What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

[wuzafed]

I have a 20' Sunbird and trailer it on an EZ Loader. When the tide is out a bit too far it is hard to get the boat started moving off the trailer when putting her in. Other then waiting for the tide any suggestions? The ramp is a bit short! Thanks

 

[dhammann]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Armorall

 

[roscoe]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

WD-40, make sure it dries well before putting it in the water.

 

[Gone Again]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Spray silicone works very well. Let it dry on the bunks before reloading the boat if possible. Lasts a long time. There is also a product just for this purpose. It's called Liquid Rollers. Don't know much about it, but I'd bet pretty much just silicone.

 

[Scoop]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Welcome to the board Gone again. Red granite is a nice place. Sometimes, I come up there to go swimming in the quarry. Awesome place to swim when it's hot. I've seen some bluegills in there. Ever do any fishing in there?

 

[roscoe]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Redgranite, Is there still a prop shop there?<br />Lutz prop service? Still in business?

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Pledge furniture polish is what I use.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Cabelas has a product that looks to me to be the best answer for your problem. They call it "TRAILER GLIDE SLIKS" it is on page 83 in their marine 2003, possibly iboats.com also has a like item, which would be much better than the lubricant sprays.

 

[Gone Again]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Scoop and Roscoe<br />Prop shop still going strong. Bob does lots of work for Mercury. See their truck there alot. The quarry also has some big cats, but I spend my time chasing walleyes is the Winnebago chain.

 

[Ross J]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Good ole vasaline. It never fails me. For the past six years I've used this and never failed to get it off the trailor. Once the boat is in the water and you've returned the trailor to the carpark just reach in and grab the vasaline jar and smear a bit on the bunks. Each time I pull the boat out of the water I praise this product.<br />Ross

 

[neumanns]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Have you tried "snail snot" I hear thats pretty slick. There are a couple other natural products we will not mention here like Owl ****, etc.<br /><br />All the recomondations I have heard are already listed, and then some.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

I am not knocking your methods, but just wondering if it is ok to lubricate the bunks?? I have always if I had a problem unloading, I just backed a little farther into the water. And when loading, just power the boat up on the trailer. If the boat will slip easy on/off the trailer, it will be apt to slide from side to side on the highway.

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Lakeman1999, I am glad you posted that, I was wondering the same thing myself. I have a big tritoon, and only one strap on the front. I also just back my trailer back far enough to get the carpet wet, pull back up into position, and I have to load under power, (Gently power, actually<br />almost idle on till bump) my strap will not pull my rig on! With the carpet wet, it slips on. I guess the weight keeps it all on. I believe I'd worry about (my perticular setup) slipping (During Trailering) if it was lubricated. <br /><br />It really came (NEW) with no side or back straps, when I asked about it, the dealer kindly laughed and told me, not to worry, it was not going anywhere, that it's weight would hold it in place. Add a little lube, and I'm not to sure! It's at least, a good point for you to bring up.<br /><br />Just one of GodsBeast's

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

I have never ever used the winch to pull the boat onto the trailer, just to snug it up and tighten the strap, to hold it there. Maybe that is why so many are looking for larger stronger straps. I would not want to put the stress on the eyebolt, through my front upper portion of the keel (if you have ever built a homebuilt boat, which I have built several, the keel goes from the transom, to the top-frontmost part of the craft) that it would take to pull the craft on the trailer. The keel is the backbone of the boat, you break the keel, and its like breaking your back. Rather than pulling the boat onto the trailer with the strap, the trailer should be backed into the water to where all it takes is a little push to get it off, and then a little power to get it on. By the way, for you trivia addicts, by the navy's defination, any craft that can be put on the deck of another craft is a boat, if it cannot, it is a ship. And there are some pretty good sized craft that can be put aboard, or inside another ship.

 

[roscoe]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Obviously, some of you have never used a natural or unimproved launch. The kind that is all gravel, and the water depth at the back of the trailer is only 18", even with the truck tires in the water. I've already had to lift the bow up to the trailer height.

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Your right Roscoe, Not only have I never used unimproved launch sites, I have less than 10 launches, and loadings all together. With what I paid for this rig, and as big as it is, it will be a long time before I have enough experience, or the "Go-nads" to try it. <br /><br />I will say, if I was in a tight spot, w/trouble<br />and had to load it someplace like your describing, I'd coat the carpet with whatever it took to load, but I'd confess the whole ride home you couldn't drive a tookpick up my rear orifice with a sledge hammer . <br /><br />I realize that we are talking about two different styles of boats and understand that what your doing is completely safe. I'm just reading (Learning) and was thinking out loud.<br /><br />I was picturing myself saying "Yes sir, Trooper, the strap broke and it just slid right off the trailer and caused this interstate pile-up....What?....Well I got this bright idea from the guys on Iboats.com they said to lube up the boards real good." <br /><br />This is good to know, but thought it was good of Lakeman1999 to point out that lubing may also cause a problem for some people (considering) their perticular setup. <br /><br />Just one of GodsBeast's

 

[roscoe]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

I've done the "glide slicks" deal. Its not till you open them and read the fine print, that it says "not for aluminum boats."<br /><br />WD-40, in 1 gallon jug, $12. Put it in an old shampoo bottle and apply.<br /><br />My boat is held on by the winch, 2 transom straps, a bow tiedown, a safety chain, and if the cover is on the boat, i use another strap over the gunwales. So it ain't moving.

 

[boater4life]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Lakeman1999, right-on! I wouldn't suggest lubing any bunks. For larger boats your bunks are the only thing holding a hull to the trailer. If your boat starts to launch before hitting the water, the strap isn't going to hold.<br /><br /> http://www.greatlakestrailers.com/ <br /><br />

 

[wuzafed]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

Thanks for all the discussion about greasing the bunks. In my case I only have a 20' Sunbird and the wench strap will keep her on the trailer, while on the ramp. The ramp has a pretty good angle to it but when the tide is out a bit too far and I cannot get the stern to float enough to get her moving, sometimes I have to give her push to get her moving. Since she is so heavy, for one old retired guy, I was just looking for any suggestions to help "get her started" sliding off. <br /> I've been hit from behind while trailering a boat and it wasn't pretty. Thank goodness we were pulling my buddy's rig with a puckup. The boat ended up in the bed of the truck. The impact broke both the wench strap and the safety chain. Now I always use transum tiedowns from the eyebolts on the transum to the trailer (to help hold the boat from coming foreward and a strap over the gunwhales along with the wench strap, safety cahin and an additional rope over the bow to the trailer (when taking the rig out into traffic or out on the interstate). <br /> Thanks for your thoughts

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: What can I greese the trailer's bunks with?

wuzafed,<br /><br />I boat in Charleston regularly; which ramp(s) do you use?