are my bunks on right?

[Biggems]

Hey everybody.

Please take a look at the picture I have attached and tell me if my bunks are on the trailer the right way. It may be hard to see, but the bunks are set up so that the thin side of the bunks are whats supporting the boat. Correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn't they be situated to where the broad side of the bunks are flush with the hull?

Also, you can see that only the rear portion of the bunks are actualy making contact with the hull. As you follow it forward, you can see that the hull is not even making contact with bunks.

Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Re: are my bunks on right?

Ayuh,...

Many trailers use the boards on their sides like that,.. No Problem...

I'd raise the forward bracket so it's carrying some of the weight though...

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: are my bunks on right?

If I had the choice I would want the boards laying horizontal, that allows them to conform to the hull countour if it's not flat in that peticular area, but as your's are they haven't got much forgivness, it looks like you have adjustability so just loosen the front mounts a little and use a bottle jack to push them up against the hull.

 

[Biggems]

Re: are my bunks on right?

Ok I'll adjust the forward ends so that they are flush with the hull.

Other than that, you think they are ok the way they are?

 

[reelfishin]

Re: are my bunks on right?

The bunk boards are stronger when mounted on end like that. I wouldn't turn them flat unless it's a really light boat. Especially with 2x4 bunks.

The boat will also slide far easier with less resistance with the boards like that vs laying flat.

 

[Biggems]

Re: are my bunks on right?

Ok then I'll leave it so the 2" side is up against the hull.

Now how exactly do I adjust the forward end so that it is flush with the hull? What is a bolt jack?

 

[reelfishin]

Re: are my bunks on right?

You can probably just loosen the two bolts that are holding the front bunk bracket to the frame and push the bunk up against the boat hull. If your not too confident you can do it by hand, put a jack under the bracket or bunk when you loosen the bolts, but chances are there won't be much weight on it.
If your careful, you can loose both bolts just enough to tap the bracket up with a block of wood and a hammer.

 

[Biggems]

Re: are my bunks on right?

Sounds easy enough!

Thanks everybody!

 

[vintage boat junky]

Re: are my bunks on right?

I would almost guess that your rollers might be too high...

 

[boat1010]

Re: are my bunks on right?

Without seeing the whole picture of your boat and trailer it is hard to say. You might just have the nose piece too high and when you tighten up the winch it is pulling the front of your boat up off the bunk. I like the bunks flat better. The way it is now if you were to hit a good bump you could possibly push the bunk up into your boat. Especially if both sides look the same I would tend to think it is the positioning of the boat on the nose piece not the bunks.

 

[Biggems]

Re: are my bunks on right?

I would almost guess that your rollers might be too high...

I dont have any rollers on the trailer. There are just the two parallel bunks and the one perpendicular bunk. I am going to replace the front sideways bunk with a roller though and will probably add 1 or two more down the center. And will keep the other bunks.

Here are 3 pictures of the trailer without the boat.

 

[txmntman]

Re: are my bunks on right?

After looking at your trailer, I would like to make a couple of safety suggestions. It looks as if this is a home-made trailer, which I have no problems with, especially with a light boat.....Howerver,

1) I see no way to attach transom straps to hold your boat down and to the back of the trailer. This could result in the boat moving forward under a "panic stop". Now, you make make other provisions for that which I cannot see. Please, from a safety standpoint, make sure your boat and trailer are strapped together while running so they act as one....you don't want your boat becoming separate from your trailer while moving down the road.

2) in like manner, I do not see a safety chain for the boweye. You will be using the winch to hold the bow eye to the front of the trailer, but I would GREATLY reccommend a separate boweye safety chain or tiedown. There is another thread on this in the general section.

Just a couple of thoughts....

 

[Biggems]

Re: are my bunks on right?

It does have a tie down in the back, the straps are just in the back of the car for that picture. They hook into the part of the frame where you mount the tail lights. So no worries there.

As far as a safety chain where the winch strap is? Didn't know I should have one. I'll look into it.

 

[Biggems]

Re: are my bunks on right?

Ok I went out there today to knock out a bunch of issues and these bunks was one of them.

I tried to loosen the bolts that attach the bracket to the fram but those suckers are so rusted it wouldn't budge! I almost broke my ratchet!

Next time I go out I'll take some WD40 with me and see if I can loosen them up a bit and keep you guys updated.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: are my bunks on right?

.....Next time I go out I'll take some WD40 with me and see if I can loosen them up a bit and keep you guys updated.

Toss the WD40 in the trash or save it to soften vinyl decals for removal. It is absolutely worthless as a lubricant and even more worthless as a penatrant. WD stands for 'water displacement' and the 40 was the 40th formula they came up with for that purpose. WD40 is one of those way overhyped and misrepresented items.

Get yourself some Kroil or PB Blaster.

 

[canadiangypsy]

Re: are my bunks on right?

WD40 40 and wool is great for cleaning rust of off rifle barrels :facepalm:

 

[bonz_d]

Re: are my bunks on right?

I dont have any rollers on the trailer. There are just the two parallel bunks and the one perpendicular bunk. I am going to replace the front sideways bunk with a roller though and will probably add 1 or two more down the center. And will keep the other bunks.

Here are 3 pictures of the trailer without the boat.

That trailer looks as though it was originally set up to hold a 12-14' flat bottom jon boat.
Your 14.6' Northwood is about the same size, wieght and hull design as my Lund. Your trailer will work just fine with that hull though you do need to make some changes.

1st you should add keel rollers. At least 3, 4 would be better! Start with an end roller then 2 or 3 up the center. Once they are on load the boat and adjust the bunks up to meet the bottom of the hull. Next the added length of those bunks isn't really doing anything towards the bow. I would shorthen them at least half way back to the frame. Lastly add a winch. A 1000# is more than enough and are only about $40.00

The boat and trailer in your signiture look pretty well balanced so I wouldn't worry about having to reposition the winch post yet. Anyways that's where I would start.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: are my bunks on right?

OLD thread.