Big Cruisers - Roller or Bunk?

[Thalasso]

Re: Big Cruisers - Roller or Bunk?

that's the best advice so far. Even though people do it, regularly launching and retreiving a boat that big is a lot of work, expense and danger. You will use the boat a whole lot more if you don't have to go through that drill each time. plus you get to hang out on it (that's what the cruiser owners around here do most of it seems!) if not a place that will launch for you--maybe even by slings.

Boy isn't this the truth. If i had to trailer mine i would be thinking,do i really need to go that bad. I wet slip mine 6 months out of the year and trailer to put in storage.

 

[Quit It]

Re: Big Cruisers - Roller or Bunk?

Interesting opinions. I'm surprised there's no definitive. Rollers seem like a better solution so you don't have to dunk. Adding the slick strip to a bunk would help though. I just don't want to spend $3-5K and watch it rust out in 3 years.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Big Cruisers - Roller or Bunk?

I'm guessing that with a 30' boat, roller or bunk, you are dunking. Have you not launched her yet?

At this point you need to talk to someone who has a 30' boat with rollers, and more important, who has tried not dunking , and one with bunks. If you aren't dunking you will have to have a power winch. A big one.

And except for a steel trailer, neither will rust out in 3-5 years. Certain parts may fail after a while depending on how often and conditions, and flushing (I can hose mine right on the ramp, before it dries. I think that's important).

Where are you located?

Have you done this before, or are you assuming that you will be OK trailering and launch/retreiving a boat that big, every trip? Got storage? For many people that is not practical.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Big Cruisers - Roller or Bunk?

I can't speak to which is better for a 30' boat mainly b/c I think they belong in the water or in storage on the hard, and are not "trailer boats.".

I whole heartedly agree yet being where I am located I see many very large boats (25+') being pulled down the hi-ways and interstate. I know I would never do it. Same as the 30+' travel trailers I pass every now and then. Love camping but wouldn't pull one of those all over the state either.

I have been to most the harbors between Chicago and Green Bay. Lots of very nice exspensive yatchs along that shore and though they are very nice it's not my cup-o-tea! If and when I feel the need to fish Lake Michigan I pay the charter captain. Besides he knows where the fish are.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Big Cruisers - Roller or Bunk?

If it were me and the bunk trailers are working fine for the location you are going to I would go with that. If you go to different locations where the ramp angle is not the same it could possibly cause problems. I have seen more bunk trailers for boats in the 30' size around here and they work well.

 

[bgc]

Re: Big Cruisers - Roller or Bunk?

So whos gonna be holdin the lines when she rolls off the trailer into the water? There is a great youtube video of a big cruiser rollin off the trailer onto the steep ramp bout 30' from the water....... right onto the drive....