Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asap.

[Stillkiki]

Hi,
We purchased a used 2003 Landau pontoon (21'), and single axle trailer. We knew the bunk boards were in bad shape because they were taped for support. One has snapped making repair immediately necessary. Brand new pontoon owners, so it's a job I've never tackled before, but I have done some repair work with my son-in-law on some wood/carpet covered parts of his boat. I read through some of the posts on the forum, and it seems like something I can do, but I've got questions.

I talked to a local boat dealer who's been in business for 30 years and he says they've been using treated lumber, and it's never been a problem. But, I'm inclined to listen to the experts here, and it is my understanding treated lumber should NOT be used. Just making sure I understand correctly. So, untreated 2x4 from Lowes is what I'm looking for? I need 15'1".

Should I treat with varnish or Thompson's Water Seal before carpeting?

It gets very confusing when you mention counter sinking the bolts. Can someone walk me through that? I'd appreciate having a step by step instruction to follow if that's possible for someone. I realize it's a holiday week, and you'd love to be boating rather than explaining replacing bunks online!

Thanks for any information you can share.

Randel

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

sealing not really necessary, after all the trailer is not in the water much and has a lot of time to dry out. Counter sinking the bolts requires drilling a hole partway through the board so the bolt head is below the board a little bit. Just so it does not rub on the pontoon.

 

[Stillkiki]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

sealing not really necessary, after all the trailer is not in the water much and has a lot of time to dry out. Counter sinking the bolts requires drilling a hole partway through the board so the bolt head is below the board a little bit. Just so it does not rub on the pontoon.

When counter sinking them, are my bunks already carpeted?

 

[a1nowell]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

The way I have redone bunks is to cut my board, place it on the trailer and mark where I need to drill bolt holes and then drill them. I have always used carriage bolts. I insert the bolts, install my carpet over the rounded bolt head and the bolt stem sticking thru the back side carpet. Tack the carpet down, mount the board where it goes on the trailer and use washers and lock nuts to tighten the bolt on the trailer.

Hope this helps,

Larry

 

[Todd4]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

If you try to drill through the carpet you'll likely to just snag it and wrap material around the drill bit, ruining the repair. Wherever you need to make a hole in the carpet (backside), cut a hole, or X, with a razor blade.

Todd

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

Their at least 3 ways to fasten them down, the manufactures normally use a galvanized lag bolt, carriage bolts is also a popular way , or you can also use a T nut that is counter sunk. Some use PT wood and others dont. Their many ways and things you can use. A lot depends on what you want. Personaly I use PT wood wraped in plastic sheeting and carpet leaving the lowest point uncovered to allow it to drain and stainless steel T nuts hold it in place

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

When I redid the bunks on my old boat:

1. I used CLEAR, Kiln Dried (no knots oimperfectionsns) 2X4's. Cost more, but last a lot longer
2. I used T-nuts (Long) countersunk below tsurfaceace of the 2X4 so as to not scratch the pontoon
3. Indoor / Outdoor carpet to cover the boards.
4. Measured where the holes should be, drilled and completed the new bunks
5. At the Marloosenedstened all the old bolts, launched my boat, took the old bunks off and installed the new ones. Took about 10 minutes.

Good Luck

 

[bjennings79]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

I just replaced mine last weekend. Used PT 2x6 with countersunk stainless hex head bolts. I hate to use carriage bolts because they can be almost impossible to remove if the nut seizes up with rust. As far as PT wood goes, MCA or MCQ treated wood can be used in direct contact with aluminum. Just check the tag on the end of the board and it will tell you what it has been treated with.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Bunk board busted on newly purchased pontoon. Need replaced asap. Need HELP asa

Last spring I took our pontoon boat to our local marina. I had them remove the boat from the trailer. I had already bought the 2x4's pressure treated and the plastic covers. Before I put the plastic covers on I painted the boards with a good exterior wood paint . I removed the old wood then I put the new boards on using 3/16 's lag bolts 1/34 inches long. Then I had the Marina put the boat back on the trailer. The reason I did this was I was looking at my trailer last spring when I saw a bolt all rusted up.I could turn it with my fingers. That was in 2011 The trailer was made in 2006.Most of the bolts were rusted up. I sprayed all the bolts with cold galvanised spray paint. I soaked them real well before using them.