Anyone use 'slick' treatment for trailer bunk boards?

[livemusic]

Does anyone use a product that you put on the carpeted bunk boards so that the boat slides easier off/on the trailer? I can't remember what it's called, I think it is a girl's name, like Mary Kate. (EDIT: Yep, that is the name. Anyone used it?)

I could also buy the glide pads like BPS sells but those are $42, plus buying the right screws. I don't know if it would require special screws.

Makes me SO mad... I bought two treated 2x4s and the carpet. I redid one of the bunks because it was worn; didn't have time to do both yet. But anyway, it didn't last long at all, a gash tore in the carpet about a foot long. I have no idea how that happened. I wonder if I could glue it down with any glue that would hold?

If I could buy just TWO of the glide-on things, I could do it cheap but I have only seen a set of 10, and it's $42. If I could buy a couple, just cover up the worn spot on the one bunk and mirror it on the other. Glue would be better, the carpet is intact.

Seems I recall reading something about people using a product and said watch out, don't unhook your boat if it's on the ramp, else it will fly off the trailer! That would be really bad.

EDIT 2:  Found this online... " get some cake wax at the supermarket used for canning preserves. Use a camp stove and a coffee can (metal) to melt it at the ramp with the boat off. pour it over the bunks and let it cool/dry. The first time I used it, the boat came off so easily, that it scared the wife. BTW, it lasted 10 years that I had the boat. "

Now, the only problem with using slick stuff is... I fish alone alot and loading the boat back onto the trailer... I don't want the boat sliding back off the trailer once I load it up to the bow stop roller. Hopefully, it will stick well enough for me to get up there and attach the winch hook.

[tander]

Here is what I did. One of my bunks broke so I went and bought some treated 2 x 4,s and put carpet on them. Work pretty good except I found out that you are not suppose to use treated wood on aluminum, it will eat a hole in the aluminum. I found out about untimatebunks which is some kind of plastic wood. Ordered them and put them on, super easy to do. You can drill it just like wood. Bad part, they were pretty high, $44 for 8 foot piece, good part, they are guaranteed for life. They work great for unloading but like you said you have to have your boat where it will hit water when you unhook really no problem. I found it hard to load the boat because when you pull up it will slide down. You can either drive it on and leave it in gear and then go hook up. What I have learned to do it have the winch hook ready and pull in on the trailer and hook it pretty fast. After a few times I got it down where it is no problem. I assume the glide pads will work similar.

[livemusic]

10 minutes ago, tander said:

Here is what I did. One of my bunks broke so I went and bought some treated 2 x 4,s and put carpet on them. Work pretty good except I found out that you are not suppose to use treated wood on aluminum, it will eat a hole in the aluminum. I found out about untimatebunks which is some kind of plastic wood. Ordered them and put them on, super easy to do. You can drill it just like wood. Bad part, they were pretty high, $44 for 8 foot piece, good part, they are guaranteed for life. They work great for unloading but like you said you have to have your boat where it will hit water when you unhook really no problem. I found it hard to load the boat because when you pull up it will slide down. You can either drive it on and leave it in gear and then go hook up. What I have learned to do it have the winch hook ready and pull in on the trailer and hook it pretty. After a few times I got it down where it is no problem. I assume the glide pads will work similar.

Hook it pretty? What does that mean, lol.

[tander]

That will be pretty fast.

[senile1]

Different strokes for different folks.  I'm not sure I would like slippery bunks.  For me, getting the boat off the trailer is just a matter of making sure I have it backed down far enough into the water.  For loading it, I just get the bunks completely wet and then pull the trailer up the ramp until approximately a couple of feet of the bunks are showing.  If I hit it right, more often than not the boat slides right up into the bow roller when power loading.  You have to find the sweet spot as this can vary depending on your boat and trailer models.  

[RFSims]

8 hours ago, senile1 said:

Different strokes for different folks.  I'm not sure I would like slippery bunks.  For me, getting the boat off the trailer is just a matter of making sure I have it backed down far enough into the water.  For loading it, I just get the bunks completely wet and then pull the trailer up the ramp until approximately a couple of feet of the bunks are showing.  If I hit it right, more often than not the boat slides right up into the bow roller when power loading.  You have to find the sweet spot as this can vary depending on your boat and trailer models.  

The first bass boat I owned was a Ranger 175A. The first time I launched the boat I unhooked the tow strap as I had always done on small boat I previously owned. When I started down the ramp the Ranger slid off the trailer and landed on the concrete well short of the water. For over 35 years I have loaded and unloaded as the poster I have quoted.

[Bluebasser86]

I've used the boat slicks onto the current boards and I owned the Ultimate Bunk Boards on my last trailer. Both made unloading easier, but loading can be difficult by yourself because the boat shoots off the trailer like a wet bar of soap once they're wet so you have to keep it under power until the front is hooked. I'm still young and agile enough I could do it, but if I hadn't been able to climb out and back into the boat as well as balance on the trailer while hooking and winching the boat, I don't know if I could have got it back out of the water without getting wet.

[tander]

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

 but if I hadn't been able to climb out and back into the boat as well as balance on the trailer while hooking and winching the boat, I don't know if I could have got it back out of the water without getting wet.

I put a 4 foot cat walk on my trailer.. Made it super easy to load. Never get my feet wet.

[senile1]

6 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've used the boat slicks onto the current boards and I owned the Ultimate Bunk Boards on my last trailer. Both made unloading easier, but loading can be difficult by yourself because the boat shoots off the trailer like a wet bar of soap once they're wet so you have to keep it under power until the front is hooked. I'm still young and agile enough I could do it, but if I hadn't been able to climb out and back into the boat as well as balance on the trailer while hooking and winching the boat, I don't know if I could have got it back out of the water without getting wet.

My wife has been telling me for a while to back off a bit because I still feel pretty nimble for 55.  However, the joints are stiffer and hurt more.  At some point, you have to start being careful or you will hurt yourself.  

[Glenn]

Here's the proper way to do it, and it saves your bunks - all for absolutely FREE!