Glide strips for bunk boards

[woodduck17]

I have an 89 Tracker ---aluminum with rivets. The ramp I use most of the time is shallow with a river current. Can't get enough of the trailer in the water to drive the boat off the trailer usually. I was thinking about adding some of those glide strips to the bunks so it would pull off the trailer. has anyone ever used these strips and do they work as advertised?

 

[KRS]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

I haven't used them, but if you add them, you will be adding additional height on the trailer (I think they are 3/4" or so), making it even more difficult to get the boat off.<br /><br />By chance are your bunks adjustable and you can lower them?

 

[woodduck17]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

The one's I'm looking at are 1/2 inch thick. The bunks are not adjustable on my trailer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

I've used them as well as adding the small bars with roller (roller bunks) which don't conform to the hull. I ended up selling the trailer and buying a Shorelander roller trailer. Roller trailers are especially helpful in the situations you are experiencing. Roller trailers generally sit lower as well.

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

Have you tried "liquid rollers"? It is a spray on lubricant type product designed for bunks. It works well.

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

I have the slicks on my bunk trailer they are just under 1/2" thick. I can push off the boat (20'x 8') one handed. They do exactly what they say they do!<br />Warning: They are so slick that the boat can slide off the trailer if you unhook it before your ready. <br /><br /> http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/...&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=13049151

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

Those things work wonders and when you screw them down you can't see any noticeable height difference.<br />But as was stated don't even think about taking the boat loose at the bow eye until you are ready to launch.<br />I have them on both of my boat trailers because like you I am plagued with low ramp waters.

 

[woodduck17]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

I got some of the spray---will try that first.

 

[Dead Eye]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

I use cheap liquid dish soap works great. I wet the bunks with a 5 gal bucket and when ready to launch WOOOOSH in the water'<br /> Dead Eye

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

I wondered if the slides wouldn't end up damaging the hull. Bunks are relatively wide to disperse the weight of the hull. The slides are narrow so the weight of the hull is focused on much less area. <br /><br />Anyone have damage or the same concerns?

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

The glides that I put on the bunks of my trailer are "U" shaped and fit over the bunks and are fastened to the bunks from the sides. The weight is evenly distributed and there is no chance of causing any damage. They work extremely well.

 

[woodduck17]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

That was one of my original concerns. Some of the ones I was looking at were 3" wide but that still worries me. Like I said it is an aluminum boat with rivets so I want to keep the weight distributed across the boards. I haven't seen the ones that cover the whole board and wraps around. I would appreciate a link to those.

 

[ladano]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

woodduck, check ebay, I've seen them quite a bit there.

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

How about these.<br /> http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=4431&categoryID=221

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: Glide strips for bunk boards

I didn't know you could get the slides as wide as the bunks. I saw some at a store recently that were only about an inch wide - almost like the slides on a snowmobile track.<br /><br />In that case - sounds like a great solution.