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Boat Trailer Bunk Covering
Posted on 4/22/25 at 11:14 am
Posted on 4/22/25 at 11:14 am
Looking at replacing the carpet on my trailer bunks as they are worn thin (but not ripped) on the inside top edges. Has anyone used gatorbak bunk covers or surfix glide sticks instead of re-carpeting? I dont want any kind of product that will damage the gelcoat or fiberglass but would be open to different material other than carpet if it helps load/unload boat.
7
Posted on 4/22/25 at 11:28 am to Saskwatch
Don't have personal experience with either but I've done some research on replacing my carpet with gatorbak. Only negative I've heard is that the boat has a tendency to slide back when pulling out. I've always hooked by boat to the trailer before pulling out, I've seen too many instances of dumping a boat on a ramp to take that chance.
Posted on 4/22/25 at 11:50 am to Saskwatch
I have seen quite a few boats slide off of trailers onto the concrete to make me not want any type of synthetic covering for my bunks. I just replace with new carpeted bunks as needed. Cheap and easy. I guess they would be viable long as you always remember not to unlatch the boat until it’s in the water.
Posted on 4/22/25 at 11:58 am to Mister Bigfish
quote:
have seen quite a few boats slide off of trailers onto the concrete to make me not want any type of synthetic covering for my bunks.
Don’t unhook until you’re at the waters edge. Problem solved.
Eta
quote:
Mister Bigfish
Doesn’t check out.
This post was edited on 4/22/25 at 8:38 pm
Posted on 4/22/25 at 12:32 pm to Mister Bigfish
quote:
I have seen quite a few boats slide off of trailers onto the concrete
My uncle coated the bottom of his aluminum bay boat with gator glide and this happened when he was launching on a steep ramp. He never unhooked before the boat was in the water again lol
Posted on 4/22/25 at 1:14 pm to saintkenn
That stuff looks cool but Holy hell it's expensive af
Posted on 4/22/25 at 2:08 pm to Saskwatch
Synthetic bunk covers came on my trailer similar to Gatorbak and I have never had a slide issue. I also don't unhook it until it is in the water and hook it up before pulling out.
It does help me crank it up tight after it is out of the water.
It does help me crank it up tight after it is out of the water.
Posted on 4/22/25 at 2:31 pm to Saskwatch
Everyone should get rid of the carpet and use Gatorbak or alike.
Posted on 4/22/25 at 4:22 pm to Wtodd
quote:
Everyone should get rid of the carpet and use Gatorbak or alike.
Why? What’s wrong with carpet bunks?
Posted on 4/22/25 at 4:29 pm to Mister Bigfish
Carpet tends to trap water rots out the bunk boards faster, but it's the easiest and cheapest solution. Often times the board got a couple years left on it but the area around the lags tends to rot first and cause the lags to back out.
Posted on 4/22/25 at 6:11 pm to Stat M Repairman
quote:
Why? What’s wrong with carpet bunks?
quote:
Carpet tends to trap water rots out the bunk boards faster, but it's the easiest and cheapest solution. Often times the board got a couple years left on it but the area around the lags tends to rot first and cause the lags to back out.
All of this plus the carpet holds sand and small rocks that scratch the hell out of glass boats.
Posted on 4/23/25 at 10:28 am to Wtodd
I love the sliders. Definitely outlast carpet.
Did untreated wood and installed the plastic sliders on my aluminum boat trailer. Lasted over 10 years until I sold it. Makes a big difference when the boards can dry and not have carpet trap moisture.
My new aluminum boat has them also, just on top of the carpet bunks. (Weird, but came that way) and when I have to redo the bunks on my MB trailer I will do the same thing to it.
Also- I never unhook my boat until it's in the water. And always hook up before pulling out. I've seen to many boats hit the concrete. It makes me cringe big time to see people not hook up.
Did untreated wood and installed the plastic sliders on my aluminum boat trailer. Lasted over 10 years until I sold it. Makes a big difference when the boards can dry and not have carpet trap moisture.
My new aluminum boat has them also, just on top of the carpet bunks. (Weird, but came that way) and when I have to redo the bunks on my MB trailer I will do the same thing to it.
Also- I never unhook my boat until it's in the water. And always hook up before pulling out. I've seen to many boats hit the concrete. It makes me cringe big time to see people not hook up.
Posted on 4/23/25 at 4:24 pm to Saskwatch
My bunk brackets were rusty and broken. I replaced the brackets and carpet with both from Academy Sports. Replaced the two 2×4's with treated ones from Lowes. An air stapler from Harbor Freight made installing the new bunk carpet to the 2 2x4's a breeze.
Posted on 4/23/25 at 5:04 pm to Saskwatch
I have synthetic deck boards over the wood on the trailer for my gator tail. Turned them upside down & screwed between the ridges.
Posted on 4/23/25 at 5:48 pm to Saskwatch
We put 1-1/2” strips of hdpe we cut from a sheet and installed on our Go-Devil boat trailer bunks and it takes nothing to shove them off into the marsh now. As others said, just don’t unhook until in the water because she’s coming off of there!
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