Bunk Board Replacement Poll

[BassnChris]

Do you use Lag Bolts or Carriage bolts when  you replace bunk boards on the trailer?

[TnRiver46]

I used lags because that’s what was on there when i got it. Seems a little quicker but I’m sure also more prone to fall out . I think i used carriage bolts with nuts on my v bottom boat but the bunk lbs are on the sides and the keel goes on rollers so the heads of carriage bolts won’t rub on the bottom of the boat 

[A-Jay]

Neither ~

 

A-Jay

[Jigfishn10]

Mine were carriage bolts. I like to think of it as a more positive connection. Then again, the trailer on my last boat was old and that's how it was done.

9 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Neither ~

 

A-Jay

"It's A-Jay and Lynn, This Old Trailer. Today we're replacing bunk boards. We'll get started right after a word from our sponsor".

 

Great vid A-Jay!

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Mine were carriage bolts. I like to think of it as a more positive connection. Then again, the trailer on my last boat was old and that's how it was done.

"It's A-Jay and Lynn, This Old Trailer. Today we're replacing bunk boards. We'll get started right after a word from our sponsor".

 

Great vid A-Jay!

Thanks ~

The feedback on that clip has been mostly positive.

Either way the product is solid and performs as advertised.

A-Jay

[moguy1973]

I used lag bolts on mine when I replaced the bunks but if I had to redo it I'd countersink the heads of carriage bolts and do it that way with nuts on the bottom.

[BassnChris]

Nice video.

Well done and well narrated.

If you got anything than positive feedback on that.....Then I would believe  they were just looking to 'hate'.

[S Hovanec]

On 2/16/2021 at 10:21 PM, A-Jay said:

Neither ~

 

A-Jay

 

Great, now something else I gotta get for the Mr. Pike!  I still have the original bunks on the Trailmaster from 2005.  I think I'm on borrowed time!

[A-Jay]

Just now, S Hovanec said:

 

Great, now something else I gotta get for the Mr. Pike!  I still have the original bunks on the Trailmaster from 2005.  I think I'm on borrowed time!

Can't say for sure but the very next time your rig is off that trailer,

consider participating in a very close inspection/evaluation of those bunks, mounts & supporting hardware structural integrity.

If you go with what's in that video, the bunks my outlast the trailer.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[S Hovanec]

18 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Can't say for sure but the very next time your rig is off that trailer,

consider participating in a very close inspection/evaluation of those bunks, mounts & supporting hardware structural integrity.

 

 

 

Inspect them every time I launch.  I have a patch of torn carpet, but other than that, the boards are solid.

 

the price on those aluminum reinforced ones seems pretty reasonable.  I need to see what size mine are.

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, S Hovanec said:

 

 

Inspect them every time I launch.  I have a patch of torn carpet, but other than that, the boards are solid.

 

the price on those aluminum reinforced ones seems pretty reasonable.  I need to see what size mine are.

Me too - Good Call

Admittedly there seems to be less to 'look at' now though.

btw - I wipe the bunks off with a rag (treated with 303 protectant) right before I recover the Lund.

Removes any debris (sand & grit) that may blow up on the bunks after spending all day in the parking lot, many of which are not paved here.

Boat slides on & off easy.

A-Jay

 

[gim]

16 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

btw - I wipe the bunks off with a rag (treated with 303 protectant) right before I recover the Lund.

Removes any debris (sand & grit) that may blow up on the bunks after spending all day in the parking lot, many of which are not paved here.

 

Could you just back your trailer further into the lake and soak em instead?  Maybe the access isn't deep enough for that.  Also, if you were at a fully paved parking lot/access, would you still wipe off sand and grit?

 

I'm considering an upgrade to these ultimate bunks at some point.  The wood bunks on my trailer are still in good shape but the bunk carpet has worn off more than once already and I'm honestly getting sick of replacing it.  Someone on here recommended that I fully back in my trailer so that the bunks are underwater and soaked before loading my boat back up because it helps reduce friction/wear on the bunk carpet.  Seems to be working better now.

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Could you just back your trailer further into the lake and soak em instead?  Maybe the access isn't deep enough for that.  Also, if you were at a fully paved parking lot/access, would you still wipe off sand and grit?

 

I'm considering an upgrade to these ultimate bunks at some point.  The wood bunks on my trailer are still in good shape but the bunk carpet has worn off more than once already and I'm honestly getting sick of replacing it.  Someone on here recommended that I fully back in my trailer so that the bunks are underwater and soaked before loading my boat back up because it helps reduce friction/wear on the bunk carpet.  Seems to be working better now.

An interim option is some screw-on HDPE slides. I did that with the canoe trailer last year and it made a huge difference.

 

This is the set I got - decent price.

https://www.amazon.com/Caliber-23011-Marine-Slide-Pack/dp/B06XY7FP4D/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1M6V6M2WTEJIY&dchild=1&keywords=trailer+slides&qid=1613660002&sprefix=trailer+slide%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-2

[J Francho]

I'm not sure what these were made of, but my Xpress came with plastic covered bunks.  They made a mess of the hull.  It was hard to polish out the streaks.  I replaced them with carpeted bunks eventually.  I'm still on fence about A-Jay's bunks.  I wish there was a product that was resistant to rot like those, but behaved like normal carpeted bunks.  I prefer the boat NOT slide off.

 

To answer the original question, mine were attached with carriage bolts on my last two boats.  The smaller boats in the past used lag screws.

[A-Jay]

36 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Could you just back your trailer further into the lake and soak em instead?  Maybe the access isn't deep enough for that.  Also, if you were at a fully paved parking lot/access, would you still wipe off sand and grit?

 

I'm considering an upgrade to these ultimate bunks at some point.  The wood bunks on my trailer are still in good shape but the bunk carpet has worn off more than once already and I'm honestly getting sick of replacing it.  Someone on here recommended that I fully back in my trailer so that the bunks are underwater and soaked before loading my boat back up because it helps reduce friction/wear on the bunk carpet.  Seems to be working better now.

I have a few thoughts here but I'll address your questions first.

Yes, there is usually enough water at the access points I frequent to sink the trailer deep enough to soak the bunks.  And I always did and still do.

May not always be deep enough to 'Float' the boat on trailer, but the bunks do get wet. 

Yes, I will continue to always wipe the these bunks of before every recovery regardless of where or what the type of surface my rig is parked on. It works to ensure the bunks are clean and operate as designed. It's an 'extra' step perhaps, but it take 30 seconds. And I am always willing to put the work in to get the most out of my gear. 

 

 When I replaced my bunks I learned quite a bit about the stock carpeted bunks I was using.

Again know that I always dipped the trailer to wet the carpeted bunks prior to loading the boat.  What I found out when I removed the old bunks is - that didn't really matter.

When I pulled the old bunks off, the entire length of carpet on every bunk was FULL OF SAND !  So despite rinsing them off, the carpet retained all that mess which essentially 'sanded' the bottom of my boat every time; going on & off the trailer.  Didn't do a ton of damage but the 'slide marks' on the bottom of the hull are obvious and apparent. 

The new bunks do none of that as there is nothing 'on' them when the boat goes on & off. 

 

Virtually Millions of boaters use and have depended on the standard carpet bunks for years without issue.  So did I personally & professionally. 

And if there was no alternative, (besides rollers which I do not care for) I would still be using them.  But there is and I like it.

Finally, I not attempting to 'convince' anyone that this is what they need or should have.

I am simply relaying my experience with it.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

 

[gim]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

When I pulled the old bunks off, the entire length of carpet on every bunk was FULL OF SAND !  So despite rinsing them off, the carpet retained all that mess which essentially 'sanded' the bottom of my boat every time; going on & off the trailer

 

Yikes.  Sounds like the carpet was basically just harborage area for debris.

 

16 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I'm not sure what these were made of, but my Xpress came with plastic covered bunks.  They made a mess of the hull.  It was hard to polish out the streaks.  I replaced them with carpeted bunks eventually

 

Well that's interesting to hear now too.  Maybe switching out regular bunks with carpet is not the route to go either after hearing this.  It sounds like the protectant A-Jay uses works but I have a feeling that I might forget to do that, especially at first.  I would hate to change my bunks out and then get the streaks that you speak of on my hull from them.

 

So here we have someone who replaced his plastic-style bunks with regular bunks/carpet because it left streaks and another guy who literally did the opposite and replaced his regular bunks/carpet with plastic-style bunks.  What's a guy to do...?

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

 

Yikes.  Sounds like the carpet was basically just harborage area for debris.

 

 

Well that's interesting to hear now too.  Maybe switching out regular bunks with carpet is not the route to go either after hearing this.  It sounds like the protectant A-Jay uses works but I have a feeling that I might forget to do that, especially at first.  I would hate to change my bunks out and then get the streaks that you speak of on my hull from them.

 

So here we have someone who replaced his plastic-style bunks with regular bunks/carpet because it left streaks and another guy who literally did the opposite and replaced his regular bunks/carpet with plastic-style bunks.  What's a guy to do...?

Pick your poison.

A-Jay

[gim]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

Pick your poison

I think you and J Francho should arm wrestle and whoever wins will decide what I do with my bunks.

[S Hovanec]

@A-Jay does the aluminum channel make these sit higher than the original wood bunks?  I'm thinking a winch post adjustment might be required if they do.

[J Francho]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Yikes.  Sounds like the carpet was basically just harborage area for debris.

 

 

Well that's interesting to hear now too.  Maybe switching out regular bunks with carpet is not the route to go either after hearing this.  It sounds like the protectant A-Jay uses works but I have a feeling that I might forget to do that, especially at first.  I would hate to change my bunks out and then get the streaks that you speak of on my hull from them.

 

So here we have someone who replaced his plastic-style bunks with regular bunks/carpet because it left streaks and another guy who literally did the opposite and replaced his regular bunks/carpet with plastic-style bunks.  What's a guy to do...?

The bunk covers on my Xpress were NOT AT ALL the same as the composite bunks A-Jay has.  These looked like a cheap and simply alternative to carpet.  They were literally stapled to the boards in the channels.  This looks like the product I had:

 

http://www.loadrite.com/trailer-parts/bunks-rollers-and-pivot-bars/plastic-bunk-cover-2x4x48/

 

As far as the sliding, it was these that created the problem I see with slippery bunks.  Launching was never a problem, but retrieving would often be a problem.  Many of the ramps here are steep, and short.  You can get half the bunk in the water, maybe a little more before you go off the end of the ramp into the blow out hole.  I'd load the boat, throttle up the to the bow tie, kill the motor, and the boat would slide back in.  I'd have to leave it in gear, or have a second person attach the bow.  Neither are my preference.

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, S Hovanec said:

@A-Jay does the aluminum channel make these sit higher than the original wood bunks?  I'm thinking a winch post adjustment might be required if they do.

 Yes - but only about 3/4 of an inch -

Which did not change anything adversely.

Boat still sits great at the roller. 

A-Jay

[GaryH]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 Yes - but only about 3/4 of an inch -

Which did not change anything adversely.

Boat still sits great at the roller. 

A-Jay

Dang you. I’ve pondered doing this but I was always Leary that they would scratch the gel coat on a glass boat. Now you got me thinking again. 

[S Hovanec]

Yea, just priced them out.  Might not be doing them this season!  Lol.

 

I want to put a Trick Step on too and doubt I can swing both.

[OnthePotomac]

After A-Jay did his boat I did my Bear Trailer with the high density polyurethane Ultimate bunks with the same aluminum channel for the bolts.  You are talking life time bunks with these things. 1 3/4" thick without the aluminum bolt channel, I installed them in the parking lot with another fellow in less than one hour.  My original bunks (2@60" and 2@95") came with heavy vinyl wrapped 2'x4's. and lasted 20 years before they completely rotted away from the Tidal Potomac. BTW, no such thing as the boat (900lbs) sliding off on its own. 

[Way2slow]

I've always used carpeted PT 2x4's for two reason.  First, that's usually what's on the trailer when I get it and if good, I don't see the need in spending money on fixing what ain't broke.   If they need replacing, I've never had the desire to spend hundreds of dollars when $30 will do just fine.

Years back I had a customer that made those synthetic wear guides they used on John Deere combines and other pieces of farm equipment.  It's about the same material as that white stuff you can buy in strips to put on top of your bunks.  He gave me enough to cover the bunks on my Javelin.  After a few trips to the lake, I took them back off.  Yes, it made the boat slide on and off the trailer a lot easier, but it made it too easy.  The ramp is a little steep and if you didn't leave the winch strap connected, you would launch the boat right onto the ramp and that became more of an aggravation than a help.