Bunks....explanation on how they work

Kiwi Phil

Kiwi Phil

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Jun 23, 2003
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I am familiar with the trailer for your MacGregor 26' Trailer Sailer.

The bunks go sideways, and you float the boat off and on the trailer.
The winch rope is probably only 6' long, so there is no way you can winch the boat the length of the trailer.

I am now doing my homework on 24' Express Cruisers and i need explained to me how you load and unload them on to your trailers with bunks.

I am talking about a boat around 5,250lb (2,380kg)

I do understand the bunks on these trailers run length-ways.
Is the axel "dropped" lower to keep the bunks low?
Do you float the boat off and on the trailer?
If you have to use the winch, does the boat slide over the bunks easily?

In Australia you see people wading out to connect the winch line to the boat, then winching the boat the length of the trailer over rollers.
I want to avoid getting wet
I want to do it quickly and with the least possible effort.

I always have difficulty in driving the MacGregor on to the trailer "straight", but i find the goal posts at the rear of the trailer straighten me up, and because i am floating above the trailer, the bow never seems to hit the submerged wheel guards.

If you loaded a 24' Express Cruiser, and you can't get it straight on to the trailer, do you do what I do with the MacGregor, or is there some other trick I should know about?
or a gadget i should have on my trailer to straighten me up?

I have always found this going backward and forward time after time trying to get straight a reciepe for disaster.....Anita starts raising her voice (she calls it helpful instructions)....I suggest she keep quiet (well, not quite like that)....she calmly tells me not to talk that way (errrrr! sort of)...and things just progress downhill from there............
I'm a one shot man!!.....that way I avoid 24hrs of agro.

Any help greatfully appreciated.
Cheers
Phillip
 
Dunaruna

Dunaruna

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May 2, 2003
Messages
6,027
Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

Phil, driving onto a trailer ranges from easy to very difficult, depending on the bunk setup and the all to critical cross winds (and current flow). There is a bit of an art form to driving a boat onto the trailer but the learning curve could produce a few bumps and scraps.

You could try one of these (the blue thing at the back), it called a retriever, it is spring loaded and centralises the boat automatically. I don't think they are available in the U.S.

P1010192.jpg
 
Kiwi Phil

Kiwi Phil

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Jun 23, 2003
Messages
2,182
Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

Dunnarun....you know me well enough to not be offended by this comment....

"lets sit tight on this subject and see what we can learn from our American friends before we cloud the waters with our 'systems' ".

I say this because after finding an old video in one of the boats I imported, on launching-retireving trailer boats, MacGregors, i have come to the conclusion the Americans use design engineers who take a different approach to ours.
It is their solutions i want to learn about.

Of maybe 50 odd people I have had come and look at my American MacGregor boats, not one realised you could float a boat off and on to a bunk trailer without getting your feet wet.

I was actually going to ring you when I had all my facts to discuss how to approach/apply it down-under.
I have also clicked on to something else, which may work, depending on the info I get back on my original post, and advice I get from you.

So to all the Americans here, please give me your thoughts, experience and advise on this topic.

Cheers
Phillip
 
NSBCraig

NSBCraig

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Aug 21, 2007
Messages
1,907
Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

It's all about how deep you back the trailer in.

I've loaded a bunch of different boats on bunk trailers and never really had a problem.

Mine is only 16' so I just float it from the dock up the trailer till it stops then winch the last 2-3 feet never been a problem.

My brother has a 41' Velocity (offshore race style boat) when he took delivery of it Kenny from Velocity just drove on and off the trailer but my brother likes it floated all the way on.

What does your trailer look like?

Do you have keel rollers or keel bunks?
 
redfury

redfury

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Jul 16, 2006
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Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

Those blue rollers are awesome!
 
tashasdaddy

tashasdaddy

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Messages
51,019
Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

i have 2 of them on all my trailers. with guide on. i idle right up to the winch post. reach over bow, connect strap. and pull it out.
 
redfury

redfury

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Jul 16, 2006
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Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

Where'd you get them? I'd be interested in something like that, though I don't know if it would work with my trihull.....
 
tommays

tommays

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Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

On Long Island all the ramps are cement with enough length and depth to float off boats up to 40 go fasts :D


PA081802.JPG


My trailer has guide ones and is held centered buy the carpeted wood blocks that are part of the fenders

We only have one tidal launch area were the water moves fast enough (2 to 3 MPH) to to make it REALLY difficult to launch


They make float on trailers to launch sailboats up to 4' draft at TRIAD in Ct

index.php
 
Kiwi Phil

Kiwi Phil

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Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
2,182
Re: Bunks....explanation on how they work

This is the type of trailer they would sell me down here.
I can have keel rollers if I wish.
I have spent some time watching up to 21' boats being loaded on them, and some can drive up and on to them, most seems to get part way then have to winch the rest, while having to give the occasional sideways shove to keep them centre.
It all looks like too much effort for me....hence my original questions about floating off-on bunks.

http://www.mackaytrailers.com/PUDouble.html

or home page
http://www.mackaytrailers.com/?gclid=CPHrvLqem5QCFSY1agodeTz7tw

Cheers
Phillip
 
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