Roller Bunks for flat bottom jon boat

[mik1947]

I have a 12 foot aluminum jon boat on a Bear non-tilting trailer. I now have to back the trailer deep into the water to get the boat off the bunks. Will replacing the carpeted bunks with roller bunks work well with the flat bottom on this boat to help with this issue?

 

[drum23]

Re: Roller Bunks for flat bottom jon boat

I am assuming your ramp situation is similar to mine where (at high tide?) you would have to drive your truck through saltwater up to the bottom of the doors to get the trailer in deep enough to do a normal launch/retreive.

The first thing you should look at before spending alot of money is whether the brackets that attach your bunks to your trailer frame can be lowered. As long as your boat won't make contact with your fenders, this might be all you need. I'm in the process of making new brackets that will lower my height off the trailer. This might give you all the clearance you need.

Right now i just back the trailer in as far as I feel safe and then lift up on the bow, and slide the boat off. I assume you're doing the same? The carpet on my bunks is beginning to wear through, so I'm sure having roller bunks would make it better in the long run if your willing to spend the money.

 

[mik1947]

Re: Roller Bunks for flat bottom jon boat

Drum23,

Yes, the ramp I use is a shallow angled one and I'm afraid I will drop the wheels off the back of it if I go in too far. I'm getting on in years and the lifting and pushing are starting to get to me. I found a pair of 4' roller bunks in Cabelas for about $80 that I think I can mount on top of the existing bunks after removing the carpet.

Mike

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Roller Bunks for flat bottom jon boat

You might check out the EZ Glides or EZ Slides or Glide Sliks or whatever they're called - Cabelas sells them. Easy fix for sticky bunks. Poorly-designed rollers can put stress points on your hull.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Roller Bunks for flat bottom jon boat

I've been doing a lot of research on this subject and the results of what I have found is that if the manufacturer of your boat does not warn against it, then rollers are the answer to low water launching.

Bunk style supports are designed for float of/float on situations and where steep ramps are the norm.

The only caveat I've seen on rollers is that on steep ramps you have to be careful when you release the boat since it can unexpectedly roll off the trailer.

Bunk glides are a compromise to rollers on bunked trailers. I carpet my bunks to protect my bottom paint so I can't see dragging it over a hard surface even if it is as slick as they say. These are very common on trailers for aluminum fishing boats with unpainted hulls.

In the past, I've moved my bunks and winch mount further back so the boat enters the water lower and sooner. This can get tricky because if you get them too far back the bow can lift up on you unexpectedly and it also throws the load center off. It's o.k. for short trips but can make your trailer squirely.

I'm pretty well convinced that the roller trailers are the best way to go for all around launching and loading.