What are my best options for covering bunks?

[gjmsd]

I just replaced the bunks on my trailer with PT wood and need to cover them. I'm wondering about what my best options are. I have some indoor/outdoor carpet left over from redoing the interior of the boat and even some heavier carpet left over from my house. Are either of these a reasonable choice? Are there any options better than carpet such as wear strips or plastic guides.

 

[tomstehr]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

I dont have a lot of experience with bunks for trailers, however I did some remodeling and worked for a disaster recovery company. Using carpeting for your house is a very bad idea as getting it wet causes delamination and it will start falling apart. I would think the indoor/ outdoor would last a while longer though. iBoats sells bunk carpet and it is fairly inexpensive. Hopefully, this at least eliminates one of your choices! I am intrested to see how things turn out and what other suggestions come up as I plan to replace my bunks soon also. Thats how I knew the materials were on sale here!

 

[mrdancer]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

If you have a fiberglass boat, use regular bunk carpet - your indoor/outdoor carpet may work, but you would need to investigate it more.

If you have an aluminum boat, avoid carpet altogether (leads to corrosion) and use the plastic strips.

 

[stevenw00]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

Can you tell me more about these plastic strips? I see http://www.iboats.com/Tie-Down-Engineering-Bunk-Glide-Ons/dm/*******.992245422--session_id.194772821--view_id.40440 at iboats, is this what you're talking about? My 28 yr old aluminum boat has had no issues from the carpeted bunks, but one of the bunks broke this weekend (lost the hardware somehow, I've still got to investigate) so I'm looking into redoing all of my bunks.

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

My Dad &i replaced the bunks for is aluminum boat. We used indoor/outdoor carpet. It's been working great now for 25 year. We've never had a issue yet. Most bunk boards carpet is indoor/outdoor.

 

[lakelover]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

Here's what I did. It doesn't look too fancy but it's functional, cheap & quick and lasts quite a while (many years). Never any trouble doing it this way.

I used 3' wide black ribbed carpet runner from Home Depot that sells by the foot, cut it to size and attached to the PT bunks using galvanized roofing nails. One of my aluminum boats has sat on this setup for 9 months out of the year since 2004 and no issues from the PT under the carpet. It has rubber backing.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

indoor/outdoor is noce and slippery but teflon pads are better (we put them on top of the I/O carpet)

 

[mrdancer]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

Regarding the corrosion issues, this occurs mostly with aluminum boats and the newer PT wood (more corrosive than the old PT wood) when used in saltwater environments. The carpet retains the saltwater, which reacts with the newer PT wood and causes accelerated corrosion with aluminum boats. You may not have issues if your PT bunks are older or you boat in freshwater.

The only experience I have with the plastic strips are the ones from www.surfixinc.com and they seem to work well.

If you are handy with tools, you can get 4'x8' sheets of plastic cutting board material (approx. $200 per half-inch thickness) and build your own. Remember to countersink the bolt heads.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

indoor/outdoor is noce and slippery but teflon pads are better (we put them on top of the I/O carpet)

Going to do mine this summer but i am going to strip the old carpet off and put the slicks on bare wood.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

My friend do not complicate your life, as Mr Dancer said use regular bunk carpet, you can buy at Walmart Seasense Bunk Carpet, its cheap and last for years.

 

[Chas0218]

Re: What are my best options for covering bunks?

I just replaced the bunks on my trailer with PT wood and need to cover them. I'm wondering about what my best options are. I have some indoor/outdoor carpet left over from redoing the interior of the boat and even some heavier carpet left over from my house. Are either of these a reasonable choice? Are there any options better than carpet such as wear strips or plastic guides.

I have used indoor/outdoor carpet on my bunks for the past 3 years without any issues. No delamination, or wear on my boat. Go for it and don't look back. Just make sure it is a low knapp (non shag stlye) carpet.