Attach bunks to brackets with?

[dmoriarty51]

Whats the preferred method for attaching bunk boards to the brackets? The options i can think of include,

Lag bolts,
Screws,
Countersink and bolt all the way through.


Boards will likely be 2x6 roughly 8ft long spanning 2 crossmembers, carrying about 1500lbs of boat water ready.

thinking 2 8ft long bunks and 2 3ft long outer bunks to provide more stability and aid in centering. I do have guide poles on the trailer already, so if a single pair of long 2x6 bunks is enough that makes my job even easier.

 

[Tim in TN]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

My trailer came with the bunk attached with lag bolts. I replaced the bunks last year and went back with lag bolts. Obviously, you want to make sure the point of the bolt is nowhere near the surface of the bunk and therefore your hull.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

When I got my boat, somone had used carrage bolts all the way through. Even though they countersinked them (not enough) it was very hard on my 1500lb alluminum hull, scratched it and put some dents in it. I reaplaced the bunks and used lag bolts, I used 1 1/2" lags.

Mine has 4 crossmembers, I know that even with 4 brackets on each bunk the new 2x6's flex a tiny bit in between the brackets (mine are 10ft long). I would thiink that 2 wouldn't be enough on an 8 foot bunk, but if that's how it's set up now then no reason to change it. Maybe someone with a little more knowledge will chime in.

Austin

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

Worked on this project last weekend. I went with 2x4 bunks as glide ons for them are more plentiful, i am going with these http://www.easternmarine.com/self-centering-bunk-glide-ons-for-2x4-lumber-86162 just waiting for them and a couple bump pads for the frame rails to arrive hopefully by this weekend so i can get on the river.

I did the swap by using the seesaw method of getting the boat on stands just high enough to remove rollers and place the boards. One thing is for sure bare wood is not slippery at all, boat is sitting a few inches back on the trailer and i cannot move it forward at the moment.

A concern above was only having 2 crossmembers. I used the old bars for the rollers as my mounting location so i actually have 4 points of attachment per bunk with 2 lag bolts at each point. This should be sufficient in my mind. Overall i have lower the boat on this trailer between moving mounts and going from rollers to bunks by ~6 inches. at the transom.

Before


After


i know the angle is very different but it is definately lower and hopefully will center better when loading. The ramps here just are not roller friendly, everyone that has them hates them, because the boat is always crooked.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

I used galvanized, countersunk, carriage bolts.

 

[Bart Hawk]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

I used galv countersunk carriage also, I put the carpet on top and covered bolts with marine goop;

The real fun is when they break at the boat ramp and you have to swim after said bunk then zip tie said bunk to trailer!

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

I used galv countersunk carriage also, I put the carpet on top and covered bolts with marine goop;

The real fun is when they break at the boat ramp and you have to swim after said bunk then zip tie said bunk to trailer!

LOL!!!! Thought that only hapened to me! Had no zip ties, but duct tape worked.

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

I used galv countersunk carriage also, I put the carpet on top and covered bolts with marine goop;

The real fun is when they break at the boat ramp and you have to swim after said bunk then zip tie said bunk to trailer!

Saw this happen last weekend, the entire rig needed alotta tlc

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

Got my slicks installed, not sure about launch ability yet. I jacked the boat off the trailer, and squared up everything and added the self centering bunk slides from tiedown engineering, as well as keel pads on the axle and forward crossmember.



I also got rid of the bracket with hitch pin attachment for my transom saver. by putting a plug in the end of it, with a stud that seats in a hole on the rear frame crossmember so no more getting on my knees in the gravel.




I have a new set of self retracting ratcheting tiedowns that mount on the trailer to add tomorrow, ran out of time today.

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Attach bunks to brackets with?

used the boat this past sunday and it launches and loads pretty nicely now, I need to fine tune my launch and load depth as the rub rail bow cap hung me up coming off and was super close getting back on. its kinda hard to judge lately due to the low water levels im not used to the ramp angle at this water level, but i will get it sorted out.

i also added the ratcheting tie downs and i think these are going to be great, one less thing to carry around or toss in the boat or truck. this is important to me as my 6yr old obviously is little help getting the boat water or road ready and the wife is a go along with it boater. so when they go i do all the work.

ignore the ghetto transducer mount, i intend to move it inside and glue it to the hull but not untill im sure im keeping the current unit.