Do these bunks extend too far?

[moonfish]

I have a crack where the gunnel meets the triangle brace at the transom. I know welded boats tend to crack and I know that the previous owner towed the boat around with no tie downs but he didn't tow it many miles from what he told me. Anyway, I was just wondering if the bunks extending maybe 2' beyond the trailer frame would let things flex too much? Thanks

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

That really depends on the weight of the boat, and what the bunks are made of.
A pics with some measurements, materials the trailer is made of will make the answers a lot more accurate.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

normally it goes the other way if the bunks don't extend passed the transom it adds stress.

So I would say no.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

If they are flat bunks, and not the Beam type bunks, and the bunk does not have enough support close enough to the end of the bunk (with in about the last foot) then there may not be enough support at the end of the bunk to properly support the transom... So, yes it could, but we need pictures of the setup to be able to be more certain...

 

[moonfish]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

UG, I edited the pic and then didn't include it.

The bunks look like 2x4's on edge and there are two of them.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

Anyway, I was just wondering if the bunks extending maybe 2' beyond the trailer frame would let things flex too much?

That's the shortest two feet I've ever seen!!!!

I really don't see a problem with the bunks. I'd suspect towing the boat without transom straps added more to your problem than the bunks.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

I have a crack where the gunnel meets the triangle brace at the transom.

...this crack you're talking about. Is it in an aluminum casting that reinforces the gunnel to the transom ??? (a detailed picture would be nice) One casting on either side of the transom. If so, in my experience, that crack is caused by several things. 1) Too tight a restraing strap across the gunnels, 2) Too high a horsepower engine (what is the rating on your data plate?), 3) failure to use a transom saver when trailering.
...FWIW, Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

That trailer doesn't look much bigger than for a jet ski, but then it is only a 14'er. It would be nice to see another picture of the entire boat and trailer.

 

[moonfish]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

Eddie, you got me. I think the tires are 12" so there's maybe 20" of bunk hanging out there past the trailer frame. It's all weld .100. There's just a triangle welded between the gunnel and the transom. Where the triangle ends on the gunnel, there's the crack. It is maxed out at 50.

It really isn't a big deal, I just thought maybe 250# swingin out there could maybe flex the 2x4's. And yes the guy took me for a test drive with no straps in sight but he was showin me how the transom saver worked exactly so maybe he never strapped the back at all.

It's a 1648 and it weighs something like 345# for the bare hull. I've been pondering finding a 25 or 30 something for it that could maybe put me into some shallower water? I don't really want to hit logs with power tilt. Maybe a kicker so I don't get stranded on the river alone? I've got a '67 20hp and a long shaft kit I could try and I've got all winter to think about what to do.

I just wanted to check and make sure the trailer frame wasn't supposed to be within the last 10" of the transom or something like that.

 

[maced]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

That's the shortest two feet I've ever seen!!!!

I really don't see a problem with the bunks. I'd suspect towing the boat without transom straps added more to your problem than the bunks.

Please provide a picture facing the back of the boat. Thanks

 

[dade61782]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

it looks to me like you have plenty of tongue left move the bow stop/winch post up forward reconfigure the bunks to support transom and aft of the boat better. with that light boat it wont add too much tongue weight. I think the bunks as they are now are acting as a see-saw. most of the weight is on the back. I would move the bunks and boat up and add a cross member at the front of the bunks so they are more supportive

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

The set up looks much more fitting in second pictures, hopefully the cracks are superficial and aren't causing the transom to flex, thats a good looking mill back there. Having them cracks welded up soon.

 

[204Angler]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

No.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

If your trailer is sized appropriately, there is no reason for the boat to be hanging off the back ... that is to say, the transom of the boat should be over the rear of the trailer frame, give or take a few inches either way. The bunks should then be sized and positioned accordingly, to provide maximum support for the hull, and especially the transom, where the weight of the motor bouncing down the road exerts enough force to damage the boat, as it has done here. The transom saver should prevent this if it is attached and positioned properly. The photos do not clearly depict how the transom saver is attached to the trailer. Perhaps that is the problem, or perhaps the transom saver was added to the rig after the damage had been done.

If your trailer is indeed undersized, you may improve upon the support it provides, but it will never be as good as a trailer that is adequately sized and configured with a properly positioned transom saver.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

...I'd be extremely interested to know your CURRENT tongue weight.
Agreeing with a previous poster, if it were my rig, I'd move the winch stand and center roller forward enough to have the transom closer to the last trailer crossmember. Then adjust the transom saver to fit properly.
PLEASE post a picture of the transom support crack.......this could lead to transom failure with all those horses back ther, especially if you hit something.

FWIW...Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[moonfish]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

Ed, I will get a picture. This weekend I got a nice suprise and I get to replumb my upstairs supply lines and it's taking up my time.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

Your trailer is fine. You said the 2x4s were on edge, and as light as that boat is, it would be like a 2500-5000 lb boat being on a 4x8 beam. No problems...

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

Your trailer is fine. You said the 2x4s were on edge, and as light as that boat is, it would be like a 2500-5000 lb boat being on a 4x8 beam. No problems...

...not being argumentative here, but:

I agree that the bunks are more than adequate for the size, type and approximate weight of the boat, however, I am concerned about that BIG chunk of horsepower hanging out back WAAAAAY beyond the trailer. Especially since a transom/gunnel crack has been reported. Additionally, in the current configuration, I cannot see how there would be adequate positive tongue weight.

FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

I'm quessing too, the tongue weight is light just by the way it looks, it may have been set up like that so a guy could pick up the tongue and push the boat around in his driveway, I set mine up like that, kept it just beyond the point of trailer sway, I know it goes against the rules but I've been towing the boat for 20yrs. I have to able handle my boat and trailer manually no ifs and or buts. I wouldn't suggest anyone else do this.
Also I would like to add that I have cracks right through the center of the welds in the corners of my aluminum windshield frame, the welds were ground smooth making them weak.

 

[dade61782]

Re: Do these bunks extend too far?

it looks to me like the bunks are just attached to the rear cross member with more than half of them hanging off the back of the trailer. In my opinion that is not a good set up to support that 250 # four stroke. with not much weight in the front and the bunks only attached in the middle they are going to act like a see saw.