BUNK PADDING

SWAINDE

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
26
I NEED TO REPLACE THE PADDING(CARPET) ON THE BUNKS OF THE TRAILER. HOW IS THE PADDING USUALLY ATTACHED? THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A DUMB QUESTION, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO DO THE JOB WITHOUT TAKING THE BOAT OFF OF THE TRAILER. <br /> THANKS FOR THE INFO
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,049
Re: BUNK PADDING

Staples are the normal way but when I rebuilt my trailer and bunks I used small screws and a galvanized metal strip. I just did not see the staples lasting as long. The carpet is wrapped around and I have the metal strip ans screws under the bunk. No problems so far. I have heard of people also using glue but, that is not even worth it. If you jack the boat up enough on one side do one side at a time. I would recommend removing the bunk board completely and doing it away from the trailer.<br /><br /><br />Bob
 

tcube

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 18, 2001
Messages
397
Re: BUNK PADDING

Bob_VT is right on track - staples don't cut it - I've used galvanized roofing nails on the bottom side of the bunk but I like his idea with the metal strip and screws (stainless or galvanized).<br /><br />I redid my trailer last year and found it easy to launch the boat and then work on the bunks. I had everything precut and used cordless tools as much as I could. Worked fine. When done, took about 1 hour, I jumped in for a bit of fishing. As for the carpet, I splurged on Home Depot's best green indoor/outdoor stuff - works great but don't know how long it will last.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Semper Gumby<br />tcube
 

y2jericho

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
146
Re: BUNK PADDING

why not use the white rubber/polymer strip thing with the ripples in it? If you want the boat to slide off and come on easy just lather up the bunks with soap or hand cleanser and shove it in the water... When you launch next time the water will mix and after one shove it should go
 

ndemge

Commander
Joined
Jul 15, 2002
Messages
2,644
Re: BUNK PADDING

I just added a side bunk to each side of my trailer to help in getting loaded in the current of the river.<br /><br />I got the carpet from Bass Pro and 3M marine adhesavive. <br /><br />Did a nice coat of adhesive, then on the back, used screws with washers through the carpet. seems to be holding quite well. <br /><br />I also agree, staples just ain't going to hold it. Unless you were to use the big Romex Staples, but screws are just a lot easier.
 

oldblumerc

Seaman
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
53
Re: BUNK PADDING

i just redid my bunks and i used a heavier carpet so staples were out of the question. What i found worked good were wire fencing staples (i think thats what they were called). they look like just a u shaped nail. They are big heavy duty suckers no staple gun here you pound them in with a hammer
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,744
Re: BUNK PADDING

Regular old contact cement, $7 a quart, lasts for years. Been there, done that. Just make sure the bunk is real dry before application.
 
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