bunks or rollers
 

Looking for a trailer for my 2750 Victoria Command Bridge, 5,500 # approx.
What are the pros and cons to bunks or rollers. Originally wanted rollers
but, might keep it on a trailer for a while. I have it at dry dock now. I
like the support of bunks. I haven't loaded a heavy boat like this one so
not sure what either is going to be like. See both on boat this size. Any
opinions?

Thanks
David

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 05:03:21 GMT, "David"
wrote:

Looking for a trailer for my 2750 Victoria Command Bridge, 5,500 # approx.
What are the pros and cons to bunks or rollers. Originally wanted rollers
but, might keep it on a trailer for a while. I have it at dry dock now. I
like the support of bunks. I haven't loaded a heavy boat like this one so
not sure what either is going to be like. See both on boat this size. Any
opinions?

If you are mooring or slipping the boat and using your trailer for
winter or long term storage, bunks are the way to go.

If you are trailering the boat from place-to-place, then rollers are
the way to go.

In either case, and in particular with the bunks, I would get a power
winch to put the boat properly on the trailer.

Later,

Tom

"David" wrote in message news:tCO3d.8843$464.5346@trnddc01...
Looking for a trailer for my 2750 Victoria Command Bridge, 5,500 # approx.
What are the pros and cons to bunks or rollers. Originally wanted rollers
but, might keep it on a trailer for a while. I have it at dry dock now. I
like the support of bunks. I haven't loaded a heavy boat like this one so
not sure what either is going to be like. See both on boat this size. Any
opinions?

Thanks
David

I had rollers and have bunks now ... I find bunks a lot easier to use
and support of the boat seems better. My boat is light. With a heavy
boat you may get it off the trailer easier with rollers as bunks have
some friction to the hull.

Matt

Matt Lang wrote:
"David" wrote in message news:tCO3d.8843$464.5346@trnddc01...
Looking for a trailer for my 2750 Victoria Command Bridge, 5,500 # approx.
What are the pros and cons to bunks or rollers. Originally wanted rollers
but, might keep it on a trailer for a while. I have it at dry dock now. I
like the support of bunks. I haven't loaded a heavy boat like this one so
not sure what either is going to be like. See both on boat this size. Any
opinions?

Thanks
David

I had rollers and have bunks now ... I find bunks a lot easier to use
and support of the boat seems better. My boat is light. With a heavy
boat you may get it off the trailer easier with rollers as bunks have
some friction to the hull.

Matt


I trailer (on occasion) a 7000+ pound Parker on a bunk trailer. I find
the ease of launch and retrieval depends almost entirely on the angle of
the ramp and the level of tide. If the ramp is relatively steep and the
tide is moderate to high, no problem with even single-handed launch or
retrieval. If the ramp is not steep, but is paved a distance out into
the water, still no problem. A short, flat ramp is problematical.

I do not power on, by the way. I tie the boat up at an adjoining finger
dock, retrieve the trailer and then pull the boat onto the trailer with
a line snapped onto the bow ring. That brings the boat to within 30" or
so of the bow rest on the trailer. Then I winch it on the rest of the
way. Easier on the boat, easier on the boat ramp.



--
We today have a president of the United States who looks like he is the
son of Howdy Doody or Alfred E. Newman, who isn't smarter than either of
them, who is arrogant about his ignorance, who is reckless and
incompetent, and whose backers are turning the United States into a pariah.

What, me worry?

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message

snip....
and using your trailer for
winter or long term storage, bunks are the way to go.

If you are trailering the boat from place-to-place, then rollers are
the way to go.

In either case, and in particular with the bunks, I would get a power
winch to put the boat properly on the trailer.

Later,

What if you do both...store boat on trailer for 7 months and then use it to
trailer around for 5 months? Only time boat is off trailer, is when it's in
use.

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 14:05:37 GMT, "Don White"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message

snip....
and using your trailer for
winter or long term storage, bunks are the way to go.

If you are trailering the boat from place-to-place, then rollers are
the way to go.

In either case, and in particular with the bunks, I would get a power
winch to put the boat properly on the trailer.

Later,

What if you do both...store boat on trailer for 7 months and then use it to
trailer around for 5 months? Only time boat is off trailer, is when it's in
use.

Punt? :)

I would use bunks then.

Or a combination which I've seen from time-to-time. If you are buying
a new trailer, they can be made that way.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 08:57:44 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

Matt Lang wrote:
"David" wrote in message news:tCO3d.8843$464.5346@trnddc01...
Looking for a trailer for my 2750 Victoria Command Bridge, 5,500 # approx.
What are the pros and cons to bunks or rollers. Originally wanted rollers
but, might keep it on a trailer for a while. I have it at dry dock now. I
like the support of bunks. I haven't loaded a heavy boat like this one so
not sure what either is going to be like. See both on boat this size. Any
opinions?

Thanks
David

I had rollers and have bunks now ... I find bunks a lot easier to use
and support of the boat seems better. My boat is light. With a heavy
boat you may get it off the trailer easier with rollers as bunks have
some friction to the hull.

Matt


I trailer (on occasion) a 7000+ pound Parker on a bunk trailer. I find
the ease of launch and retrieval depends almost entirely on the angle of
the ramp and the level of tide. If the ramp is relatively steep and the
tide is moderate to high, no problem with even single-handed launch or
retrieval. If the ramp is not steep, but is paved a distance out into
the water, still no problem. A short, flat ramp is problematical.

That is a good point and one reason why rollers are much better than
bunks. In particular if you have a power winch.

I do not power on, by the way. I tie the boat up at an adjoining finger
dock, retrieve the trailer and then pull the boat onto the trailer with
a line snapped onto the bow ring. That brings the boat to within 30" or
so of the bow rest on the trailer. Then I winch it on the rest of the
way. Easier on the boat, easier on the boat ramp.

I power my Ranger onto bunks and only have to winch it about 3" or so.

If I couldn't do that, I would use rollers and a power winch - that
boat is freakin' heavy.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

Do you routinely launch the boat at the same ramp?

What are the conditions there?

If the water gets deep pretty quickly, the boat will float free from the bunks
without a problem.

If you launch at places where the water is more shallow, rollers have some
advantage. With rollers, once you have established at least some buoyancy you
can often *roll* the boat into the water.

If you go with rollers, put as many rollers under the boat as you can. It is
true that bunks will support the boat better. Try to adjust the rollers so that
they are under the stringers, and remember that there is a specific risk of
"hook" at the transom.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 08:57:44 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

Matt Lang wrote:
"David" wrote in message news:tCO3d.8843$464.5346@trnddc01...
Looking for a trailer for my 2750 Victoria Command Bridge, 5,500 # approx.
What are the pros and cons to bunks or rollers. Originally wanted rollers
but, might keep it on a trailer for a while. I have it at dry dock now. I
like the support of bunks. I haven't loaded a heavy boat like this one so
not sure what either is going to be like. See both on boat this size. Any
opinions?

Thanks
David

I had rollers and have bunks now ... I find bunks a lot easier to use
and support of the boat seems better. My boat is light. With a heavy
boat you may get it off the trailer easier with rollers as bunks have
some friction to the hull.

Matt


I trailer (on occasion) a 7000+ pound Parker on a bunk trailer. I find
the ease of launch and retrieval depends almost entirely on the angle of
the ramp and the level of tide. If the ramp is relatively steep and the
tide is moderate to high, no problem with even single-handed launch or
retrieval. If the ramp is not steep, but is paved a distance out into
the water, still no problem. A short, flat ramp is problematical.

That is a good point and one reason why rollers are much better than
bunks. In particular if you have a power winch.

I do not power on, by the way. I tie the boat up at an adjoining finger
dock, retrieve the trailer and then pull the boat onto the trailer with
a line snapped onto the bow ring. That brings the boat to within 30" or
so of the bow rest on the trailer. Then I winch it on the rest of the
way. Easier on the boat, easier on the boat ramp.

I power my Ranger onto bunks and only have to winch it about 3" or so.

If I couldn't do that, I would use rollers and a power winch - that
boat is freakin' heavy.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717


The ramp I happen to sue about 90% of the time is fairly steep, and the
tidal drop on Chesapeake Bay is minimal. Launch is never a problem, even
single-handed. Retrieval is ok, so long as I can back the trailer into
the water to a marked spot on the trailer...and the trailer's wheels are
still on concrete. So far, so good.

Pulling the boat onto the trailer is a moderate strain. Once it gets as
far as it is going, winching it the remaining two to three feet is a
pain in the ass but...

All I ever see on trailers with power winches is...burned out power winches.




--
We today have a president of the United States who looks like he is the
son of Howdy Doody or Alfred E. Newman, who isn't smarter than either of
them, who is arrogant about his ignorance, who is reckless and
incompetent, and whose backers are turning the United States into a pariah.

What, me worry?

Around here, the low-tide guys with power winches often use a clip on pulley at
the bow so the effort on the winch is 1/2 as is the retrieval speed. They still
burn our their winches - probably due more to corrosion than load.

Harry, I you are pulling that Parker with the Tundra, you are pushing its
limits! They are rated for 7100-7200#.

Dan


Harry Krause wrote:
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 08:57:44 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:


Matt Lang wrote:

"David" wrote in message news:tCO3d.8843$464.5346@trnddc01...

Looking for a trailer for my 2750 Victoria Command Bridge, 5,500 # approx.
What are the pros and cons to bunks or rollers. Originally wanted rollers
but, might keep it on a trailer for a while. I have it at dry dock now. I
like the support of bunks. I haven't loaded a heavy boat like this one so
not sure what either is going to be like. See both on boat this size. Any
opinions?

Thanks
David

I had rollers and have bunks now ... I find bunks a lot easier to use
and support of the boat seems better. My boat is light. With a heavy
boat you may get it off the trailer easier with rollers as bunks have
some friction to the hull.

Matt


I trailer (on occasion) a 7000+ pound Parker on a bunk trailer. I find
the ease of launch and retrieval depends almost entirely on the angle of
the ramp and the level of tide. If the ramp is relatively steep and the
tide is moderate to high, no problem with even single-handed launch or
retrieval. If the ramp is not steep, but is paved a distance out into
the water, still no problem. A short, flat ramp is problematical.

That is a good point and one reason why rollers are much better than
bunks. In particular if you have a power winch.


I do not power on, by the way. I tie the boat up at an adjoining finger
dock, retrieve the trailer and then pull the boat onto the trailer with
a line snapped onto the bow ring. That brings the boat to within 30" or
so of the bow rest on the trailer. Then I winch it on the rest of the
way. Easier on the boat, easier on the boat ramp.

I power my Ranger onto bunks and only have to winch it about 3" or so.

If I couldn't do that, I would use rollers and a power winch - that
boat is freakin' heavy.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717



The ramp I happen to sue about 90% of the time is fairly steep, and the
tidal drop on Chesapeake Bay is minimal. Launch is never a problem, even
single-handed. Retrieval is ok, so long as I can back the trailer into
the water to a marked spot on the trailer...and the trailer's wheels are
still on concrete. So far, so good.

Pulling the boat onto the trailer is a moderate strain. Once it gets as
far as it is going, winching it the remaining two to three feet is a
pain in the ass but...

All I ever see on trailers with power winches is...burned out power winches.

Dan Krueger wrote:
Around here, the low-tide guys with power winches often use a clip on pulley at
the bow so the effort on the winch is 1/2 as is the retrieval speed. They still
burn our their winches - probably due more to corrosion than load.

Harry, I you are pulling that Parker with the Tundra, you are pushing its
limits! They are rated for 7100-7200#.

Dan


I tow the boat about 150 yards on a flat surface. Really.
No tundra, though.






--
We today have a president of the United States who looks like he is the
son of Howdy Doody or Alfred E. Newman, who isn't smarter than either of
them, who is arrogant about his ignorance, who is reckless and
incompetent, and whose backers are turning the United States into a pariah.

What, me worry?

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Do you routinely launch the boat at the same ramp?

What are the conditions there?

If the water gets deep pretty quickly, the boat will float free from the
bunks
without a problem.

If you launch at places where the water is more shallow, rollers have some
advantage. With rollers, once you have established at least some buoyancy
you
can often *roll* the boat into the water.

If you go with rollers, put as many rollers under the boat as you can. It
is
true that bunks will support the boat better. Try to adjust the rollers so
that
they are under the stringers, and remember that there is a specific risk
of
"hook" at the transom.

Go with bunks with UHMB plastic on the bunks.

Don't expect to do much "winter" boating, gets too rough. Boat has bottom
paint so I'm concerned about too much friction with the bunks. Only worry I
have with rollers is the smaller area of support. Seeing some trailers with
30-40+ rollers though. Thanks for the tip on a power winch.
Thanks for the feed back
David
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 21 Sep 2004 14:05:37 GMT, "Don White"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in
message

snip....
and using your trailer for
winter or long term storage, bunks are the way to go.

If you are trailering the boat from place-to-place, then rollers are
the way to go.

In either case, and in particular with the bunks, I would get a power
winch to put the boat properly on the trailer.

Later,

What if you do both...store boat on trailer for 7 months and then use it
to
trailer around for 5 months? Only time boat is off trailer, is when it's
in
use.

Punt? :)

I would use bunks then.

Or a combination which I've seen from time-to-time. If you are buying
a new trailer, they can be made that way.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 03:47:51 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Do you routinely launch the boat at the same ramp?

What are the conditions there?

If the water gets deep pretty quickly, the boat will float free from the
bunks
without a problem.

If you launch at places where the water is more shallow, rollers have some
advantage. With rollers, once you have established at least some buoyancy
you
can often *roll* the boat into the water.

If you go with rollers, put as many rollers under the boat as you can. It
is
true that bunks will support the boat better. Try to adjust the rollers so
that
they are under the stringers, and remember that there is a specific risk
of
"hook" at the transom.

Go with bunks with UHMB plastic on the bunks.

I tried those strips on my Ranger bunks.

They worked too well. I had to really crank down on the stern straps
to keep the boat from sliding while being towed.

Instead I waxed the carpet with beeswax.

Works great.

All the best,

Tom
--------------

"What the hell's the deal with this newsgroup...
is there a computer terminal in the day room of
some looney bin somewhere?"

Bilgeman - circa 2004

On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 04:29:44 GMT, "David"
wrote:

Don't expect to do much "winter" boating, gets too rough. Boat has bottom
paint so I'm concerned about too much friction with the bunks. Only worry I
have with rollers is the smaller area of support. Seeing some trailers with
30-40+ rollers though. Thanks for the tip on a power winch.

Sportsman Trailers in south Houston used to make bunk trailers with
lift up rollers in the middle. Roll the boat on the trailer then lower
the boat onto the bunks - worked great. I don't know if they still
make them but I saw their place a few weeks ago so I guess they're
still around. If you use bunks I would recommend that you use UHMW in
place of carpet. Boat will slide on easier and it will not rot.