A cruiser sitting on a Kingtide Marine timber cradle at the top of a waterfront slipway

Slipways, Cradles & Winches in Sydney

A slipway takes your boat out of the water and onto your own land. Drive or float it on, hit the winch, and it comes up the rails clear of the tide. No growth on the hull, no trailer, and no queue at the public ramp on a Saturday morning.

Kingtide Marine builds slipways across the Port Hacking River, the Georges River, Sydney Harbour and the South Coast, for vessels up to around six to eight metres. Steep and rocky frontages are most of our slipway work.

What a slipway, cradle and winch each do

People use the words interchangeably, so it is worth being clear. The slipway is the pair of rails running from your land down into the water. The cradle is the frame that sits on those rails and holds your vessel. The winch, usually electric, pulls the cradle and the boat with it up out of the water, and lowers it back down again.

They only work as a set. The rails have to be true to the gradient, the cradle has to match the hull, and the winch has to be rated for the loaded weight. Get one of the three wrong and you will know about it every time you haul out.

Jet ski sitting on a timber cradle beside a hardwood jetty, with the boat shed and rails running up the bank behind

How we build a cradle to fit your hull

We build our cradles ourselves, in timber or aluminium, heavy duty and shaped to your vessel rather than to a standard size. A cradle that fits spreads the load along the proper bearing points of the hull instead of pressing on a couple of generic bunks, which matters every time the boat comes up.

Tell us what you run and we build to it, boat or jet ski. We build double cradles where there are two skis to get out of the water. Send us the make and model, or we will measure it on site.

Sportsfish hull resting on a Kingtide Marine cradle built to fit it, with timber bracing packed to the shape of the hull

Can you have a slipway and a jetty?

Sometimes, but less often than you would think. Both structures need approval and both occupy waterway, and a lot of frontages do not have room for the two. In practice you are usually choosing between a slipway and a jetty, ramp and pontoon rather than having both.

A slipway needs its own approval, because the structure occupies Crown land. Rocky ledges and steep banks are our bread and butter: working from the water we can pile and anchor where land-based contractors cannot, and the rock often gives the structure a solid natural footing.

Slipway rails running alongside a hardwood jetty deck, with a boat moored off the end of the jetty

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a slipway and a cradle?

They are two parts of the same system. The slipway is the pair of rails running from your land into the water. The cradle is the frame that rides up and down those rails holding your vessel. A winch pulls the cradle up and lets it back down. When people say "slipway" they usually mean the whole setup.

Do you build the cradles yourselves?

We do, in-house, in timber or aluminium. They are built heavy duty and custom to your vessel, whether that is a boat or a jet ski, so the cradle supports the hull along its proper bearing points. Send us the make and model, or we will measure it on site.

Can I have a slipway as well as a jetty and pontoon?

Sometimes, but it is less common than you would think. Both structures need approval and both occupy waterway, and a lot of frontages simply do not have the room for the two. Where it is possible we will try to get both approved. Where it is not, we will talk you through which one suits how you actually use the water.

Can you build a slipway on a sloped or rocky waterfront?

Yes, and honestly that is most of our slipway work. With water access, driven piles and rock anchoring we regularly build on steep, rocky Port Hacking River foreshores. The rock is often an advantage because it gives the structure a solid natural footing.

Do I need approval for a slipway in NSW?

Yes. Anything that extends over the water sits on Crown land, so it needs approval and a lease on the space it occupies, on top of council consent. We handle that side through our planning service, so it is not something you have to work out on your own.

How much maintenance does a slipway need?

An annual once-over is usually enough: check the winch and cable, look at the rails and cradle, and make sure the pile or anchor fixings are tight. It is the same twelve-month check we recommend for everything else on your waterfront, and the inspection is free.

Simple from the start

How It Works

Low-tide survey
We look at your bank, the rock and the gradient while the water is out.
Cradle built to your hull
Rails, winch and a cradle made in our own workshop for your boat or ski.
Installed and tested
Piled, anchored and run up and down with your vessel on it before we leave.

Kingtide Marine

Why Choose Kingtide Marine

20 years of experience

Twenty years in the trade and around 100 jobs a year on the Port Hacking River, the Georges River, Sydney Harbour and the South Coast. Nobody knows these tides, beds and foreshores better.

Our own fleet of vessels

No waiting on subcontractors. We run our own fleet of operating marine vessels and do the construction ourselves.

Five-year warranty

We warrant our work for five years and come back at three to six months to check it over, tighten it up and put it right.

Reviews

What our clients say

5.0 from 16 Google reviews

Mick and his team delivered outstanding service and work quality in the refurbishment of our concrete jetty and slipway. Communication was excellent and the end product was of a very high standard, considering the original state of the structures. We definitely felt we received excellent value for money and will always use Kingtide for future waterfront projects.
Stephen Smith
Mick, Sam and the team were fantastic to deal with from the onset. Easy to deal with and awesome workmanship. Nothing was a problem and great advice given. I highly recommend Kingtide services.
Paul Gentile
Mick and his team worked with us from the day our old jetty was damaged in a storm. They made it safe and patiently waited while we planned for a new one. They kept us updated with progress, checked we were happy and we now have a beautiful new jetty. Would highly recommend them..thanks guys. Drummoyne NSW
Jules OK

Read all our reviews on Google →

Slipways, Cradles & Winches in Sydney

What a slipway, cradle and winch each do

How we build a cradle to fit your hull

Can you have a slipway and a jetty?

Frequently Asked Questions

How It Works

Low-tide survey

Cradle built to your hull

Installed and tested