Marina World July August 2023

YARDS & YARD MACHINERY
Unique and patented Quattro
pads (left) are hinged to
perfectly support curved and/or
fragile hulls. Dual pads (below)
are also hinged to optimally
follow the line of the hull but
have two as opposed to four
pads.
Handle with care: a
pad for all hull shapes
When thinking of hydraulic slipway trailers, it is tempting to focus just on the
hydraulics. But what about the all-essential cushioned hull support? Dutch
company Roodberg, with decades of experience in ensuring that hull pads
deliver the quality required, outlines requirements and options.
Hydraulic slipway trailers function
differently from regular slipway trailers.
In regular slipway trailers, the boat is
pulled onto the trailer often using a
winch. Rollers on the trailer help move
the boat forward.
With a Roodberg hydraulic slipway
trailer, there is no pulling or pushing.
The boat is positioned in plenty of water
above the trailer. When the boat is in
position, the pads are hydraulically
activated, keeping the boat in place.
When the trailer is driven out of the
water, the boat rests on the pads and
bow support. The hydraulic frame lifting
cylinders ensure that the boat remains
horizontal while driving up and on the
hard-stand.
Pads for all shapes
The pads are large and of semi-soft
material to prevent damage to the boat
hull from friction or peak loads. They
are also offered in different shapes and
sizes to best suit different boat shapes,
including the standard 90 x 30cm (35
x 12in) pad and the larger 120 x 40cm
(47 x 16in) pad. On trailers with a
capacity up to 40 tons, Roodberg works
with a total of four pads as standard,
from 47 to 60 tons with six pads and
above that with ten pads, i.e. five on
each side of the trailer.
For those who want even more
precise and friendly support for their
boat, there are the dual pads that
consist of two parts of 60 x 40 cm (24 x
16in) that are both hinged. In this way,
the line of the hull is optimally followed.
Larger vessels with a deep keel, where
the bow is not supported, require more
pad support.
The ultimate result for curved and/
or fragile hulls, such as those of (GRP)
sailboats, can
be achieved with
the unique and
patented quattro
pads. The unit
consists of four
independently
hinged pads, each
measuring 40 x
40cm (16 x 16in).
In some cases,
a combination
of different
pad models is
desired. As every
Roodberg trailer is
custom-equipped,
appropriate advice is given
and any type of hull can be
optimally supported.
Covering catamarans
Interest in trailers that can
handle catamarans is on the
increase, especially in the
countries surrounding the
Aegean Sea, the Indian and
Pacific Ocean islands, the Caribbean
and New Zealand.
Roodberg offers several solutions for
this. At times it is possible to support
the catamaran bridge directly with
the pads fitted to the trailer. On other
occasions, it is necessary to add socalled
cat beams to the trailer. Hinged
pad supports with pads measuring 90
x 30cm (35 x 12in) are placed on the
cat beams. These are adjustable across
the width of the beams to support
catamarans of different sizes.
Engineered to last
Roodberg pads are made of
polyurethane moulded over a grid.
The grid and saddle are manufactured
from galvanised steel and optionally
the fixing material can be supplied in
stainless steel. The hardness of the
polyurethane is specifically selected
to ensure durability and optimal
adaptation to the boat hull at the same
time.
www.roodberg.com
www.marinaworld.com – July/August 2023
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