Extended center bunks!!! you ouch to give it a good thought ...

[Betik]

So @bronze_10 bullied me to buy an aluminum trailer. While I was working to reduce the tongue weight from 800+lbs to 400lbs or less I took the liberty of extending my center bunks. The original ones were either 4 or 5 feet long. I switched to 8 feet. About 6 of those inches are extending forward and the remaining 3 feet extend back wards. These extra 3+ feet carry no weight when the boat is loaded.
My idea was that with the bunks extended so far back without any souport, they will act as suspension while the boat is being retrieved.

Earlier today I put my theory to the test........ Result: maybe the smoothest retrieval ever.

and because yall never believe anything unless there is a photo, check out the go pro footage at 0:35 to 0:47. It is important to see the entire 12 seconds as it clearly shows how the bunk raise up once the boat is "fully" loaded

 

[bronze_10]

I like that.. Once set up the only thing I can really complain about is it really easy to miss the front bunks if the wind is blowing or if u can't get straight for some reason. I like this idea. Need to see how u attached it to the trailer. Same hardware.. No extra support?

 

[F.M.]

Looks like a good idea.

 

[Betik]

I will send you pictures, but literary I pushed the boat back to a point where I was happy with the tongue weight. Then I moved the new center bunks ( same hardware no extra support) all the way upfront where the keel ends. I left a couple of inches in case I need to raise the boat and support it underneath

 

[seanmclean]

Quit showing off that clear water.

 

[Betik]

Quit showing off that clear water.

almost as good as Bimini LOL

 

[Neutron]

Great video,
i would be worried the ends could break off with the lack of support.
What are those bunks 2x6?

 

[Betik]

Great video,
i would be worried the ends could break off with the lack of support.
What are those bunks 2x6?

yes they are 2x6 by 8 feet. I was worried about it myself and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to record it and see how the bend while the boat is loading.
I am planing on leaving it is for a while and see how t goes. It they brake, I will provide some minimal support. I really like the way they flex.

On my old trailer, there was a " jerkiness " when the hull will engage the bunks and center. Today it was so smooth that I could not believe it. Maybe I just got lucky to centering the boat, but we will see on tomorrow when I load the boat again ....

 

[Neutron]

Do they make synthetic 2x6 boards like Lumberrock or Trex.
They still will flex but probrably not crack or break

 

[Neutron]

So @bronze_10 bullied me to buy an aluminum trailer.

Damn police intimidation!

 

[Betik]

Damn police intimidation!

That is how I say “ thank you “. LOL

I wish my wife had half of @bronze_10 sense of humor

 

[bronze_10]

Lol

 

[vanmurray]

Do they make synthetic 2x6 boards like Lumberrock or Trex.
They still will flex but probrably not crack or break

Great idea. I have a broken 8’ bunk on ‘17 Shoreland’r. I found local dealer and they were good enough to fast ship me a new one for $50 ready to install tomorrow.

Would you even need carpet on synthetic/PVC board?

Bunks are scarring black hull pretty bad. I got Caliber bunk wrap on the way.

Caliber Bunk Wrap II 2x6 Black on 16' Roll w/4 End Caps (23052-BK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QV5ANPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nU4.AbXY68R8J

 

[Neutron]

I would still use carpet. That hard synthetic lumber would scratch the hull like the oem bow roller.

 

[Neutron]

Looks like lumberock carries 2x6 inch boards
www.lumberock.com/railing

 

[Julian]

There have been lots of threads on here about hard bunks vs carpeted bunks. The slick hard bunk surfaces hold dirt/grim/sand between the boat and the bunk and it turns the surfaces into sandpaper. When the boat is trailered, small movement on the bunks sands the gel coat off the boat. When you put carpet in there, it prevents this sanding effect (perhaps not entirely but in a significant way).

 

[Bruce]

The synthetic bunks also had less rigity leaving more of the boats weight on the mount points and causing more harm at those points.

After reading about all of the problems with synthetic bunks I replaced mine with carpeted untreated spruce boards. Replacement is cheap, easy and they are holding up well.

 

[MidnightRider]

The synthetic bunks also had less rigity leaving more of the boats weight on the mount points and causing more harm at those points.

After reading about all of the problems with synthetic bunks I replaced mine with carpeted untreated spruce boards. Replacement is cheap, easy and they are holding up well.

"untreated spruce"... Is there a reason not to use treated? I never thought about it (actually have used both treated and untreated in the past) but you making a point to say it makes me curious if there is a reason other than that it is cheaper to not use treated wood for bunks.

 

[Gray]

There have been lots of threads on here about hard bunks vs carpeted bunks. The slick hard bunk surfaces hold dirt/grim/sand between the boat and the bunk and it turns the surfaces into sandpaper. When the boat is trailered, small movement on the bunks sands the gel coat off the boat. When you put carpet in there, it prevents this sanding effect (perhaps not entirely but in a significant way).

Sir,

Does the caution (abrasion of hull surface) also apply to the "Trailer Bunk Glide" type of product? (https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-Bunk-Glides-under-inches/dp/B00CXADP02/ref=pd_sbs_60_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00CXADP02&pd_rd_r=K98X1E7YK0QYZHRH404M&pd_rd_w=InCEW&pd_rd_wg=cL8Tu&refRID=K98X1E7YK0QYZHRH404M"

 

[Neutron]

It states on their description
"The bright white color allows you to easily see and wash off any sand or road dirt that can scratch your hull."

So i would say unless you wash the bunks off when in the water there is no guaranty it wont scratch