My preference is for bunks. I like the fact that the load is spread over the length of the hull and I do not have individual pressure points all around the hull. Also, I do a float off/drive on launch and retrieve and I love my Magic Trail Bunk trailer...
Others will prefer rollers for their own reasons. One thing I have picked up is that a roller trailer is great fo shallow launch/retreives. Most all of the launches I go to are plenty deep enough for my bunks. Even thelakes that I go to and have to shallow launch do not really create a problem.
I guess the long and short of it is personal prefference...
If you can drive it on most of the way at whatever ramps you use, I'd consider a bunk.
However, if you prefer not to drive on, or can't get far enough into the water I'd go roller. Cranking is a lot easier on the bow eye with roller. Not to mention the arms.
I'm assuming that 23' fully loaded isn't going to be light. So I'd probably go with the roller anyways.
I have a 24ft with bunks and wouldn't have anything else. I have seen lots of people with rollers and watched the load and unload, and doesn't look any easier to me. And like Knightgang said, I like having the weight of the boat spread out the full length of the boat not just on the same pressure points all the time.
I've had both. I'm in the process of converting my trailer from rollers to bunks. I launch and recover by myself and for that reason alone a drive on trailer can't be beat in my opinion.
There was a guy on here about a week ago who had put real teflon glide slicks(like boards) on his bunks and his boat just slid of the trailer at the ramp onto the concrete(not good)! That stuff would be great for a big heavy boat like yours but don't disconnect the bow line until you're really ready to launch! I believe you can buy teflon at industrial supply places, rip it to the width and length you need and attach with countersunk stainless screws and bolts and you've really got something that'll do the slide! Good Luck!
Yep, I have the marine carpet covered bunks for my modified v jon boat and it just slides right on there no problem. I taught my wife how to operate the boat and drive it onto the trailer and she's got it down pat. And you know she's real proud that she can do that and not be treated like some bubbleheaded bimbo at the boat ramp. I notice a lot of guys won't teach their wives to operate the boat, but they need to learn it in case you got real sick/drunk/heart attack or whatever. She's only ran it into the dock once! I told her the word around the dock is "real slow". Good Luck!
I have rollers...at least 10 times this season, bunk owners came up to me in dismay at the ease of the roller launch after watching me launch or retrieve my heavy boat. The boat doesn't need and isn't supposed to touch the water hardly at all to launch which works well for some of the shallow launch sites. These folks generally owned heavy boats such as Fourwinns, Cobalt etc. At the same time then I would watch people struggle to get their boats on their bunk trailers while trying to power load. I see very few roller trailers in the parking lot on any given day. I don't know if it is because they cost more than bunk trailers or what. All that said, the amount of stress on the front bow loop when loading my boat makes me wonder when the whole thing will pull out of the bow fiberglass. The best thing about the roller trailer is no matter how you line it up when retrieving when it's windy or whatever, the rollers ensurer a perfectly straight load.
Im a roller man myself. I've got a 23' SeaRay (4500#) that I launch and retrieve by myself regularly. I'm in or out of the water in less than 5 minutes which amazes anyone watching. As far as pressure to the hull, there are 32 5" rollers under this thing plus the Vblock support at the front of the bow. I do have guide on's to help keep everything centered which helps immensely. I also found a device called a snapper on the net that allows me to catch and release the bow eye by remote control. It took a little playing around to get it adjusted but it works amazing now. I can pre-stage and disconnect all the straps prior to getting on the ramp with the safety of knowing the boat is still connected to the trailer. The ramps by me are pretty steep and the boat would slide right off if I didn't have something keeping me connected to the trailer. I couldn't do this on bunks by myself and I never have to get into the water .
Not sure why people think you have to crank much or worse yet, power load onto bunk trailers. The only people that do that with bunk trailers have no clue how deep to put their trailer.
In my case, I back in and right after the transom floats, the boat glides off slick as can be. When retrieving, my bunks are set properly and I have one self centering roller that hits the keel, it's almost impossible for you NOT to get it centered properly. I guarantee I can launch/retrieve as quickly as any roller trailer at the ramps I use.
I like the fact the bunks support all along the hull too, I've seen hull damage from roller.
Lastly, I would think bunk trailers are much cheaper to maintain.
Bunk, easier in and out, the chines are supported better by bunks,,no replacing rollers and unclip and dunk,,I've never had rollers,,my buddie does on his whaler and does just fine
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