Keep an eye on your bunks...

Wet Doggg · **Joined:** Fri May 19, 2006 11:15 am **Posts:** 682

I make sure to take a quick look at all my bunks each time we launch the boat. Well...the last time we did to have it put in in/out I found this...

One of 12' bunks bad a crack right through and both the back two bolts has sheered off. I went ahead and replaced all the bunks and hardware. Swapped out the 2" x 4"s with 2" x 6's.

Just a word of caution. If I had not taken a look our trip up north in a few weeks might have started out very well.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:06 am

I just replaced mine. They were not treated, same as yours. Treated 2x6x8 cost like... $3? Stupid cheap trailer companies

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:09 am

Nice find Wet Dogg! After those metal brackets get done punching thru the split bunks you know what's next...your hull :shock:

One big pot hole could have spelled disaster on that one, and that would really make for a terrible trip. Nice work!!

Wet Doggg · **Joined:** Fri May 19, 2006 11:15 am **Posts:** 682

Bliss36 wrote:

Nice find Wet Dogg! After those metal brackets get done punching thru the split bunks you know what's next...your hull :shock:

One big pot hole could have spelled disaster on that one, and that would really make for a terrible trip. Nice work!!

Yep...that is exactly what I was thinking and a phew moment. For the 6 - 8 hours the boat will sit on the trailer per year these should last a long while.

french829 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:51 am

Nice work. Thanks for posting. Very helpful with the pictures as well.

jntwlsn · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:25 am **Posts:** 127

Wet Doggg wrote:

Bliss36 wrote:

Nice find Wet Dogg! After those metal brackets get done punching thru the split bunks you know what's next...your hull :shock:

One big pot hole could have spelled disaster on that one, and that would really make for a terrible trip. Nice work!!

Yep...that is exactly what I was thinking and a phew moment. For the 6 - 8 hours the boat will sit on the trailer per year these should last a long while.

Brought this thread back to life...one year later!

Where did you purchase bunk carpet and how much?
Do you notice the advantages of the 2x6?
What suggestion might you have to share if you were doing this all over again?

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Good job...how did the extra width line up with the chines? Did you have to offset the boards or center them on brackets? I would like to do same thing, but need to precut them before hauling to lake to dump the boat.

I was on the creeper the other day checking mine too.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:32 am

Nice job WD, I missed this thread when it was new. One of mine was almost that bad practically from the day the boat was delivered. Switching to 2x6's (and in my case extending the outboard bunks up to the next cross member) was one of the best things I've done for the boat I think. Jim, if you're considering replacing yours, FYI I had some spider cracking in the gel coat right at the front end of the RH outboard bunk; those bunks should be longer on the 230/240. Just something to keep an eye on at least.

pickledboater · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:41 pm

That is a good catch, dogg. I'm jealous though because you could do it at home. I had to do mine in the parking lot at the ramp. How was the plywood under the carpet on the fenders? Mine was rotten as well as the bunks.

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:45 pm

No matter whether you have bunks or rollers you gotta keep an eye on them. I have some spare rollers for my ancient Load Rite in the garage just in case and I noticed one of the oldest ones starting to split so its getting replaced as soon as the boat goes on the mooring.

jntwlsn · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:25 am **Posts:** 127

I checked mine and dicovered similar damage. I am off to Lowes for some treated lumber. 2x6's for the bunks; however, I think I'll stay with 2x4's for the side rails.

chefred112 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2011 3:03 pm **Posts:** 44

thanks for bringing this back to life..will have to check on mine as well...like said above..where did you pickup the carpet for the bunks? anything special on it? and how do you mount the carpet? glue? staples?

ardy · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:40 am

I replaced my bunks with the 2 by 6 as well. I also made them longer. I figure the more surface area supporting the boat the better
Just my 2cents worth

LouC · **Posted:** Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:29 pm

For those with roller trailers, its a good idea to take a good look at them with the weight of the boat on them, I noticed three of the 19 year old ones on my Load Rite were starting to crack so I replaced em...19 years in salt water not bad....

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:34 pm

chefred112 wrote:

thanks for bringing this back to life..will have to check on mine as well...like said above..where did you pickup the carpet for the bunks? anything special on it? and how do you mount the carpet? glue? staples?

When I did mine, I used Home Depot Indoor/Outdoor carpet (a grey berber style). Cut the carpet so it would wrap around the bottom at least 1 inch in from each corner, and only stapled on the bottom. Used Monel T-50 staples, 1/2" long (Monel is much better than SST, and don't even consider plated steel). Used a cheap Harbor Freight electric stapler, and gave each staple 1 hit with a hammer to drive it home.

www.iFourWinns.com

Keep an eye on your bunks...

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