trailer bunk marks on hull?

[kevfran99]

Anyone know of anything I can put on them to keep them from scratching my hull. The ramps I use you can't back up any farther in the water. I do back it down so they are wet when I pull the boat on them, but does anyone have a better answer???? I now buy a lake house with a dock.......that's just not an option for me right now! :mrgreen:

[wetfoot]

RE: trailer bunk marks on hull?

Try a little furniture polish on the bunks.
Careful though, a little goes a long way.

[rugdr]

RE: trailer bunk marks on hull?

Well one thing that I use even though I float my boat on and off is a product called Slydz-On. You spray this stuff on the carpeted bunks and it makes them slick as everything without leaving a film or residue. I really like the stuff and still use it just because I don't want any scratches on my hull, even with floating the boat on and off. I put it on just after my boat gets launched and I will put it on about 4 times a year. One bottle lasted me the entire year. It keep the bunks slick even when dry and the boat is loaded, but as long as you strap your boat down you will have zero problems...unless you do the old back down the ramp and slam on brakes job...then you might have a problem Yellow_Flash_Colorz: Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

Here is a link if you are interested.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...=bunk%20slides


PS - Some people will say you can just use soap, but I wouldn't want to leave soap sitting on my bunks and carpet, let alone my boat. It would dry everything out and possibly damage the gel coat. FWIW.

[sodbuster88]

I have the same issues. I attribute it to road debris (sand, dirt, etc...) that accumulates in the carpet on the front bunks of my prestige trailer. When loading/unloading on steep ramps and the rear of the boat is floating higher off the trailer due to the extra angle, the bow will ride harder on the front bunks while floating on or off. I have had two prestige trailers and both exhibited the same issues.

I have tried the Slydz-On thinking it would help. But it's no cure for the dirt in the carpet. Definitely be careful if you use this stuff. You don't want to be too far from the water before hooking and hooking......!!!!!!

Now, I just back the trailer in deeper, hook the front and drive out in hopes of limiting the amount of "slide" the boat does on the bunks.

Good luck.....

[210GA]

Kev, you need to use Red Top Mountain's ramp, they always have water and longer ramps.

[TravisFling]

I always take the trailer into the car wash without the boat on it and spray and wash the bunks a couple times a year and always after a big trip to KY or TN, just being on the road that long I feel like I'm getting a lot of debris on it. It's an odd thing to think about your truck kicking up dirt as you drive, and having wet carpet right behind you grabbing ahold of all of it, and then your boat sitting on that. Whenever I float my boat on, though it always leaves a little gap at the bowstop in the front, with the angle and whatnot. Hmph... Seems there should be a better way, eh?

[TravisFling]

Maybe I'll invent a trailer with walls on it, that you back in and it holds water in it, so your boat just keeps floating, and you drive around with all the water still in it. You could back it in the ramp, and drive your boat in and then close the gate and take the lake with you!!! (I'm joking, of course...)

[east tx skier]

Short of floating it on, which is what I've started doing to avoid this, you can also spray the bunks with liquid wax. Again, do not unhook the boat until the trailer is in the water if you do this. I almost left my previous boat on the ramp after a coating of wax.

Also, for what it's worth, do not use 303 on the bunks. It can trap water against the hull and has, in at least one case of which I'm aware, caused blistering.

[jjackkrash]

I've never minded a few bunk marks on the bottom of the boat. They buff out easily when you want to (if you have access to a lift) and they don't effect performance any. On the other hand, leaving your boat on the ramp after you wax the bunks the first time you or a buddy forgets to strap it in before or after a launch or if the winch fails is a real problem. I personally think a little friction on the bunks is safer.

[Nautiquehunter]

The ramp that we use most of the time doesn't allow power loading. I have been floating my Supra on for years.
The side benefits are the bunk carpet lasts 10 plus years and no scratching to the hull. The new 210 has a higher trailer I have not launched it yet I am going to try it Friday Ill let you know how it goes.
I have seen plastic bunk caps that are supposed to help ? I think the key is to get the trailer in as deep as possible
less weight sliding across the bunks.

[morfoot]

I can vouch for the DON'T spray your bunks down. Left mine on the ramp after I did exactly that. Used some silicon spray before I loaded boat and was amazed at how easily she glided on. Mistake was not hooking up winch or turnbuckle and left the boat on the ramp when we pulled out. Managed to get her back in the water with some help but bent 2 skegs, a prop, and rudder shaft in the process.

Musta been some good stuff cause I still have to strap the stern down or else it fish tails up against the guide posts on turns.

LESSON LEARNED!

[MyWakeIsBigger]

Ouch!

What's a skeg?

[AirTool]

Ouch!

What's a skeg?

Skeg is the nautical/mariner's term for the tracking fin.

http://www.correctcraftboats.com/pnuploads/dam1.jpg

[east tx skier]

For those of us who have or almost have left a boat on the ramp, I, for one, will never forget (nor will I ever forget to tell someone to not unhook us) untill the boat is in the water. That includes the winch strap and the reserve chain.

I haven't bothered waxing my dorsey bunks as I just float on.