Bunk Advice Requested...

[Nismospeed]

Ok, I have a bunk style pontoon trailer with no inside guides, and I was wondering what to go with. I found a pair of vertical guides that stand 30" and dont use bunk boards. Instead, they appear to mount mid to rear on the trailer and push the tail end of the toons into place for landing on the bunks. Has anyone tried these? Should I just go old fashioned and use bunk boards?

These are the guides I was considering...

http://www.easternmarine.com/Pontoon-Boat-Trailer-Heavy-Duty-30-Guide-Ons-1-pair-86467/

Any advice from anyone or any testimonials from anyone who has used this or a similar system would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

I don't know what you mean by the 'old-fashioned' way. The link you provided is typical of inside guides and appear to be very good ones. There are a number of ways, including home-made, to accomplish the same thing.

I prefer the outside guides because they will acommodate deeper water ramps.

Good luck and report back on your choice.

 

[Nismospeed]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

oops... let me clarify that. by old fashioned, i was referring to the inside guide bunk boards. i have actually never seen these post style guides on a pontoon boat. i have seen similar on the outside of bass and ski boat trailers, but never actually saw a pontoon trailer with them. just curious as to how well they worked. I like them, I think they are creative. For my use, I plan on installing them about 3/4 of the way back. once the nose of the toons are in place, the rest will follow. im only running a 24', so i would assume it would work fine. They offer 20" and 30" posts, and I figured I would go with the 30" just so they extend higher out of the water.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

The vertical guides are a cost effective solution and work very well. The only problem with the style you're considering is since they mount inside the tubes they can only be so tall, which means they may not be any help on deep water ramps. If that's not a concern for you those will be fine. The nice thing about the vertical guides is no drilling.

 

[Nismospeed]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

thanks to the both of you. Like I said, I opted for the taller of the 2 sets, and if they still arent tall enough...Im a welder by trade, so making them a little taller wont be an issue. Im out on the east coast and the ramps to the bay and ramps in the surrounding lake area have a huge variable, so I cant really say what will work and what wont. Then again, we're only talking about a 24' toon, so I think they should be fine. I would probably look into the outside set if I had something like a 30' toon or larger. That way they would definitely come out of the water on all ramps. Looks like I just found my winners for this toon though. Thanks!!!!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

Where I launch and retrieve, these would be useless due to the depth of the water. My toons would float over them. For me, external high guides are all that work. Just something to consider.

 

[Nismospeed]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

Understood... and thinking about it, I may just go with bunks along the inside. It would be way cheaper than getting 2 sets of these posts. Im not real big on the externals, but I could do a couple of 12' inside bunks and make life easy for cheap.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

I think you have your terminology confuzzed. The bunks are what your boat sits on. If you're thinking of adding horizontal guides I can't imagine that would be cheaper than two sets of vertical guide posts. I know the guide posts would be much easier to install as they simply bolt on to the trailer with a couple of modified u bolts that are included. I really think you'd be happiest with that style of guide. I also think you only need one set, because in most cases the only centering issue is at the back. If I were you I'd try mounting one set of tall vertical guides at the back of the trailer and see how well that works before I did anything else. I suspect it will save you some money and a whole lot of work.

 

[Water logged]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

If you are a welder you should build your guides. I have photos of some I had done by a local welder. The whole thing posts, boards U bolts and carpet cost less thn $100. Unfortunatlyafter many tries, I have not been able to attach the photos. So I will try a stick figure picture.


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Build 4 of these attach to cross members, attach carpeted boards.

Hope you can figure it out.

Glenn

Guess I can't do a stick figure either!!

 

[Water logged]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

I have homemade ones like those on my homemade trailers. They work great. I made them out of 2x2 14 gauge square tube and covered them with 3" PVC pipe, cost me 50$ for a set of 4. the PVC works nice since it spins on the square tube when the pontoon contacts it and doesn't mar the aluminum.

 

[Nismospeed]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

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Thats actually pretty close to what I have drafted right now. I was actually thinking about welding the guide supports in place, but, I do plan to ditch the trailer some day, so bolts would probably be faster. I liked rancherlee's suggestion too. Hadnt thought of that one. Id probably go pipe over pipe for mine, just so I didnt completely swipe the idea. But never thought of pvc over steel.

 

[woolznaz]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

I have basically the same thing Water Logged showed. Mine start near the front of the toons and only come back about 1/2 way. When I first got the boat and trailer, I can remember wishing they came all the way back. After just one launch and retrieve I figured out why they do not. The back of the trailer is usually too deep for the back of the guides to serve any purpose. Besides, if the front 1/2 is lined up, the back 1/2 has to be also -- it's not like the boat bends. So, I then realized that smarter people than me designed my trailer and guides and it works like a charm. Good luck with your project. I bet you'll be happy with those kind of guides.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

Hey, those are pretty nice, Waterlogged. When can you come to Arkansas and build me some? I'll provide the beer.

 

[BBDAWG]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

Water Logged, I really like that set up!!

 

[Water logged]

Re: Bunk Advice Requested...

All I did is give a local welder that does sand rails and custom chassis a drawing and 70 bucks and went back in 2 days to to,pick them up. Shucks, anyone can do that.

Glenn