The five-tonne metal structure was installed early yesterday morning.
It was lifted over a fence and lowered into position by a crane, but once in place the problem was made clear.
The cradle needs to be able to roll down the slipway, but a mound of concrete halfway down the ramp was raised a little too high.
The contractors discussed the issue for a bit, then decided to pick the cradle back up and install it lower down, skipping the mound.
The concrete was removed yesterday after the installation.
A Waitaki District Council spokesman said the extra work was expected to add less than $500 to the cost of the project.
The cradle cost $60,000 to make, with the total cost for the project set at $105,000.
The renovation also included concreting the top end of the slipway and replacing rails.
The previous cradle was about 60 years old and made from timber. It had a maximum loading weight of 12 tonnes.
"Decay in the timber and general wear and tear increased the maintenance costs to the point that replacement was a better option," a council spokesman said.
The new cradle was made from steel and coated in a special paint commonly used for underwater pipelines, which protected against saltwater corrosion.
It was rated for a loading weight of 20 tonnes, which would allow more commercial and recreation boats to use it.
"The community should get decades of use from the new cradle and slipway."
Fees for usage will be adjusted to cover the cost of the new cradle.
