My boat lift bunks are effing up my hull...

[d_coyne1984]

I have a Shoremaster lift that I bought used a couple years ago. It didn't come with any documentation so I never thought much about it, but the bunks are arranged in a "V" formation, following the shape of the hull. It is chafing up near the front of the boat. I'll try and get some photos up tonight.

One question I have, is the "V" formation correct or should the bunk run parallel to each other on these boats? The other, my bunks are a soft blue plastic. Should I carpet them?

 

[njmr2fan]

I was just speaking to a boater who saw me checking how my boat laid on my bunks when i retrieved. We got to taking and he said to me as a new boater "Thats great that you check the placement of your boat every time you retrieve it, you never want the chines laying on the bunks because of the stress it puts on the structure". (I had to look up the definition of chines LOL) So based off that conversation alone I would think you would want to pick up your boat from a length wise position versus a V position.

 

[motorboater]

I have mine arranged as you see in the picture. They do make a bit of a V shape rather than completely parallel and they do cross over the bottom chine near the rear of the hull. I might experiment with bringing them more into a parallel arrangement to stay under that chine however I like that there is a wider support at the rear for stability when its raised a foot out of the water.

The bunks are aluminum with a hard plastic wrap on them. To my knowledge the only scratches on my hull are from the trailer bunks when we used to trailer it exclusively. Since there is no sliding friction when raising the lift you shouldnt have scratches, unless there is unintended movement laterally as it raises up, or you are using the lift like you'd powerload onto a trailer. I had to add a bow stop to stop the boat when driving on. This way I wasnt trying to use the lift like a trailer and drive onto partially submerged bunks. You will get hull scratching if used in that manner.

 

[njmr2fan]

What a beautiful blue color!

 

[Glen]

I would think that laying out lift bunks the same as trailer bunks, would be the safest plan.

 

[BigN8]

To me it looks like the location is fine but you really need to adjust the camber or angle of the bunks so you get more positive contact with the flat surface of the bunk. The picture indicated all the hull pressure us on the inside right angle of the bunk.

 

[motorboater]

I agree, I may try to do that. However there is almost no contact with the hull right there. All the weight seems to be a couple feet back.

 

[d_coyne1984]

I'm thinking what might be happening is movement from loading the boat while lifted is leading to the chafing where the bunks start to separate from the hull. I probably can fix some of this with adjustment of the bunk positions.

 

[BakedZiti]

Not the best picture but mine are in a V shape, this of depends on how high your bunks are off the crossbar. I was forced to put the bunks pretty close together at the hull, of course, mine are wrapped in carpet but I will check to see if there is any chaffing

 

[motorboater]

View attachment 37318

Not the best picture but mine are in a V shape, this of depends on how high your bunks are off the crossbar. I was forced to put the bunks pretty close together at the hull, of course, mine are wrapped in carpet but I will check to see if there is any chaffing

I like how yours is sent up. I would definately rather have the carpeted bunks on my lift.