Carpet for bunks?

[MAC ATTACK]

I am getting ready to change out my bunk boards. I have searched and read many threads so I know the wood/staple/roofing nail types etc. I have some leftover rubber backed marine grade carpet from Lowes, but I am afraid that it is too thick after looking at the bunk carpets available at Academy etc.

Is there any issue with using the rubber backed marine carpet (not drying etc) that I should consider? It is the gray carpet from lowes. Beside the hassle of folding and stapling it, it looks like it would hold up well.

Thanks in advance, and thanks to all for the awesome tips available here

 

[limitout]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

the carpet works fine, you just want short pile and semi outdoor grade so it lasts.

the bunk carpet is thin and its easier to use because it cuts and staples without much trouble.

I find regular carpet doesn't bend well so it takes more strength to man handle it tight so it lays flat and I use galvanized roofing nails (the ones with the 3/8" round flat heads) and tack them on the sides of the boards. because trying to bend the carpet over and under again is too difficult. when you are wrapping the ends do a trim and fold the left and right side flaps then fold to top over and it gives extra padding and cushion for the edges

the bunk carpet does have an advantage of having a "little" less friction and the boat slides better on it but we aren't talking about much of a difference and because its thinner it rips and tears easier. I like the carpet better because the boat has less tendency to want to slide back down off the bunks when I walk to the front of the boat after driving the boat onto the trailer. its easy to remedy this if you want it to slide more easy by just using spray silicone on the carpet every few months or as needed and this is done for bunk carpet or regular carpet.

I once used fake grass carpet "astro-turf" and it lasted a long time but it mashed flat quickly and wasn't much different then just having naked wood on it.

 

[Ttigger]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Plain old outdoor carpet from Home Depot or Lowes works well. I used an electric staple gun and 5/8 staples. Don't carpet the underside of the bunk so air can circulate and help dry everything out after the trailer has been in the water.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Great advice, thanks. I plan on using the carpet and replacing the boards also.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

I used an electric staple gun and 5/8 staples.

Make sure you use stainless steel staples.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Finally got them done, now have to unload the boat to install. Ended up using treated pine, lowes outdoor carpet and roofing nails. I sanded the corners of the boards to round them off and put a good radius on the very back of the 2X6 boards to keep the carpet from wearing during launch/loading. I used all galvanized hardware and even sealed the lag bolt threads going into the boards with some leftover 3M 4200.

We will see how it holds up. Thanks for the tips!

 

[zippy83]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

I just did the same thing, I just used 2x4's instead I think this should last 5 years min

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Finally got them done, now have to unload the boat to install. Ended up using treated pine, lowes outdoor carpet and roofing nails.

Hope you don't use your boat in salt water.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Hope you don't use your boat in salt water.

I do, and I used galvanized roofing nails. Are you going to tell me that salt will eat galvanized? The boards will need changing again before they rust.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Make sure you use stainless steel staples.

Use Monel in salt water, stainless is fine for fresh water

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

I do, and I used galvanized roofing nails. Are you going to tell me that salt will eat galvanized? The boards will need changing again before they rust.

Problem is the chemicals in the treated lumber will eat away the galvanization and it will be especially bad when you add salt.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Use Monel in salt water, stainless is fine for fresh water

Good point, just looked them up and might add them to the galvanized roofing nails for added security. My trailer is 13 years old and was used in salt. Every stainless bolt on the trailer bunks were rusted and had to be snapped off with a breaker bar. The galvanized nut/bolts were fine with a little PB Blaster. Not sure if anything can combat salt......

I used to work in the aircraft corrosion industry and came upon a product called Corrosion X. It is an awesome spray for protection of bolts/nuts etc.

Amazon.com: Corrosion-X 90104 Heavy-Duty 12oz: Sports & Outdoors

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Problem is the chemicals in the treated lumber will eat away the galvanization and it will be especially bad when you add salt.

Thanks, that I did not know. I knew about treated lumber and aluminum, but not galvanized. Will do what I mentioned in previous reply and add some staples.....

 

[limitout]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Finally got them done, now have to unload the boat to install. Ended up using treated pine, lowes outdoor carpet and roofing nails. I sanded the corners of the boards to round them off and put a good radius on the very back of the 2X6 boards to keep the carpet from wearing during launch/loading. I used all galvanized hardware and even sealed the lag bolt threads going into the boards with some leftover 3M 4200.

We will see how it holds up. Thanks for the tips!

this is the same way I did mine (but I didn't seal the lag bolts) and its going on 8 years now and while the nails are rusty looking they are still structurally solid, just not all that pretty, and the outdoor carpet and boards are still good as new.

while treated lumber is hard on nails its not going to fall apart on you overnight so for trailer bunks its a non issue but for inside the walls of your house unseen for 20 years then its worth considering long term degradation issues.

next time I do it i'll use ss staples because it looks better that way and less noticable

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

I always use staples. I have a pneumatic staple gun and it makes putting on the carpet super easy.

 

[MAC ATTACK]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

One reason I went with the roofing nails is because I built the new boards on saw horses. I was able to easily wrap the carpet and pound the nails in at working level. Hard part was getting the old hardware off at the boat ramp. If I was just replacing the carpet while on the trailer, a staple gun would be the trick

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

At least on mine, the bunks have to go on the trailer first as the bolts go through the wood and then into the bracket. There is a possibility I could use lag bolts from the bottom but I don't trust them as much as a through hole bolt and nut.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Contrary to opinion there is not much of an advantage using PT wood over non-treated. Also PT is a lower grade of lumber with more knots and more prone to warping.

 

[limitout]

Re: Carpet for bunks?

Contrary to opinion there is not much of an advantage using PT wood over non-treated. Also PT is a lower grade of lumber with more knots and more prone to warping.

non PT lumber lasts me 2 years, 3 tops before its rotten.

PT lumber lasts me 10-12 years.

its not opinion but real life observation on my part.

now if the boat is garage kept out of the weather you might have a point but for boats like mine that stay outside in the weather 24/7 all the time it definitely does make an obvious and measurable difference.