Rollers or not

[sako85]

Time to address my trailer.It is a COX with roller bunks.I'm thinking of just going to bunk boards.I'm hoping to make my own.Anyone who has done this I would like your input.The boat is a 14ft alu SmokerCraft with 40hp motor so it's not heavy at all.

Thanks

[fishnkamp]

I prefer the bunks and I have replaced some on my trailers over the years. Places like Eastern Marine carry all the pieces and parts you will want to assemble them at the lowest cost. They are located in Delaware but ship anywhere.  You could turn it into a fun trip, go gamble a little at the casino nearby then go shop, or maybe you better reverse that order. 

Seriously forget the standard cheap carpet. There are much better options. Gatorback is one of the best bands of coverings. It is really durable, and makes getting on and off the trailer easily. I used a different covering made by Tie Down Engineering.  Look here. 

https://www.firstchoicemarine.com/p-43777-tie-down-modular-bunk-glide-ons-86296.aspx

 

[WRB]

Glass boats with molded in bottom contours (strikes) use carpeted flat bunk boards to prevent damaging those planning surfaces. There isn't a need for a small aluminum runabout boat to have bunks. Side rails to help giude the boat onto to the trailer are a good feature to add if you don't already have them.

Tom

[Catt]

Not a very good picture

 

Alweld 1652 modified vee with a tunnel

Tohatsu 40 HP 4-stroke

 

Bunk boards bottom & side

[sako85]

Thanks all

[WRB]

Just remembered most aluminum boat trailer have 2 carpeted Transum bunks about 4' long and centerline rollers as I recall.

Tom

[fishnkamp]

Most aluminum boats today have two 2x4 by 8 foot long carpeted bunks.  I have had carpeted bunks under 11 boats in 40 years. The last two I changed to the poly or Teflon type material. One was my electric only reservoir crappie style boat and the other was my 18 foot Lowe bass boat.  That material makes it so slick when launching and retrieving the boat.

[Catt]

Mine has 4 carpeted bunks supporting the hull, 2 on outside, 2 on the center & 2 carpeted side bunks keeping the boat straight when power loading.

[Junk Fisherman]

OP- A couple weeks ago I saw a boat like your's get dumped early with about half the boat sitting on the ramp and the back end in the water.  He unhooked too early.  

[Further North]

Every trailer I've had until now was a roller trailer...current one, under an an 18 fr Crestliner has bunks.

 

I'll never go back to rollers.

[S Hovanec]

My Lund had 4 2x6 bunks and I love it.

 

One of the biggest benefits to rollers is if you do a lot of winter fishing.  If you fish 2 days in a row, your boat will be frozen to the trailer when you try to launch on the second day if you have carpeted bunks.  Don't be that guy that is waiting for the ice to melt, holding everyone up at the ramp!

 

Power loading is also difficult with a roller trailer.  And like mentioned, NEVER unhook til it's in the water. I've seen many boats on the ramp cause someone unhooked the bow strap too soon with a roller trailer.  Same can be said for bunk slicks too.  I almost lost one of my jet-skis once cause a buddy unhooked the bow strap.

[WIGuide]

As long as the trailer will work with bunks I say go for it. It's no overly complicated I just takes some measuring and the correct brackets. When I was 15 or so, I made some for my first boat. It was a little 2 man bass tender that I had challenges loading because of the shape of the hull. The bunks were supposed to be in a specific spot to support the boat, but because of the tri-hull shape up front, it would always hook and pull the boat one way or another when driving it on the trailer. It wasn't hard to straighten once it came out of the water because it was so light, it was just annoying. I decided to fabricate a longer center set of bunks to cradle the v of the boat and keep it straight on the trailer and conform to the hull. Worked like a charm for as long as I owned it. I'd say if a 15 year old can do it, so can you!

[jeffh129]

I told my neighbor that rollers with aluminum boats could spell trouble. He looked at me like I had three heads. About four years later the rollers had wore a hole in his hull. He had it welded. Two years later , another hole. He switched to bunks after that .