Treated Lumber for Bunk Boards

[ChadSH]

All the threads and replies that I saw are old and outdated, so I did some research. Lowes Severe Weather Treated Lumber is non metallic and compatible with Aluminum. I just used this lumber for my bunks.

Severe Weather 2-in x 4-in x 16-ft #2 Prime Pressure Treated Lumber​

Item #468933Model #2416P

• #2 prime southern yellow pine with virtually no wane
• Severe Weather Above Ground pressure treated exterior wood protected by Ecolife (EL2); a stabilizing formula that repels water keeps boards straighter and looking better longer
• Ecolife (EL2) provides built-in water repellency that lasts for up to 3 years and reduces surface cracking and checking by up to 50% compared to ordinary treated wood

https://www.treatedwood.com/products/ecolife/

• No need to seal for up to three years due to built-in water repellency
• Significantly minimizes cracking, checking and splitting by up to 50%
• Keeps boards straighter for long-term beauty
• Less corrosive to fasteners and compatible with aluminum products
• Lifetime Limited Warranty* protects the long-term performance of your project

 

[jbcurt00]

This is sort of like the telephone game. Starts out accurate, but after a couple re-tellings some details are lost.

There is more then 1 variety of Pressure Treating that is less corrosive, or as your example, aluminum compatible.
Unfortunately the vast majority of PT lumber available at box stores and run of the mill lumber yards, the stuff IS corrosive and isnt compatible w aluminum. The stuff you used isnt available at my local Lowes.

For wet bunks w carpet, I would probably shy away from what you used too. On bunks w sliders instead of carpet, maybe.

Simply put, its best to avoid PT w aluminum boats unless you independently verify its aluminum safe like you did. But I'd still avoid it all on an aluminum boat where its in very close contact or in direct contact w aluminum, even if its sealed and the aluminum is painted.

Never go wrong avoiding it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would have used cypress on an aluminum boat

 

[JASinIL2006]

“Less corrosive” wouldn’t be good enough for me, if my aluminum hull was sitting on those bunks 24/7. I would want ‘non-corrosive’.

 

[ChadSH]

This is sort of like the telephone game. Starts out accurate, but after a couple re-tellings some details are lost.

There is more then 1 variety of Pressure Treating that is less corrosive, or as your example, aluminum compatible.
Unfortunately the vast majority of PT lumber available at box stores and run of the mill lumber yards, the stuff IS corrosive and isnt compatible w aluminum. The stuff you used isnt available at my local Lowes.

For wet bunks w carpet, I would probably shy away from what you used too. On bunks w sliders instead of carpet, maybe.

Simply put, its best to avoid PT w aluminum boats unless you independently verify its aluminum safe like you did. But I'd still avoid it all on an aluminum boat where its in very close contact or in direct contact w aluminum, even if its sealed and the aluminum is painted.

Never go wrong avoiding it.

Mine are for a Pontoon and I wrapped with Caliber Bunk Wrap, so hopefully with it being "Compatible with Aluminum" and the plastic bunk wrap, I will be ok. But trying to figure out what to get, where to get, etc. Is very time consuming and frustrating. For me, it was either this or plain old untreated pine. My Local Boat Shop, Berkely Outdoors told me all they ever use it treated wood. I'm having a pontoon log replaced due to a wreck, so I built new bunks to have them put on when they lift the boat to replace the toon. Thanks for the input! I was just hoping to refresh the conversation and help someone else (probably many) that are without a doubt going to have the same issue. I didn't have access to Marine Grade or Cedar. I also used stainless screws so hopefully it works with those as well.

 

[LundAngler1650]

Have you ever considered synthetic sundeck boards?
On my old trailer I used the plastic planks that most use on decks. Please note they are thinner than regular lumber, so if the hull of your boat just clears the cradle now, it would hit it then, you could also go two thick if needed. My aluminum boat slid on and off fine. When my current trailer needs new bunks, I'll be doing the same thing again.

 

[demarko210]

Never updated the boards on my trailer but considered doing it on my last boat. Would using A/B plywood stacked to the size of the 2 x 4 and wrapping it chop strand mat or 1708 be too much for this?