Mounting new dinghy cradles

[Bill Root]

The last thing I need to do before we leave to cruise north is mount the new dinghy on the hardtop. The old storage cradles have been removed, so I'm looking for advice on the best way to make sure the new storage cradles are positioned properly.

My instinct is to lift the dinghy up onto the hardtop with the crane, move it around until it's centered, then position the new cradles under the dinghy, lower it onto the cradles and secure them. Understanding, however, that nothing is ever as simple as it seems to be, I would appreciate advice from any of you have have experience with this task.

BTW, I will be on the boat until tomorrow evening. I haven't turned the wifi on yet, so please understand if I don't respond until I return home tomorrow evening.

Thanks

 

[Pascal]

That s more or less how I ve done it. It s easier if you have someone helping to stabilize the tender while you move the cradle and mark it s position on deck

 

[REBrueckner]

Ditto to Pascal's post: I've removed the dinghy after marking the deck, otherwise hadling tools for fastening the cradle is a pain. Also you need to make sure the dinghy is aligned with the roof....so that the bow sits straight forward relative to the stern.

If you know you want the dinghy centerline, mark that via measurements on the roof first via a centerline, then place the cradle supports fore and aft with the dinghy in place to be sure the fit the way you like.

 

[Bill Root]

Thanks Pascal and Rob. That's pretty much how I thought it should be done, but I always like to get advice from guys who have done it before when I'm doing soemthing for the first time.