Trailer guide posts vs bunks

[DiggerPA]

Sorry if I missed this somewhere. Anyone have experience with both trailer guide posts and bunks. And if so could you share your experience and preference? New 195 s owner. Launched 2x last weekend. One day no problems but very little wind and current. Second day windy and current and it was not petty by any means. Thinking is posts or bunks would help.

 

[Babin Farms]

Posts IMO work better due to being able to guide the boat onto the trailer in shallow and deep water no matter what ramp you use. The bunks a lot of the time would be too far under the water to help guide.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/the-official-what-did-you-do-to-your-jet-boat-today-thread.2661/post-452286

https://jetboaters.net/threads/the-official-what-did-you-do-to-your-jet-boat-today-thread.2661/post-542811

https://jetboaters.net/threads/the-official-what-did-you-do-to-your-jet-boat-today-thread.2661/post-542828

 

[biffdotorg]

Babin nailed it. That and the fact that side bunks are good for aluminum boats. But our boats, you want the guide post on the rub rail. Which is much higher, and a post can always remain in contact with the rub rail.

 

[DiggerPA]

Good points, thanks. And thanks for the posts you included.

 

[DiggerPA]

Sorry one more question. What size posts did you install?

 

[biffdotorg]

Sorry one more question. What size posts did you install?

They may seem big, but the 65" VeVe guides were my favorite guide posts. The length was very important for deep landings. Only you know the landings that you will be using. Pads are recommended as well.

Boat Trailer Guides | Post Guide-Ons, 65" Tall | VE-VE Inc. (veveinc.com)

If too short, they will get under the rub rail and rip it out if the weight comes down on them. If you go with lights on the posts, like the CE Smith posts, then having them up high is nice for backing in low light.

 

[HawaiiBreeze]

I do a lot of solo boating and this topic was near and dear to me...we get super winds off the ocean and I've been turned 180 just trying to dock. Under duress I was making a mess of things when I first started out. No problems getting out but coming in was a comedy show for a YT video. I started to rig out my own trailer guide posts but canned it all and just learned how to navigate the boat and judge the wind and tide when coming in to dock. I did cheat for a while with a boat hook to grab at a cleat but I haven't used it in probably 2 years.

Things I learned: Slow is Pro - Never Faster Than Willing To Hit Something - Drop The Bimini - Kill The Radio Distraction - Note Wind & Tide - Practice Makes It Easier.

Guides would be nice for me if I had a competent person able to disembark from the boat and drive the trailer into position while I idled. But when solo, the process of coming, tying up, fetching the trailer, untying and driving up and then disembarking from inside the boat is probably a bit slower.

 

[Julian]

@Babin Farms has it right on. I had bunk guides on my LX210, and although they did well on shallow angle ramps, they failed on deeper ramps, and were often invisible. The benefits to the posts is that they can be seen easily.

You definitely want post covers as most posts are PVC - and pvc and gelgoat don't like each other .... the PVC rubs off and leaves white lines on the hull (ask me how I know! LOL).

 

[DiggerPA]

@biffdotorg has the VeVe 65", which I like that they have the extra support at the bend, and have covers available. Any one else have some they like that I should consider.

 

[Crob83]

@biffdotorg has the VeVe 65", which I like that they have the extra support at the bend, and have covers available. Any one else have some they like that I should consider.

VeVe 65 inch here as well. Glad I went with them

 

[biffdotorg]

@biffdotorg has the VeVe 65", which I like that they have the extra support at the bend, and have covers available. Any one else have some they like that I should consider.

I had 65” VeVe guides on my previous trailer. They are 100x better than the CE smiths that came on my current boat trailer. That being said, they still work just fine for as infrequently that I trailer our boat these days.

 

[Betik]

check this one out. After this I removed my guide posts. Nothing wrong with them, I just feel rather comforable with with the center bunks to center the boat. Especially it the trailer is bit shallower.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/extended-center-bunks-you-ouch-to-give-it-a-good-thought.17685/

 

[Farny]

Should bunks be loose where you can move them a bit by hand? My wife always backs the trailer in and receives the boat ( she’s scared to navigate the boat on to the trailer. I asked her to wipe down the bunks before backing in. She mentioned they were fairly loose. I haven’t checked them myself, nor am I sure what they should be like - tight or some play?

any advice?

 

[Betik]

Depending on your trailer, they might "rotate". It feels like they float when you deep in the water. As long they are secure and the boat sits properly you should be okay. My bunks are static on the boat, but rather loose on the jetski.

 

[AZMark]

Should bunks be loose where you can move them a bit by hand? My wife always backs the trailer in and receives the boat ( she’s scared to navigate the boat on to the trailer. I asked her to wipe down the bunks before backing in. She mentioned they were fairly loose. I haven’t checked them myself, nor am I sure what they should be like - tight or some play?

any advice?

My bunks pivot freely as well.

OP I bought the 65” Veve guides and then just cut them down some after I figured out I didn’t need them that long anywhere I go.

 

[zipper]

On my MFI trailer the fixed hull bunk brackets were bolted/screwed to the carpet covered wooden bunk. They were rigid and did not pivot on the trailer. The VEVE guides have a PVC pipe covering the square metal guide pole. When the PVC pipes are used in conjunction with the padded covers, the pipes with covers will roll vertically against the rub rail of the boat, not drag, by design.

 

[kgower]

Posts and post covers on our 195s. So beneficial in wind and current. I use Fulton 50" and Wakemaker covers.
Amazon.com: Fulton Economy Trailer Boat Guide , 50-Inch - GB150 0100 : Sports & Outdoors
WakeMAKERS Trailer Guide Covers (Pair)

 

[WV Hillbilly]

+1 on the VeVe with covers in the wind and current on a 2021 195S

 

[jdkaeser]

I have a 195S and the other thing I would say is don't get the trailer too deep in the water. Most videos I've watched say to have the fender stick out a couple inches above the water. That is too deep! That is the problem I had, you definitely want to pull it forward so the hull of the boat engages the bunks and centers you up and you should have to power on "slightly" to get the bow up. If you can get the bow all the way to the roller without powering it on, you are too deep. The boat will also wander like crazy if the bottom bunks aren't engaged. Another hot tip, take the bimini down before loading, it's like a sail in the wind!

I added posts with covers to my trailer and it helps, especially nice when the trailer is empty to have a reference that you can see when backing up.

 

[Goosechase]

I agonized over 65” vs 40” and went with the 40” for a 19’ boat. Could not be happier with the height. I have never needed them to be longer, and if they are too high they can get in the way of ropes.