Bunk Slides

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 792

Anyone using these?

http://www.surfixinc.com/surfix_trailer_bunkslides.html

Seems I always need to get my rear wheels into the water to launch the boat at low tide. I'm hoping to avoid that. Any downsides to using these?

RotaryRacer · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:41 am

Umm, you don't have a "tide" on Lake Ontario. There are water level flucuations, but it isn't a tide. The wind is actually the only thing that has a major/temporary affect on the water level. Now that said, Lake levels are down and will remain low for the foreseeable future. So, getting something the help with the launch/load is a good idea.

Regarding bunk slides. Be careful. The harder surface of the plastic slides can put stress on the hull, also I've never felt comfortable having the gel coat sliding on plastic.

I've heard and seen people who use silicone spray lubricant on their trailer bunks to make them more slippery. I would try that first to see if having less friction on the bunks will help.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:39 pm

Yes my stingray's trailer had those. Boat slides off like butter.

You have to make sure not to disconnect the boat from the trailer until its at a safe depth. It will slide off.

rpengr · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 3:26 pm

blue dragon wrote:

Anyone using these?
...Any downsides to using these?

I have not used them, and my preference would be not to use them.

Downsides could include:
. High pressure points on your gelcoat and fiberglass.
. Boat could slide too easy while trailering or braking.

The do sound like a good idea for aluminum boats (especially saltys) to reduce corrosion caused by wet carpet.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:49 pm

I wouldn't use them again. They were dangerous

jnizi · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 4:51 pm

Are you using dish soap to lube the bunks? It's cheap and easy. Works wonders.

taz42169 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 6:51 pm

jnizi wrote:

Are you using dish soap to lube the bunks? It's cheap and easy. Works wonders.

+1 Every Time!

blue dragon · **Joined:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 792

ric wrote:

I wouldn't use them again. They were dangerous

Why do you say that?

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:10 pm

blue dragon wrote:

ric wrote:

I wouldn't use them again. They were dangerous

Why do you say that?

One lapse of judgement and your boat will be laying on ramp. Just be careful.

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:00 am

ric wrote:

blue dragon wrote:

ric wrote:

I wouldn't use them again. They were dangerous

Why do you say that?

One lapse of judgement and your boat will be laying on ramp. Just be careful.

+1 - I have seen two in the last year with these on the bunks. One didn't get the winch locked all the way pulling it out and it was laying at the top of the ramp. The other dumped just as the back was over the water and was laying on it's side in a foot of water.

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

Another problem with them is when trying to trailer the boat....you can't stick the boat because it will keep sliding back into water. If you are trailering by yourself this causes a huge problem.

deafwish · **Posted:** Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:23 pm

You lot need to try using a multi roller trailer! :wink:

So much easier to use than a bunked trailer...
If you forget to safely secure your boat to the trailer& it ends up on the concrete, you should probably think twice about owning a boat. :roll:

ric · **Posted:** Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:31 pm

Roller trailer? I don't own a bass boat

deafwish · **Posted:** Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:34 pm

ric wrote:

Roller trailer? I don't own a bass boat

You will, soon... :lol:

Decision · **Posted:** Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:07 pm

Around our area when you get beyond the 26' boat range the majority do not have trailers. But I can say for the guys who do have trailers for their boats between the 26' and 31' range (in our area) they have roller trailers not bunks. One of our previous boats a 25' Doral Citation we owned had a roller trailer. I had to rent vehicles to trailer it with, but the trailer was nice to have. That boat had a 8' 6" beam so a trailer permit was not required.

Mike.

www.iFourWinns.com

Bunk Slides

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