Replacing trailer bunks

Well the time has come for me to replace my carpeted bunks. They’re 9′ 2×4’s covered with marine carpet. I’ve chosen and shaped up the 2×4’s and premium carpet but my question is this. Is it a good idea to give the 2x’s a couple good coats of paint or marine varnish to help the wood from premature rot, although the carpet might wear through first. I live within a mile from the river so my bunks never really dry out real great as they would with a decent drive (air circulation) Do you think that the constant moisture from the carpet would eventually lift the paint or varnish? thus being not worth my time to coat them? Just wondering your thoughts? Thanks

I’ve never treated the wood but it may help. Just make sure you don’t completely cover/seal the wood with the carpet. You need the water to be able drain from the bunk as soon as possible. If the board is totally covered with carpet, use a utility knife to cut a drain slit at the lowest part of the bunk so water will escape after you pull out of the river or lake.

I’d start with treated wood in the first place… my $.02 worth…

I ‘m doing my RangerTrail for the second time . For the life of me , I cant understand carpet on your trailer in the first place . It’s like carpeting the underside of your truck. Mine never dries out ( except when the tip-ups are out) and gets pretty nasty smelling sometimes. Heres what I am putting on this time , I did a little research in to this and found these bunk boards , pretty cool! http://www.ultimatebunkboards.com

I am very interested in finding out how you like them. Please keep up updated.

-J.

ssaall, I’ve vowed never to do another project of any kind with green treated lumber. Man is that stuff junk, unless it’s buried below grade where it cannot be seen.

Thanks gnfishn, I may look into these also.

after looking at those utimate bunk boards, do you thing you could use some of that composite lumber that you can build a deck with? i would think it’d have a lot of the same properties.

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after looking at those utimate bunk boards, do you thing you could use some of that composite lumber that you can build a deck with? i would think it’d have a lot of the same properties.

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Great idea, then you could put the carpeting over the top. I’d say the only drawback to the Ultimate Bunks is they recommend NOT unhooking the boat prior to backing down the landing. I like to unhook the boat and have someone else hold the ropes and let the boat float off the trailer, its quicker at the launch that way.

Yes, please keep us updated.
Thanks, Bill

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I ‘m doing my RangerTrail for the second time . For the life of me , I cant understand carpet on your trailer in the first place . It’s like carpeting the underside of your truck. Mine never dries out ( except when the tip-ups are out) and gets pretty nasty smelling sometimes. Heres what I am putting on this time , I did a little research in to this and found these bunk boards , pretty cool! <img src=”http://www.in-depthangling.com/forum/images/graemlins/yay.gif&#8221; alt=”” /> http://www.ultimatebunkboards.com

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GNFISN
How did these bunks work for you? I need 10′ ones. Seems to be a problem shipping them at a reasonable rate. Did you figure out a way around the shipping costs?

Thanks
Ivan

I started this thread a while back… Ultimate bunk boards

I did get a few guys together, we all did a little research, gettting a larger order together to save on shipping is the way to go if you’re going to go that route…but…

One of the guys on Walleye Central put them on his Ranger 1850 trailer, he soon after took them off. One, they were scratching his gelcoat and two, they weren’t strong enough and the bumps in the road would cause the bunks to resonate and slap the hull.

I’m no longer going to place the order, the others have thought otherwise as well after reading the thread on walleye central and from hearing other like reports of the UBB’s and other composite type decking being to weak and scratching the bottom of the boat. My research showed the composite being about 33% weaker than wood of the same measurements.

I think they would work well for smaller, lighter boats. But heavier boats they might not be the answer we’re looking for.

BIRDDOG

Birddog, thanks so much for the feedback. I really appreciate it.

Ivan