This trailer has rocking bunks

[guy48065]

The trailer that came with my used (2000) bowrider has bunk boards that pivot on their brackets. They used nylok nuts so this might be intentional--tho I've never seen this. Everything else about the trailer is ship-shape.
Should I tighten them with the boat loaded, or leave them to self-adjust?
No rollers on this trailer--just the bunks.

 

[jimmbo]

Pics of the Trailer in question would be helpful

 

[Cortes100]

Sounds normal.........the last 3 boats I've owned came from the factory with a shoreland'r trailer......and all had the bunks that pivot. Just check the bolts and tighten just enough so the bunk still moves but the bolt isn't flopping around

 

[roscoe]

Mine has the same. Has worked well since 2010.

 

[jlh3rd]

my karavan pontoon trailer is also.

 

[airshot]

Very popular around my area, as mentioned they need to move but not flop around.

 

[guy48065]

Before I posted I asked AI.
Answer it gave was pretty much along that lines of "that is wrong, it will damage your boat, will wear out the hardware".

 

[cyclops222]

Almost Intelligent answers. A wolf in charge of a herd of sheep. Baaadd

 

[dingbat]

Didn’t say what make of trailer.
I have a Loadrite Aluminum trailer with AB (rocking) bunks.

Allows the bunks to pivot for increased contact, so the hull sits flat on the bunk

 

[redneck joe]

I've never seen that. What would the advantage be over fixed?

 

[dingbat]

I've never seen that. What would the advantage be over fixed?

The hull sits flat on the bunk increasing the surface area over which the weight is distributed
More contact area equals less pressure (per unit weight) exhorted on the hull

 

[redneck joe]

The hull sits flat on the bunk increasing the surface area over which the weight is distributed
More contact area equals less pressure (per unit weight) exhorted on the hull

But would not bunks secured with boat on the bunk be ok? Is there something to keep the bunk from flopping over too far? That has happened to me.

 

[dingbat]

But would not bunks secured with boat on the bunk be ok?

In most cases, yes.

In my case, the builder recommends the hull being supported directly under the stringers at the chines. As such, two piece, self adjusting bunks made sense. Far easier than messing around cutting angles on a one piece bunk.

The rest test..........how much work to keep the pivots operational in SW

Is there something to keep the bunk from flopping over too far? That has happened to me.

 

[redneck joe]

Location i get but don't see how a pivoting system does anything more. Just put them where you want them and at a loaded state lock them into position. Not saying is a bad thing just over thought and over engineered imo

 

[guy48065]

Didn’t say what make of trailer.
...

I don't really know. Sticker too faded to read. It came from the dealer with the Bayliner Capri 1850 I recently bought, hence the "Capri" on the trailer.