Screwed up at the launch today

[brananders]

After a lousy spring and early summer I finally had some days off to use my 2010 SANTE 210. The weather didn't pan out, the lake was blown out all weekend. I brought the boat back into the launch this morning, its an old, tricky L shaped launch, you have to make a quick left hand turn to drive a boat onto a trailer. I usually walk the boat onto the trailer but I thought I could drive it on today. Well, screwed up and the tracking fins took out a bunk on my Boatmate trailer and bent the supports that the bunk is bolted onto. I've attached some pics of the fins and the bunk so you can all chuckle. What do you guys think? How hard will it be to fix the trailer and the fins and do you think its safe to trailer the boat missing the bunk until the summer ends and I can get it back to the dealer? He's 7 hours from my lake.

Thanks

[DanielC]

You can get a fin to replace the bent one. Most propeller shops can also straighten them. I also have a spare, that is a straightened one, the boat it came off of got a new fin.

The next time you launch the boat, take a big hammer, or a very large Crescent wrench, and straighten the bunk supports. Put a new bunk on the trailer, if you have to. It is probably just a 2 x 6, covered with carpet.

[Nautiquehunter]

Launch the boat and then straighten the bunk bracket and replace the bunk. Make sure you dont use too long of a bolt or it may contact the hull. You must have come in hot and fast to knock off the bunk, I have a 08 210 with a Boatmate trailer. I always put the trailer in deep and float the boat on that adds years of life to the bunk carpet.

[brananders]

I was coming in too fast. The only reason I tried to drive it on it at this lousy L shaped launch was that the lake is really deep now so there was a lot more water in the launch. I obviously didn't have the trailer in deep enough. Do you think I can get away without the bunk for awhile if I have to? I'm worried the brackets may be to far gone to bend back.

[georges]

Dude,
You own one of the best ski boats on the market. Is it worth risking an accident by not fixing the trailer? Boatmate installed the bunks as needed to meet the needs of your boat. You may be able to dock your boat at a local marina for a few hours to beat the supports back into place and install a new bunk. Give it a shot and protect that investment.
G

[jackzayum]

This might not be your luck today. But hope your still doing fine!

[brananders]

Thanks! Yeah, not my lucky day at all, but it was my fault. Lousy end to a disappointing weekend.

I have every intention to try to fix the trailer and paying a local guy to fix it if I can't. I can leave the boat out on my buoy and work on it for a few days. My concern is that if I can't fix it or find someone who can close by, its a long way to a repair place. There are no dealers of any type around our lake, so I may have to trailer with it some distance. I think it will be OK, but I sure hope I don't have to.

Has anyone built a bunk before? Its a 96 inch 2x6, with a 45 degree cut on one end. I assume I can buy the carpet and staple it on. I suspect it will not be that easy.

[Calgary210]

Try Cranbrook I know there's a prop guy there plus some boat dealers get it done right.

[ski4evr]

Yes,
Building bunks are just that easy. Treated lumber, outdoor carpet, outdoor adhesive, staple gun with galvanized staples, skil saw, stainless lag screws, and a couple of hours. The galvanized staples and stainless lags are probably the most important for longevity of the bunk. I know Lowe's carries the stuff, some of the retail boat magazines will too. That bunk in the front helps to center the boat when pulling in, I would definitely replace it at next launch.

[johnboyy7]

if you cant bend it back yourself, all you need is somebody with a torch to heat it up and bend it.

[nautiboat]

the bunk bracket will bend back fairly ez, as suggested, get a BIG adjustable wrench (harbor frieght) adjust it to fit the bracket closely, take your time, pay attention, & bend it back. Look at the opposite side to guage incremental progress. U will be impressed with your results. Also, pick up some gloss black spray paint & spray where ever the paint is cracked of muffed from the activity....it will help prevent rust. The bunk is there for a reason, don't leave home without it.

[brananders]

Thanks guys. I'll won't get back to the lake for a couple of weeks and hopefully I'll be able to fix it then.

[gs430]

I have not YET made this mistake, but it is always on my mind. I stopped driving my boat onto the trailer due to the stress it always seemed to involve. Good luck

[east tx skier]

My middle fin had about that much bend in it from a little run in with something rigid over the weekend. The front fin was curled over and will be replaced.

My dealer straightened the middle one without even taking it off the boat. He has been working on CC all of his adult life and I trust him with my boat. I say that because he took a 6' 4x4 square post with handles cut into the notches and gave my fin 4--5 good whacks. It is straight as an arrow now and perfectly aligned with the rear fin. Front fin is on order.

I would not have believed it had I not been standing there. But this takes all of two minutes. I had tried a couple of whacks with a mallet, but it wasn't enough.

Try at your own risk obviously.

Here's a picture. You can see the front fin that will be replaced. The bend pretty slight in the middle one.



As for the bunks, one other bit of advice is to cut one piece of carpet just large enough to lay on the top of the bunk and, then, use a larger piece of carpet to do the full wrap. Some people bevel the edges of the bunks to keep the wear on the carpet down. The Olefin marine carpet from Lowe's works well.

[brananders]

Thanks for everyone's help. I was able to make a new bunk and bend the brackets back into place yesterday. We banged on them with a 3 lb sledge hammer and it worked fairly well. I wouldn't say its perfect but certainly useable. I took the boat out for a run and didn't notice any handling problems due to the damage on the fins so I'm not going to sweat it until the end of the summer. Has anyone replaced a fin themselves? I see that they cost $100 so it would be better just to buy a new one than get one repaired. Is the install difficult?