Check your trailer bunk boards!!

[Babin Farms]

Last season I was under the boat while it was on the trailer multiple times and always looked at the bottom of the bunks and they always looked good-n-solid. Well, this last weekend I launched the boat a checked them from the topside and was amazed at the shape they were in. They felt like sponges and when I pushed on one it almost broke so I headed to the lumberyard and bought 3 new 2x6x10 pressure treated boards. Without overthinking it I just used my floor jack, a 4x4 and lifted each side of the boat and removed the old boards. Upon inspection after removing the starboard front board I found a deep gouge in the gel coat. (Assuming it was from old lag that scraped the hull). Made repairs to the gel coat and proceeded to finish getting the boards back on the trailer. The old carpet was in decent shape so I reused it and fasted it with 1-1/4” galvanized roofing nails to the new boards and installed with new lag bolts. In all the project took a couple hours.
After all of this I’m going to keep a closer eye on things even if they “seem” ok.

 

[zipper]

Good catch!

 

[Dave burke]

Good advice @Babin Farms. I had a similar experience a few years ago with the trailer for my 1995 Chaparral. One of the bunks actually broke and I went through the same process as you. Was a bit easier though since the boat was in the water.

Not sure about you but I was surprised how rotten the boards were until I realized the original boards were not pressure treated. I guess the manufacturers are cutting costs anywhere they can…

 

[David Martin]

Looks good, nice catch.

 

[Miitch]

THREE new 2x6s?? Talk about the 1%...

 

[Babin Farms]

Not sure about you but I was surprised how rotten the boards were until I realized the original boards were not pressure treated. I guess the manufacturers are cutting costs anywhere they can…

I was very surprised how bad they were since the undersides looked so good.
After trailering to FL and back in March I guess it just goes to show these hulls can handle quite a bit of stress in small areas.

 

[anmut]

THREE new 2x6s?? Talk about the 1%...

Might as well just buy a new boat at that price...

 

[Yambers]

THREE new 2x6s?? Talk about the 1%...

Agree. @Babin Farms is bankin. Rollin with the big dogs, then braggin about his wealth on here. Multiple 2 x 6's, and treated as well.. Showoff. Lol

Last week I was walkin to the boat after parking the trailer and a trailer passed me and I could see the bunks bouncing. I said something to the owner and he had no idea. Looked like only the carpet was holding one of them together. Very spongy. You could squeeze water from it. I immediately checked mine as well.

 

[RobbieO]

Can't you use composite for the bunks? Just thinking about longevity. There's probably a good reason its not used?

 

[Babin Farms]

Can't you use composite for the bunks? Just thinking about longevity. There's probably a good reason its not used?

Not as strong as wood, lots of flex. I’m sure you could find strong material but the treated lumber was pricey enough.

 

[Neutron]

Mine were rotted away on my 2016 trailer, replaced last year when they were giving lumber away.
They use crap fir wood

 

[props2you]

Just to help anyone else, my bunks are all 2x6's the bunk length on my trailer are 8 foot in the front/outside and 5 feet in the back/inside. Sounds like different models/years have different sizes. When in doubt, measure, I did and almost missed it!

 

[Sx240]

What year is the trailer it’s crappy the manufacturer would use cheap wood good catch I wouldn’t have thought of Checking the bunk boards as always great information on this site

 

[drewkaree]

Can't you use composite for the bunks? Just thinking about longevity. There's probably a good reason its not used?

@Babin Farms hit the nail on the head, flex and lack of support. The support of plastic wood MIGHT be close if you bumped it up to 4x6, but given the span between the brackets, it would still be a questionable thing to use composite vs pressure treated

Can't remember if it was @Bruce or someone else, but using longer boards helps to engage the trailer when pulling the boat out, I think 10' boards were used for the example I'm thinking of, and it was a help to loading the boat.

 

[Cambo]

Just to help anyone else, my bunks are all 2x6's the bunk length on my trailer are 8 foot in the front/outside and 5 feet in the back/inside. Sounds like different models/years have different sizes. When in doubt, measure, I did and almost missed it!

Any recommendations for the carpet size and location to purchase

 

[Babin Farms]

Any recommendations for the carpet size and location to purchase

Unless you have a West marine or other like store you are probably going to have to go online to purchase.

CE Smith Boat Trailer Bunk Board Carpet

Upgrade your boat's bunk with durable CE Smith Boat Bunk Carpet. Enhance support and protection for your vessel.

www.wholesalemarine.com

 

[Sx240]

I think sail rite sells carpet for bunk boards I just recently bought canvas from them only took 3 days to get

 

[jsg73]

Most all trailer manufacturers use untreated wood and have for as long as I can recall (1986).

Bass pro/Cabelas sell bunk carpet but you can also look for carpet remnants locally.

 

[props2you]

Any recommendations for the carpet size and location to purchase

I just replaced mine on my 2016 shorelander (4th set, 4 different boats). As @Babin Farms mentioned the CE Smith is good stuff, this is the first time I've gotten specific "bunk carpet" and I like it! Ordered 3- 11" x 12' rolls (2-8ft and 2-5 ft bunks) they came the next day. Previous bunks I just used the I/O carpet from Home Depot. Carpet was the most expensive at $100 and the pressure treated 2 x 6's were $20. I was a little surprised at the minimal attachment to the brackets though, cheap wood screws, last set I changed were 1.25" SS lag bolts. I upgraded the screws to 2.5" deck screws.

Was also surprised at how much quieter the trailer is now!

 

[Rodder77]

Last time I changed bunks (for a previous boat a seadoo 230 SE), I used preassure treated 2 x 6 lumber and then 3 coats of deck stain/waterproofer, then the bunk carpet, monel staples, galvanized lag screws and epoxy on the lag screws to keep as much moister off of them, and water intrusion around them as possible - maybe overkill...but worked like a charm for loggevity and not much more cost/labor.