat configuration, not for adapting to several different hulls.

Adjustable cradle: adapting to several boats

An adjustable cradle lets you change the height, tilt and spacing of the supports. It's the preferred solution for a dry stack marina manager or harbour office that has to accommodate hulls of different sizes and shapes with the same equipment, rather than investing in one cradle per boat model.

Mobile and transportable cradle: when the boat changes site

A mobile or transportable cradle moves with the boat, for example between the launch point and the winter storage area. It often complements a fixed or adjustable cradle rather than replacing it: the transportable cradle handles the journey, the fixed cradle handles long-term storage.

Keel cradle: a special case

For certain sailboats, the support sits directly on the keel rather than on the hull. A keel cradle distributes weight differently from a standard cradle, and isn't interchangeable with a support designed for a motor boat.

4-point or 6-point load: a question of weight and stability

A 4-point load cradle suits the majority of medium-sized pleasure boats. Beyond a certain tonnage, spreading the weight over 6 points reduces the pressure exerted on each support and on the hull itself. That is worth checking before buying, especially for a heavy or older boat.

Folding and demountable cradle: the storage space criterion

Out of season, a cradle takes up space even without a boat on it. A demountable or folding model stores flat, a real advantage for anyone storing several cradles or working with limited space between two seasons.

What Cradle B offers

Our range covers these needs with four models: the T-Extension and the Fixed Extension for stable storage, the Adjustable Extension for adapting to several hulls, and the Trestle as a complementary support. All share the same quick-fastening system and the same numbered settings, so they stay interchangeable within the same fleet of cradles.

Not sure yet which type of cradle suits your boat? Describe your needs, and we'll help you identify the right solution.