Boat Hull scratches

[Jiggin4pigs]

So I decided to crawl under the hull of my boat and give it a good clean today. I've had the boat for 2 years now. I don't usually do a deep clean to the hull but once or twice a year and last year I didn't really notice anything like this. I'm just wondering is this normal? I'm heading out to the lake tomorrow and I'm going to check the trailer carpet to see if it came off but I don't think it has. They don't feel to be deep but it's like sandpaper has been rubbing on the fiberglass. Not sure how to fix this either. Any advice would be great. Thanks. 

[WRB]

No carpet on the side bunk in the photo!

Tom

[Jiggin4pigs]

This is my first fiberglass boat so it's all a learning process with me. How often do I need to replace the carpet on the bunks. I didn't even think to check them till I looked under and saw all of this. Figured they would be good for years. Now I'm wondering if I need to take it in to a fiberglass repair shop. 

[WRB]

Bunk carpets usually last several years. The trailer bunks may have been defective, poor workmanship with the carpet missing.

Did you purchase the boat and trailer new from a dealer? If you did take it back to them and ask why the carpet is missing and damaged your hull, very unusual.

Tom

 

[Jiggin4pigs]

Yes, I bought it brand new back in 2017 from Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center in Cary, NC. I'm going there tomorrow after I hit the lake so I'll probably ask them then. 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Jiggin4pigs said:

Yes, I bought it brand new back in 2017 from Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center in Cary, NC. I'm going there tomorrow after I hit the lake so I'll probably ask them then. 

There is no way a carpet should come off a new trailer bunker within a few years and from the looks of the bottom it may have never had a carpet!

Tom

[Tim Kelly]

How would you not notice if the carpet was missing? Every time you float the boat you're walking past your trailer empty at the parking lot. It looks like there is carpet in all the pictures. Maybe the carpet has got a lot of sand or gravel caught in it?

[TOXIC]

Do you powerload the boat or float it on the trailer?  From where the scratches start, it looks like you load with your trailer pretty shallow.  Some scratching is expected but that is pretty excessive.  I've got a 2005 heavy Ranger 21 footer and I don't have that much scratching.  But......I float load my boat with a little assist from the big motor.  

[Jig Man]

Toxic may be on to something here.  How far in the water do you put the trailer before you load the boat?

[gim]

I just replaced a small piece of carpet on one of my bunks the other day.  It was at the very back on the starboard side about the size of my fist.  I could see the wood exposed.  Its actually not that hard to fix the problem.  Easier than I expected with the right tools (scissors, replacement carpet, staple gun w/ stainless steel staples).

 

The issue is that you can't actually fix the problem while the boat is on the trailer, haha.  You have to launch the boat and tie it up somewhere and then fix the carpet in the parking lot.  It took me about 30 minutes to fix this last week (but that was mostly because I had trouble getting the staples loaded into the staple gun).

 

The longer you put it off, the worse it gets, assuming you are continuing to use the boat.

[Jiggin4pigs]

So I went out yesterday to the lake, unloading the boat and took pictures. I've noticed it feels like the carpet is "burned" down and there looks to be some sand on the carpet as well so not sure if that had some play. I will say that my first year of owning the boat I didn't back down the trailer trailer and dunk it to get it completely wet. The carpet could've took damage from that for a year and now that damage is wearing on my boat. Not sure though. I am going to buy some pressure treated wood and carpet and redo my bunks. Anyone have any thoughts on how this could've happened so I can prevent it from happening with my next set of bunks. 

 

As for the loading process now a days, I usually float on the trailer and use the motor to guide it up that extra inch or two. I also went to Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center and asked them what the deal was, they told me I had a year warranty on the boat and trailer which doesn't help the situation. Basically told me that I need to monitor the bunks and make sure the carpet is good moving forward. Basically told me to make sure to go ahead and replace them. As for the fiberglass repair situation, he told me if I can't feel fiberglass when I touch it then don't worry about repairing it but being a boat owner I know it is there and it's bothering me. What do you guys think, should I repair it or don't worry about it?

 

[MickD]

I have no experience with glass boats, but there has to be an easy refinish for the topcoats on them.  Check with one of the big shops like West Marine.  Or do internet searches.  Here's one:  https://www.auroramarine.com/main/ask-the-skipper/restoring-clear-coat-on-metalflake/

 

the guy sounds knowledgeable.

[Russ E]

I would think the sand caused the scratches. Generally clear coat is pretty durable.

It would bug me also. Unfortunately the white scratches on a black hull makes it stand out.

You can take it to a fiberglass repair shop and have them check it out. They should give you a free quote.

They should also be able to tell you if the damages are only cosmetic.

Most boat dealers have a fiberglass repair shop they work with.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Jiggin4pigs said:

So I went out yesterday to the lake, unloading the boat and took pictures. I've noticed it feels like the carpet is "burned" down and there looks to be some sand on the carpet as well so not sure if that had some play. I will say that my first year of owning the boat I didn't back down the trailer trailer and dunk it to get it completely wet. The carpet could've took damage from that for a year and now that damage is wearing on my boat. Not sure though. I am going to buy some pressure treated wood and carpet and redo my bunks. Anyone have any thoughts on how this could've happened so I can prevent it from happening with my next set of bunks. 

 

As for the loading process now a days, I usually float on the trailer and use the motor to guide it up that extra inch or two. I also went to Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center and asked them what the deal was, they told me I had a year warranty on the boat and trailer which doesn't help the situation. Basically told me that I need to monitor the bunks and make sure the carpet is good moving forward. Basically told me to make sure to go ahead and replace them. As for the fiberglass repair situation, he told me if I can't feel fiberglass when I touch it then don't worry about repairing it but being a boat owner I know it is there and it's bothering me. What do you guys think, should I repair it or don't worry about it?

 

Besides offering a rig a better opportunity to slide up the trailer bunks, fully soaking the bunks prior to vessel recovers may also 'rinse off' any debris that may blow onto the trailer bunks from the parking area.

Often times trailer parking areas are little more than a dirt or gravel lot.

Certain dry & windy conditions can enable quite a bit of stuff we do not want on those bunks to collect while we're out fishing for 8 or 10 hours.

A rinse off is a solid plan.

A-Jay

[Way north bass guy]

All of the above is correct, set them well before you load and it shouldn’t be a problem. Also, have a quick check every time your about to back the trailer into the water to load the boat, it only takes a second or two to notice and remove any larger stones, sand particles etc. before you back it down. As for re carpeting , I don’t think you would ever need to replace the wood on a one year old trailer, just remove the old carpet and install the new stuff and you should be good to go. 

[WRB]

You have carpet on the bunks! What can happen is road dirt gets up under the carpet edges and dries on the carpet. As mentioned the standard practice when loading the boat is backing down deeper then needed to wet the bunks, then pull back where the trailer fenders are at the right depth. The right depth depends on how steep the ramp is, usually the water is about 1" above the top of the fender so the boat drives on slowly and stops about 6" to 1' before hitting the bow roller, then a little push with the OB to snug up agianst the bow roller, hook up the wench strap, tighten and ready to pull out.

If sand is embedded into the carpet you should be able to see it with thr boat off. The shape your carpet is in it needs to be replaced. Repairing the hull bottom may require flipping the boat over and that isn't a do it your self project with a heavy glass bass boat. Repair requires sanding the scratches smooth and adding new clear coat.

Tom

[Jiggin4pigs]

Thanks all for the responses. I will take all that into consideration moving forward when loading my boat onto the trailer. I contacted a local repair shop that is going to recarpet my bunks and place a 3/4 inch rubber padding underneath the carpet as well. They are going to go ahead and sand the scratches and recoat the hull as well. I debated whether or not to repair  bunks myself but figured mine as well get someone experienced to do it since they are doing fiberglass repair as well. It's so true what they say about boats. Break Out Another Thousand. The things we do and sacrifice for bass.