Pontoon 20’ long bunks

[newdles]

I recently tore off a bunk on my pontoon trailer and needing to replace it. The issue I have is it’s a single 20’ board on all 4 bunks and those are difficult to Find locally. So would a 12’ and an 8’ be sufficient to join together with metal mending brackets as I have a hydraulic press to sure the metal mending plates are pressed tightly into the wood. My plan would be to place the 12’ board toward the front with the 8’ in the rear so that the spot where the two boards are together isn’t in the front. Thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

order in 20 foot lengths from your local wood supplier.

galvanized metal brackets and your aluminum toon logs do not make a good combination if you introduce water.

additionally, the galvanized material will soon start to rust.

do not use pressure treated lumber

 

[newdles]

order in 20 foot lengths from your local wood supplier.

galvanized metal brackets and your aluminum toon logs do not make a good combination if you introduce water.

additionally, the galvanized material will soon start to rust.

do not use pressure treated lumber

Ok thank you sir. Just curious why not use pressure treated?

 

[roscoe]

Ok thank you sir. Just curious why not use pressure treated?

Chemicals in the pressure treated wood react with the aluminum and corrode it. Eventually there will be holes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ok thank you sir. Just curious why not use pressure treated?

because the salts and chemicals used to treat the lumber will attack the aluminum and you will have pits along the area where the toon logs sit on the bunks.

 

[ahicks]

I would do whatever is required to get the splice over one of the supports. Depending on the size of the support where it meets the wood, if it's on the small side, nothing to keep you from placing a plate (size to be determined by what you have handy, could even be angle material) between the support and your splice so you can easily maintain strength/gain area to fasten things together.

Agree, no treated. Your 'toons will thank you....

 

[jlh3rd]

not to hijack....just spent the day re-doing my pontoon trailer's bunks......that i just re-did last week.....yeah, 5 of the 8, 2x6x8 bunks were new PT........