What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

[Cool_Hand_Lew]

The trailer I got with my 1995 Four Winns Fling collapsed on the way home becuse of rust. I have a 1972 galvanized trailer for a larger boat that has been sitting in my yard the last 7 years. I plan to put my Fling on the trailer but it looks like the carpet and wood on the bunks are bad.<br /><br />What kind of carpet should I use on the bunks?<br />Could I use some house carpet scraps?<br /><br />What kind of wood should I use for the bunks?<br />Would treated 2x4s work?<br /><br />The Fling is designed to sit on the bunks not the rollers. A man I called at the Four Winns factory said the sides of Flings are stronger than the bottom because the fuel tank is on the bottom.

 

[RatFish]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

I used pressure treated 2x4's from Home Depot and marine bunk carpet purchased from Boaters World. That was 2 years ago. So far so good.<br /><br />By the way, I think pressure treated (CCA) wood cannot be sold as of 01/01/04. Not sure what it was replaced with but the wood mills have known this was coming for a while. I'm sure they probably still call it pressure treated wood. They probably just changed the chemicals in the preservative.

 

[roscoe]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

Most pressure treated wood manufacturers stopped producing the CCA (arsenic) treated wood a couple years ago, as soon as the ground water contamination issues and backyard play gym concerns came to light. <br /><br />The spector of huge lawsuit awards got them to switch in a hurry.<br /><br />One treatment plant near me, erected billboards advertising that they do not use CCA.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

How big is the boat?<br /><br />If I were going to build a bunk trailer, I would copy the pattern like you find on many of the aluminum bunk trailers today. (Like the Magic Trail or Performance trailers have)<br /><br />

<br /><br />These are cypress bunks and I think they measure 4X12 and as long as you need them. I have a trailer like this and it is great. You will need some sort of bow keel support, either a roller or guide plate like this trailer has.<br />

<br /><br />I agree with the marine bunk carpet from Boaters World. It is the same stuff they put on the production trailers. I think you will be very happy with your trailer if you build it on this design.<br /><br />Knightgang

 

[SS182]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

Cool_Hand,<br /><br />We did this project at the end of the boating season last year. Replace the lag screws with galvinized if they are not already. Make sure you staple the carpet on the bottom side as to not scratch your boat and use stainless steel staples. We used pressure treated wood with no problems. Use the bunk carpet - the backing is padded and resits rot. Be sure and take a look at the tires, springs, bearings, etc. of the trailer that has been sitting... Good luck<br /><br />SS182

 

[Arnold96]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

Treated lumber should be fine, but you might want 4x4's instead of 2x4's. In place of the carpet, I would install the trailer "slicks" made of nylon. It will load and unload a lot easier and they are much easier to install than carpet. They also don't hold water next to the hull. Try to position the slicks directly under the stringers if possible, but not a big deal if you use the continuose ones.

 

[Cool_Hand_Lew]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

Thanks for the help youall and thanks for the pictures Knightgang. The boat is 14 feet long, the beam is 6 feet, and it weighs 1050 pounds with no fuel.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

I would use synthetic wood with no carpet.It will be strong and slide well and wont hold water.Home depot carries them.Charlie

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

Might consider these, too...<br /><br /> ultimatebunkboards.com

 

[Cool_Hand_Lew]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

Charlie, do you know what they call the synthetic wood at Home Depot that can be used for bunks? Is it like a replacement for regular 2 by 4s one would build something with?

 

[pra51]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

That is what I used when I redid my bunks.I went to home depot got the plastic wood stuff.Covered it with glue,(for outside carpet) rolled carpet around it,used a power staplier and staplied carpet down.You can get marine grade carpet and the glue at Home Depot also.Mine has worked great.Sure don't have to worry about wood rotting.My bunks are 9 feet long on the inside ones and 5 feet on the outside ones.My boat weights about 2400 lbs.I don't have any sag or anything in my bunks.Of course the way I see it,it will depend on how your bunks are supported and attached.

 

[crab bait]

Re: What kind of Carpet & Wood Should I Use On Bunks

i like a good berber carpet myself,, with stainmaster plus..in a opaque cream..but diffinately nothin' to contrasty in color .. an somethin' that can be vaccumed easily. be careful of red wine an blood stains.. <br />oh silly me,,, thats what the stain master is for..