Cradle for mast/sail when transporting?

thefish

New Member
Brand new to sailing and Sunfish Forum. Bought a used Sunfish that came with some home made plywood cradles to lay mast and sail in when transporting on trailer. They are weather worn and falling apart. Can't locate anything similar w/any search...

What are they called, how can I get a new set?
Need help really bad.

Thanks in advance,
TheFish
 
Bought a used Sunfish that came with some home made plywood cradles to lay mast and sail in when transporting on trailer. They are weather worn and falling apart. Can't locate anything similar w/any search...
Considering the cradles are custom made one-of-a-kind, it's not surprising you are unable to locate anything like them.

There are a few carriers here & there, probably not like what you have though...
http://www.apsltd.com/p-7623-sunfish-spar-partners-for-roof-rack-bars.aspx

http://www.layline.com/product/16631/74



Before your custom made cradles are beyond replicating, you might just get out some new plywood and make new ones yourself.
 
OK, thanks, that is a starting place.
The majority of mast carry cradles you'll see waterside are home-built. PVC is a popular media to work with.
 

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Nice. This is yours? Can you tell me what the material is on the feet and any other details about it?
Not mine, but I use something very similar. For padding I use pieces of a Pool Noodle.

I just sketched what I needed to carry the mast & spars and took the ideas and some boat measurements (mast tube diameter, daggerboard slot width) to Home Depot. The rest was Tinker Toy work with PVC pipe and a little PVC cement. (Hint... fit it all together and check it on the boat before final gluing)

My boat straps go over the support feet only, not the mast & spars. The mast & spars have their own short straps.
 
Wayne, did you use 3, or are 2 supports enough. Using 3 seems like it would just complicate matters unnecessarily.
 
did you use 3, or are 2 supports enough.
Normally two, but I might consider three for a long haul. With mine, the aft support is closer to the cockpit and the forward one off-set just behind the mast tube so the support is more proportional.
 
Can any of you send a photo or something of what your carrier looks like. I can't really figure what you mean based on description only.
Much appreciated.
 
1. Get a spar bag.
2. Get a small boat fender to support the bag at the stern and hook a bungee cord into the bridle eyelets to hold down the bag. Note: tie a line onto the fender and slip the bungee under it to avoid having the fender slip out while driving.
3. Get a foam block or similar item to support the bag forward of the coaming. The block should be high enough the keep the bag above the coaming. Tie the bag to the boat using the halyard horn cleat. The block should also be secured to the bag to avoid slipping out. I use a line through the block which ties to the bag.
4. Secure the bag to the trailer somehow. I use a line attached to the bag handles and then to the front of the trailer post.

Might sound a little complicated but it's a low expense/low work option and you won't have a bunch of cradles kicking around.

Fred
 
This was my answer. The rudder, dagger board, and tiller arm are all secured. The sail, with everything else, goes up top in the big rubber mounts. The ratchet tie downs are also bolted on. Look at my album on here if you want to see some more pics.
 

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