Boat frozen to trailer bunks

Pete Markantes

Pete Markantes

New member
Here's a first for me. In over 50 years of boating in a variety of conditions I haven't experienced having to try and dislodge a boat that was frozen to the carpeted bunks.

Temps in the Columbia basin were in the low teens over the weekend and conditions were good for my planned hunt. After going through my pre-launch procedure (remove tie-downs, install plug, etc.) I backed down the ramp only to find the trailer suspended by the boat. After an hour of soaking and shoving I was able to get the trailer to release. On Saturday after soaked it for 3 hours and the trailer never dropped free and I wound up hunting the next 2 days with friends.

I've spoken with others who have had similar issues but they were all able to free the boat after a short soak time. I don't know what's so different in my case except for the remote possibility that FME has more surface area and an accompanying increased 'holding power'.

A local marine dealer has suggested Pledge furniture polish on the bunks which I'll try. Anyone have a better idea?
 
I've had them freeze lots of time but usually after you dip them they come loose. You can install those UHMW runners on the bunks. They work great but I'm not sure what kind of impact they'll have on the bottom of the boat. Ideally they'd be as wide as the bunk and not just a narrow strip like you see guys use with jons. Of course, pledge would work or buy some of that really cheap/generic pam spray.
 
silicone spray on the bunk beds. Seen it done more than once out here in the Great Lakes area.

Kinda unusal for it to stick "THAT" bad though...usually a dunking for a few minutes is all that is needed.

change to rollers?
 
Pete, there is a silicon spray product that I put on to make the bunks slicker. It's sold in all of the boating stores. I apply it once per season. In the summer, I apply good old dove soap.

I launch in salt water which in the teens and below doesn't matter anyway. When I attend to the bottom of the boat in a season or two, I am going to apply that "lead" paint that's slippery.

A.
 
Yep, usually they pop right off when you get them in the water...specially with a wood boat. Had that happen with an aluminium boat one bitter cold day, Bezubic said to spray the carpet with 100% silicone..so I got some when I went back in town, took the boat to a close ramp before it froze fast again..popped it off and hosed the carpet with the silicone...never had another problem. I was using the "boat" type carpet on the bunks..never had a problem with the poly type indoor outdoor carpet, it just tore the little green strands off when I pushed the boat off.
 
I covered the carpet with two fat strips of old water tank. I guess it is just ABS plastic or something. No more freezing.

Mike
 
Hey Pete,
I heard you were in that neck of the woods. I ran into GW at dinner Saturday night, said you had problems with the boat being stuck. I am surprized it didn't release after soaking so long. It was cold, when I got up on Saturday morning it was 3 deg F. Was this your first trip up there with the new boat? Let me know next time you go up there I might be to get you a moorage spot overnight so you take it out of the water every day while you are up there.
Paul J
 
Here's a first for me. In over 50 years of boating in a variety of conditions I haven't experienced having to try and dislodge a boat that was frozen to the carpeted bunks.

Temps in the Columbia basin were in the low teens over the weekend and conditions were good for my planned hunt. After going through my pre-launch procedure (remove tie-downs, install plug, etc.) I backed down the ramp only to find the trailer suspended by the boat. After an hour of soaking and shoving I was able to get the trailer to release. On Saturday after soaked it for 3 hours and the trailer never dropped free and I wound up hunting the next 2 days with friends.

I've spoken with others who have had similar issues but they were all able to free the boat after a short soak time. I don't know what's so different in my case except for the remote possibility that FME has more surface area and an accompanying increased 'holding power'.

A local marine dealer has suggested Pledge furniture polish on the bunks which I'll try. Anyone have a better idea?
Click to expand...

Hey Pete,
Sorry I missed your phone call. I know the FME is tough stuff but not that tough. :)

What's one of the strongest adhesives known? That would be "water", especially in the frozen state. I'd look more at the material on the bunks. I'd place "blame" on the carpet and it's ability to hold water and a "bulk" of ice.

Are you sure you untied the trailer prior to dunking and trying to separate boat and trailer? Well...I had to ask. It's been done over in Muskegon Lake, fella launched the boat with trailer attached and wondered why he couldn't get up on plane. :)

What you can do, when you park your boat and trailer at night............loosen the straps and put a wedge or "sticker" between the boat and carpet. That will prevent the sticking. Could also try spraying bunks with PAM....anti stick spray.

Give me a holler here at the shop if you want, I'll be here until 7pm Michigan time. After that I have to leave for a model airplane club meeting. Oh...just finished the latest newsletter for that club (yup, I'm the editor)...20 pages long (pdf doc). Go to the site: www.rccd.org and click on the Newsletter page and then Dec. 06.

Give me a holler, shop: 586-465-0339
Later partner,
Lou
 
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Pete, I don't know if you have snowmobiling around your area.In our area they do and one of the things all dealers have are slides out of nylon or some hard plastic. They are predrilled and counter sunk. The price I have seen is about $10. They are about 5 ft. long. About 11/4 to 11/2 wide and would screw right to the bunk. One thing don't unhook the boat from the trailer until your near the water or your boat will be on the ground. My neighbor did this with a brand new boat and motor. I don't know what a lower unit on a hundred horse cost and I didn't want to ask him. Pete
 
...for the suggestions. I'm not crazy about using UHMW as I'm concerned that trapped grit might exacerbate abrasion of the hull.

My plan is to hunt the Lower Columbia tomorrow and spray some Pam and/or Pledge on the carpet. I'll hunt the upper river on the weekend where temps won't be quite as cold as last weekend and Honker should slide off easily.
 
I have had that problem in the past . I put those easy slides kits on my bunks and it helped out a ton . The carpet is the bad guy for sure .
 
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