Replacement Bunk Boards

[David Hall22685]

This week I managed to get my Venture 25 off of the trailer and sent it off to be sandblasted and repainted. I will of course replace the lights and breaks, but am wondering what to recover the bunkboards with. They looked like they were covered with some old type of carpet which was rotten, but what do I use? Any suggestions?

 

[Joe]

Outdoor carpet?

 

[caguy]

I just covered my Luger 30 bunks with outdoor carpet from Lowes. Very inexpensive and it came in a 12' width which I needed. It claims to be marine proof. I used a lighter gray color this time. Hopefully it will be easier to see at night than the dark blue I used on the Mac.

 

[greenminnow]

If the boards look bad, you might also want to put some new green treaded ones on. Brian

 

[David Hall22685]

New green treaded ones? I though I would make them out of wood and cover them with something like outdoor carpet. Where does one get "new green treaded" ones?

 

[DJN51]

Green treated is wolmanize lumber comes in 2'' stock also plywood.Am replacing my keel boards after launch.

 

[sullyj020]

New green treaded ones? I though I would make them out of wood and cover them with something like outdoor carpet. Where does one get "new green treaded" ones?

maybe they mean (Yellow Wood):dance:

 

[synchronicity]

I used pressure treated lumber from the local big box hardware store with spray
adhesive by 3M and boat bunk carpet that I bought off of the web. Replaced
the mounting hardware with stainless. Prefabbed the bunks and installed first
weekend out last year. Stapled on the backside for insurance.

 

[Joe Blizzard]

Any suggestions?

I once replaced the bunks on a power boat's trailer with pressure treated 2x4s and covered them with indoor outdoor carpet attached with monel staples, all from Lowe's.

 

[David Hall22685]

Yes, I am using pressure treated 2 x 6's from Lowes but was unsure of the carpet. I went to Lowes and found some beautiful blue outdoor carpet, in 12' width and they cut me two 1' strips. Neat! costs about $15 and didn't have to worry about splicing pieces. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Sumner]

I'm in the process of adding a second axle to our trailer right now and also made new bunk holders and cut pieces of redwood for them which I'll cover with carpet. Anyone ever try redwood?

With the new bunk holders it will be very quick and easy for me to change the bunk boards in the future.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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[greenminnow]

Sumner, My Dad always used redwood for the facia on homes he built. It's supposed to be a great weather wood. Most people use green treated since it should be cheaper than redwood. Brian

 

[Sumner]

Sumner, My Dad always used redwood for the facia on homes he built. It's supposed to be a great weather wood. Most people use green treated since it should be cheaper than redwood. Brian

The building codes here require it or pressure treated wood to be use in house construction wherever the wood comes into contact with the foundation concrete and the lumber yard has it in 2 X 4's and 2 X 6's that aren't that expensive at all. In fact the bunks are probably the cheapest thing to go on the boar or trailer to this point :cry:.

I have a feeling that this is all new growth from the sustainable forests they have for redwood as a lot of it isn't all that red. I rip it and use it for trim when I'm building cabinets and such for the interior of the boat. It is an awful soft wood and I'm hoping that is a good feature for the bunks.

I'll see how it lasts,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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[caguy]

The trick with the treated wood is to cheery pick it. I had to go through about a dozen boards to find two that were clear as the other boards.

 

[MrUnix]

I've replaced the bunks on dozens of trailers, and never used anything but pressure treated wood from the local Home Depot or lumber yard.. it's cheap and lasts for years and years, even in salt water environments. Figure that you will wind up replacing the carpet many times over before the wood even starts looking tired.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[dscribner]

I wonder what CorrectDeck (or whatever it's called in your neck of the woods) would do in this case. It's recylced plastic impregnated with wood. I'm planning on using a couple of cull lengths on the tongue of my trailer so I can walk down it easier. I launch when the water is as low as 50 degrees, so staying dry is high on my list.

The bunks should probably be covered with bunk carpeting available at Cabela's and fine marine stores near you. It's probably just outdoor carpeting but they package it so nicely that you don't mind spending the extra money! My trailer is a converted Easyloader so the only place I have carpet is the keel guide. I think its berber from the livivng room, but I don't recall. Make sure to use SS fasteners. The PT lumber will destroy galvanized and zinc plate in no time flat.

 

[Steve22116]

Good evening all. The problem with plastic decking is there isn't a grain and therefore lot of strength. I laminated 1x6 trex (plastic decking) with a 2x6 pressure treated lumber using gorilla glue, then covered the bunk with short-nap rubber-backed carpeting from home depot. Steve

 

[sailingdog]

I wouldn't recommend using artificial decking or plastic lumber for a trailer. It is significantly weaker than real wood and really doesn't bring much in the way of benefits to a trailer bunk, since it probably would need to be supported more closely than a piece of PT lumber.

If you're planning on attaching carpeting to the bunks, please remember to wrap the carpet around the sides and attach the carpet there, so the fasteners do not pose a danger to your boat's hull.