The Trailer is Floating!

[Aldo]

Last Saturday, I backed the trailer into the water to pull the boat out for the season. I used the ramp that I always use, and after backing it in my son yelled, "The trailer is floating!" It wasn't actually floating, but what happened was that the port bunk board that the boat sits on, floated off of the mounts because the heads of the carrige bolts were rusted small, and the wood around the carrige bolts was so soft that the board floated free of the mounts. My question is, Has anyone replaced their bunk boards with pressure treated wood? Could you bend the pressure treated wood enough to conform to the shape of the hull? What wood was originally used for the bunk boards? Mine lasted 21 years, and if I put stainless steel fender washers onto the bolts on the new boards that I make, I should be good for even more years. (I'll be old by then). I have to admit that when my boat is in the water, I never think about the trailer, except to keep plenty of grease in the buddy bearings. When the boat is out of the water I never think about it much either. Aldo

 

[greg]

bunks

I just replaced the bunks on the trailer for my Catalina 22. I used pressure treated lumber (8x12 as I recall). Worked ok for me and worked out to be a direct replacement for the rotted boards on there. Originally, I only had one 8x12 on each side, for the replacement, I doubled up on each side because I wanted the boat to ride higher off the axle. I used galvanized carriage bolts and washers. I had no trouble bending the planks to conform to the hull. Used good quality outdoor carpet runners to cover the bunks. Held the carpet in place with galvanized roofing nails. So far so good.

 

[Gene Mall]

pressure treated bunks

You can use pressure treated wood....it will work fine. I'd use at least 2x6 although 2x8 would be even better. Check all your uprights that support the bunks and replace them if they are at all cheesy. Overton's sells them quite cheap. The bunks are actually very easy to bend to follow the contours of the hull....good luck!

 

[mg]

did mine

but do the middle support first then you can lift up to place the bend in the lumber. i used 2x6 preasure treated on the bunks . i dont put carpet down as i have seen boats blister due to the moisture it holds against the hull. i use albative paint and have never scratched the gel coat . i do plane off the corners a bit so that they are not that sharp . all in all a about an hour job. by the way dont just grease the buddies , take the bearings out inspect the races and repack the bearings . water and condensation do get into the bearings. its not like the car you drive everyday where the bearings get hot enough to drive out the moisture. i check mine 2x a year. i repack at the end of the season and in mid season after a few dunks in the water. you'd be surprised at how the grease degrades in that sort time if its getting dunked. best of luck.

 

[Larry W.]

Trailer

Aldo; A neglected trailer in a disaster waiting to happen. When I had my C22, I spent more time and effort on the trailer than on the boat itself. After all, the trailer holds the boat and if the trailer fails, you could end up with the boat lying on its side along the highway somewhere. Then what?

 

[Dan F]

floating trailer and knots

I also repalced my bunks with 2X8 pressure treated lumber. But I was not careful in selecting the wood, one piece had a large know in the middle, when I bolted it into place and the piece bowed, it cracked at the knot, and I could not use it. So, mind your knots.