Going back to last Sept (see post 64) and the Bayliner Capri I purchased mostly for the Escort trailer, I finally got around to getting the brackets/bunks setup for the Starcraft. After somewhat flattening the brackets to a similar angle to the contact points on the hull, I took the advice of
@SHSU (post #68) and had a local welder triangulate the brackets. After a POR-15 treatment, I mocked up some bare 2x4 bunks and went to the launch for a test fit. All was well except for the chines barely touching the trailer fenders. Rather than redo the entire bracket setup, I opted to use 4x4 lumber to gain the extra clearance. I intended to use all Douglas Fir but ended up with one Fir and one Cedar due to all other Fir boards being a bit curvy (Menards did sell me the Cedar at Douglas Fir $).
With the usual iboats research, and following
@Watermann's advice, I pre-drilled/counter sunk the bolt holes, applied a standard OTF treatment, set the bolts in adhesive (allowed to cure before tightening), and glued/stapled the carpet, leaving the bottom portion uncovered for drying.
I'm extremely happy with the trailer and very thankful that the outcome appears to be good, with no chine/fender touching (even while underway) and a clean contact point between the strake and chine. In all, the boat sits about 3.5" lower now and is easier to launch in shallow water (shallow not a being a big concern in Michigan this Summer as we are having the opposite issue of Western America). Additionally, being a lower and wider trailer, it pulls much nicer and is a bit easier to maneuver. The biggest improvements are probably in appearance and noise. The old Holsclaw trailer was solidly built, but after decades of age and neglect, many of rollers were degraded, loose and mostly sounded like the world's largest and most annoying set of Sleigh Bells. Hopefully, I can get a few bucks for it to help recoup the registration, bunk work, and new bearing $$ spent on the Escort trailer (still needs some electrical work).
For anyone who has actually bothered to read this far, do you see any concern with the new bunk setup? Some of the information online seems to indicate that the ideal location for the bunks is as close to the chine as possible (pretty much where I'm at now). That being said, the sources do not differentiate between hull materials. Based on observations in the boat launch parking lot, two bunks with no keel support/rollers seems to be quite common on new trailers, although most boats around me are fiberglass. The same sources refer to keel bunks as "guides", leading me to believe that they are not intended for actual load bearing, but for ease-of-use.
Any thoughts?
