Float cradles assembled

Just a brief post to cover putting the float cradles together.

I have seen some really nice looking float cradles on the web, that look CNC cut and robust enough to hold up the Titanic. For awhile I was thinking that I had to create some cradles that kept up the tradition, and this was slowing me down a bit. This evening after work I got exasperated with myself and said "just build something, dang it". So I did.

I did have one good idea (for me anyway) which was that I could use the form frames themselves (#5 and #9 of course) as patterns:


This let me avoid having to get the form frame full size patterns out. Of course, the form frame lines are 3/4" off from the real hull (battens). So I scribed a line 1/2" inside of the frame lines, to give a little wiggle room, then cut out those parts with a jig saw. I cut out two pieces per cradle, and screwed them together so the float had a nice thick base to sit on. The cutouts formed little half-moons which I then used as side-braces:


A little bit of work later, including smoothing over all the edges with the sander, and I had a little family of these guys:



You can tell I wasn't being too precise with my jigsaw work, so some of the lines are a bit rough. Not worried about that, but I am wondering if they will be stable enough when I start sanding the hulls and whatnot. We'll see, if not I can always add some long side braces. I'm still debating about what color stain to go with (joke).

Here's the port float sitting up on the cradles:

(that's my sixteen year old son in the background, sorry for blocking your head out Zach.)

I can tell already, that finishing the keel taping from the upright position is definitely the way to go; looks like even the bow bulkhead would be pretty accessible like this.

Here's an aft shot:

Obviously I have some deck flange and transom trimming left to do. I have to say though, it was pretty motivating to see that float sitting nice and upright!