guide posts or bunks

[93bronco]

with the new roller set up when the boat gets back to the water i definitley want to use either guide posts or bunks. the boat is a trophy 1802 W/A on an escort trailer. would like the best bang for the buck. all seem pretty well priced the same. so which ones hold up the best after time? thanx

 

[JB]

Re: guide posts or bunks

Ahoy, 2K.<br /><br />My trailer has keel rollers and stabilizing bunks for the bottom.<br /><br />To guide me on and keep my boat centered I have both posts with rollers and side bunks. An unbeatable combo. Sunshine III ends up dead center every time, wind and current don't matter.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Solittle]

Re: guide posts or bunks

I would suppose that you do some boating in salt water. Keep that in mind with any kind of roller arrangement as they will rust up - even with reasonable care.

 

[BillP]

Re: guide posts or bunks

What you need depends on how you launch and retrieve. If you sink the trailer and float the boat all the way up you need bunks to support and centering guides to line the boat up. If you drive or winch up the boat, rollers would be added. <br /><br />I normally center the bow and drive/winch up on the rollers. Two of my trailers (for outboard boats) have bunks, centering guides and rollers. The third trailer is full float on with bunks only(for pontoon boat). The pontoon trailer is the least user friendly. The ideal trailer to me is a full roller tilt such as Easy Loader sells...but it gets costly replacing all the rollers.<br /><br />I'm in salt water...to keep corrosion down I use motorcycle chain lube (spray foaming type) on the roller pins, springs, axles, hubs and hardware. The rollers go before the mounting hardware even begins to show rust. It penetrates like thin oil, sticks like grease and doesn't come off for dozens of launchings. I also spray the galvanized trailer frames once a year with CRC "Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor". It takes 4-5 cans per trailer but lasts a year and keeps the metal rust free. It has a very slight amber tint and is dry to the touch after a few minutes...great stuff.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: guide posts or bunks

What's worked well for me on a 17' deep-V is keel rollers with the boat guided on by side rollers. I winch my boat on and with this setup, can do it alone if I have to.

 

[93bronco]

Re: guide posts or bunks

i put on an escort 32 gimbal roller system. <actually they sent me 4 rear sections so i made out>.<br />only got them because previous owner used antifoulant on the bottom so it was cheaper to put it back on. didnt want the carpeted bunks wearing it off.<br />i like JB's idea of having them both <posts and bunks> but not the side rollers, my buddy has them for his keywest and they have actually worn spots in the sides of the gel coat. but then not to down a keywest but i dont think their gel coat is all that durable.<br />i think his problem started before he owned it and i talked him into moving them out an inch on each side.<br />bill p- i like the crc and after a visit to the car wash, when it gets home i respray the rollers.<br />one good thing about the area we have called 'bushey park' is one side is fresh & the other is river salt. so after i get done with the salt we load up and flush in the fresh across the street. cant get any better than that.<br />- <br />so im going to assume that it doesnt matter which brand i get just as long as both are galvanized for added protection against salt.

 

[Link]

Re: guide posts or bunks

2K BOAT <br />I think your question was to use either side guide posts or side bunks on your roller trailer. I use side bunks. After I had the boat centered and where I wanted it. I set them up with only a 1/2 inch clearance on each side. I always back off and drive on the trailer. I couldn't get it on the trailer crooked or off center if I tried. And in strong currents all you have to do is get the bow started and go on up. Fast easy and I don't tie up the boat ramp. Works well with winching also. Also with either you can mount your trailer lights high enough on them so that they NEVER hit the water! When launching or loading you back down to where the lights are (in my case) about 6-8 inches above the water and your set! Havent had a burned out bulb or replaced the lights in 10 years..<br />Now watch after writing all this...next time out not only will I manage to get it on sideways but tearup the trailer lights too <br /><br />Link

 

[BillP]

Re: guide posts or bunks

Let me clairfy my earlier post...my guides are posts that stick up about 5' high on each side at the very back of the trailer(this sounds like what Linkjackman is calling bunks). They have to be high so the hull doesn't ride under the gunnel when the trailer is dunked. Lights and tag can be mounted on top of them and will not get wet. I had the lights up there but didn't like having them exposed at the public ramps. Some dirtbags kept stealing my lenses and bulbs at a secluded ramp when I was parked for several nights. Now I clip them on the back cleats and rotate one set of lights for several trailers.

 

[Link]

Re: guide posts or bunks

Hey BillP <br />It was me that wasn't clear on the subject.<br />You had covered guide posts very well. So I was addressing guide bunks. Which I like better for my boating. Both do about the same thing. A word of advise for people buying side bunks.. after about five years I noticed the bunks were loose. The lag bolts they supplied were not stainless steel and the 2X4 under the carpet were not treated so when the bolts rusted they rotted out the 2X4's. A trip to the local hardware store provided me with the treated 2X4s and SS lag bolts and on the way home Boaters world had the carpet to cover them and the SS srews to secure the carpet<br />BillP : your tips on trailer maintaince were great! I copied and pasted into email and sent your tips to all my friends! And kept a copy for myself!<br />Happy Boating <br />Link

 

[buttonhook]

Re: guide posts or bunks

I put side BUNKS on my trailer and took off the posts best thing I ever did now I never have any problems loading goes on strait everytime!!

 

[93bronco]

Re: guide posts or bunks

thanx, im just trying to make sure i get the most out of what i paid for. i really like the bunks, but have seen the posts work very well.