I need to replace the carpeted bunks for my trailer - holds a 17 foot
aluminum bass boat.

Have thought of a few design changes and wonder if anyone else has
done similar or if they may not work well or be worth it:

Replacing the 2x4 with a 2x6 for better boat support? (boat sits on
the wide side). I also wonder if it would be easier to winch the boat
up on the trailer due to more surface area for support?

Using through bolts (carriage bolts with stop nuts?) instead of the
lag screws?

And has anyone considered using the composite lumber you can buy for
decks? I'm thinking you wouldn't even need to carpet it and the boat
would slide on and off very easy - maybe too easy? And of course it
would last forever.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

I'd think you could use carrage bolts, just make sure the head drops below
the surface of the wood


BobW wrote in message ...

I need to replace the carpeted bunks for my trailer - holds a 17 foot
aluminum bass boat.

Have thought of a few design changes and wonder if anyone else has
done similar or if they may not work well or be worth it:

Replacing the 2x4 with a 2x6 for better boat support? (boat sits on
the wide side). I also wonder if it would be easier to winch the boat
up on the trailer due to more surface area for support?

Using through bolts (carriage bolts with stop nuts?) instead of the
lag screws?

And has anyone considered using the composite lumber you can buy for
decks? I'm thinking you wouldn't even need to carpet it and the boat
would slide on and off very easy - maybe too easy? And of course it
would last forever.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

BobW wrote:
I need to replace the carpeted bunks for my trailer - holds a 17 foot
aluminum bass boat.

Have thought of a few design changes and wonder if anyone else has
done similar or if they may not work well or be worth it:

Replacing the 2x4 with a 2x6 for better boat support? (boat sits on
the wide side). I also wonder if it would be easier to winch the boat
up on the trailer due to more surface area for support?

I would consider how flat the bunks stay to follow the hull. If there if
is a lot of arch as the supporting timber follows the bottom of the
hull. Larger timber may couse the boat to rock more until the 2x6's take
the hulls shape. My old cuddy cabin had 2x6's (two that ran the lenght
of the hull near the center and two shorter ones for the back on the
outside) I replaced them once as they did not give the support I needed
on the transum (two short) For awhile I could feel the boat rock on the
trailer a little until it sat on them for a couple of months. That boat
weighed 3900lbs.

Using through bolts (carriage bolts with stop nuts?) instead of the
lag screws?

Absolutely .

And has anyone considered using the composite lumber you can buy for
decks? I'm thinking you wouldn't even need to carpet it and the boat
would slide on and off very easy - maybe too easy? And of course it
would last forever.
I would be worried more about them breaking. the decking on my dock is
composit and ti works well for that application. I would worrie about
the spans being to long for bunks.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.


Just my 2cents

Capt Jack R..

I have 2X6's for bunks on my sailboat. Some comments.

I use carriage bolts, and counter sink them so the heads are below the
surface of the 2X6.

The stop bolts are a good idea, for the bunks to work the must be able
to move on the trailer. As the bunk flexes there will be quite a lot of
movement relative to the supports on the trailer.

On last thing the bunk will twist as it conforms to the hull. To get
the best fit I find it necessary to trim the edges of the bunk with a
wood plane. For that reason, the composite materials may not work as
well as they would seem.



Jack Redington wrote:
BobW wrote:

I need to replace the carpeted bunks for my trailer - holds a 17 foot
aluminum bass boat.

Have thought of a few design changes and wonder if anyone else has
done similar or if they may not work well or be worth it:

Replacing the 2x4 with a 2x6 for better boat support? (boat sits on
the wide side). I also wonder if it would be easier to winch the boat
up on the trailer due to more surface area for support?


I would consider how flat the bunks stay to follow the hull. If there if
is a lot of arch as the supporting timber follows the bottom of the
hull. Larger timber may couse the boat to rock more until the 2x6's take
the hulls shape. My old cuddy cabin had 2x6's (two that ran the lenght
of the hull near the center and two shorter ones for the back on the
outside) I replaced them once as they did not give the support I needed
on the transum (two short) For awhile I could feel the boat rock on the
trailer a little until it sat on them for a couple of months. That boat
weighed 3900lbs.


Using through bolts (carriage bolts with stop nuts?) instead of the
lag screws?

Absolutely .

And has anyone considered using the composite lumber you can buy for
decks? I'm thinking you wouldn't even need to carpet it and the boat
would slide on and off very easy - maybe too easy? And of course it
would last forever.

I would be worried more about them breaking. the decking on my dock is
composit and ti works well for that application. I would worrie about
the spans being to long for bunks.


Thanks in advance for your suggestions.


Just my 2cents

Capt Jack R..