Dumb Bunk Board Question

Dave Shady Larsen

Dave Shady Larsen

Well-known member
I got all of the carpet to re-do the 2x4x8' bunks and the 6' side guide bunks for the boat.
The wood is old and going to replace with new. Any kind of wood better than the other.
I have some Cedar 2x4's left over from another project but are they good enuf or to soft
compared to treated.

I also purchased the same glide pads that I had on the other trailer, I planned on putting
them on as it aids in ease of loading and unloading but now that were going to Steel Flex
the bottom I dont think I should use them as It says dont use on PAINTED boat bottoms.

Input appreicated on the type of wood as I can get them done now covered while im
waiting for the trailer to do the major metal work and paint n electrical.
 
I too leave the carpet off when using pads or "glide sticks". Here's my trailer for the 14-ft, 2" X 6" X8' treated lumber with two rows of Glide Sticks. The aluminum hull does not contact the treated wood at all. Do the pads/sticks remove paint any faster than carpeted bunks? Don't know, don't really care, the ducks can't see under there anyway and the ice and rocks definitely take the paint off faster than the bunks. The sticks make launching and recovery much easier in the shallow water I typically hunt.

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Scott
 
Glide pads verses carpet,,,,,,,,,,,, my experiences using both, your results may vary.

The whole purpose of either one is to provide a non scuffing contact surface for the hull to rest on. When brand new, both choices seem to do a good job. However, once you start trailering down the road, other factors come in to play, specifically road and air debris. I am talking about the dirt and dust kicked up while going down the road. Gravel roads are the worst, muddy roads and even muddy potholes on paved roads are bad.

Bad because all those fine and not so fine particals of sand, gravel and dirt get trapped between the boat hull and the surface material covering the trailer bunk.

Where does that dirt and dust end up? With carpet, it will work it's way down into the carpet and away from the boat hull. That is a good reason to use a good THICK grade of marine carpet to cover your bunks.

With glide-ons, the dirt embeds itself into the surface of the plastic. Once embeded, it stays there constantly rubbing and abrading the hull.

Based on my past experience I will always use carpet, wash it often, and replace it sooner rather than later. I do drive quite a bit of gravel.

Your results may vary.
 
Wash?????? what is that???? I usually use old carpet that came out of a house... it wears quite nicely...

Get back to work Dave!
 
Anything but the new pressure treated stuff, which will eat up your trailer and/or your hull.
I used standard 2x4's and cheap outdoor carpet when I replaced the bunks on my last boat trailer.
If you get 5 years out of them, you are only out about $15.00.
 
Dave,

Gravel roads must be the key. I rarely hit gravel or dirt roads out here other than the ramp parking lot. I've used the plastic runners for about the last dozen years now and have not seen any hull [font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]abrading[/font] at all. My big issue is always salt, both from the roads and from dipping the trailers in the sound - as in the spring failure last Jan. I'm thinking it's about time for an axle change on my smallest trailer, as the mech tubing is showing a bit too much rust on the outside and I have no visible clue to the condition of inside surface. Installation of a new hot dipped axle will make me a lot more comfortable.

Scott
 
I use bare untreated unpainted 2x6 lumber for my trailer bunks. Works good for me.

Scott..nice looking boat, what is your deck made of?
 
Chris,

Aluminum deck, the coaming is lined with 1" pine and the flip boards are 6 mm ply. The ply needs to be replaced after 4 years. Laying on the totally waterproof AL deck resulted in rot even though the ply was epoxied marine fir.

Scott
 
Scott,

Thanks for the info, I like the idea of an aluminum deck.
I was thinking of doing something like that to my Dads boat
for hunting off the coast of Maine. I will have to show him
your pictures.

Chris
 
We like gravel,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, keeps the tailgaters off your rear bumper. :>) :>)


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Dave,,,,,,,,,,,,,, +,,, Phil
 
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