bunk replacement

[Chris Mainka]

Hi everyone - I just finished putting my trailer back togeather - It has rollers but I think I would like to replace them with bunks - any suggestions?

 

[Ray Bowles]

Chris, What brand and size boat do you have?

Also how many rows of rollers and how many rollers per row do you have? Roller trailers for powerboats work great as they don't have to support the weight of a ballast keel. They do have the weight of the motor to support, but regardless of it being inboard or outboard, this weight is far back and the stern is strong enough for the rear rollers to support.My boat is a water ballasted Hunter 26 that has a bunk trailer. As with all these trailers getting the boat all the way forward is darn near impossible. If your boat is water ballasted, and the trailer has enough rollers to support it, then I think I would offer my first born child in trade for that trailer!The answers to these questions will help people on this site to better advise you better.RayS/V Speedy

 

[Bruce]

Rollers Would Be Great!

I agree with Ray (except for trading my kid). I have a H260 with bunks on the trailer. If rollers are feasible for use with this boat, I think that would be the way to go. It would be easier to load/unload the boat, and wouldn't require lifting the boat from the trailer to paint the hull. I have a friend with a MacGregor 26 on a trailer with rollers. He does his bottom job, then rolls the boat back a few inches to expose the parts of the hull that had been under the rollers, then paints these spots. I'm just jealous. Bruce

 

[Chris Haraway]

I would prefer rollers

I have a Hunter 18.5 with shoal draft fixed keel. My trailer has bunks. These need replacing every couple of years. They have cracked during loading in the past.I would expect that rollers would have the following advantages: boat launches and loads easier; rollers do not need frequent replacement; the boat may center easier on the trailer; the wheels will not crack when hitting a large bump in the road. The disadvantages would be: the weight distribution on the hull contacts is more concentrated; the boat may not center as easily.I would, and may, switch to wheels the next time my bunks die.

 

[Chris Mainka]

I want bunks

I suppose everyone wants what they don't have. I just rebuilt my trailer also and it has six sets of rollers four in back two in front. The problem is the boat now sits on wood on the base and is two heavy for the rollers to due anything. It was hard for me to believe that someone actually used the trailer the boat cam with- it was very scarrey. So I am going to build six bunks for more stability and make a adjustable extention for the front. Let me know if you have questions.Thanks Chriscmainka@uh.edu

 

[Chris Mainka]

bunk replacment

I have a 22' Oday with a 600 lb keel , Once the boat is on the trailer it is not going anywhere and much to heavy for the rollers to be effective. It also originally came with two keel roller which I replaced with solid wood. The keel rollers bend like a tin can when I first put the boat on. I trailer was way undet built. I also extendend the trailer by more than four feet. I am going to build a v for the keel to slide in when loading to make it easier.