Proper Bunk Positioning

[minuteman62-64]

I want to do some fine tuning on my trailer to improve launching ease. When I redid the bunks I just put them back in the same positions as the old ones. Now, taking a closer look, I notice they (two bunks) are not even aligned with each other.

The boat is flat bottomed aft and the bunks are about 5 ft. long 2x4's oriented with the 3 1/2" sides vertical.

Should the bunks be parallel to the trailer frame or angled downward towards the rear of the trailer (right now one is pretty close to parallel and one is angled slightly downward to the rear of the trailer)?

The boat bottom (it's aluminum) has reinforcing extrusions running fore and aft. The only way to have the bunks clear of the extrusions when the boat is centered on the trailer is to angle the mounting brackets slightly, either towards the center of the trailer or away from the center of the trailer. Is this a problem?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Proper Bunk Positioning

Should the bunks be parallel to the trailer frame or angled downward towards the rear of the trailer (right now one is pretty close to parallel and one is angled slightly downward to the rear of the trailer)?

Ayuh,... They should be aligned with the hull's bottom, where ever, 'n how ever works best for you, 'n the hull's bottom...

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Proper Bunk Positioning

Actually, with the configuration of my boat/trailer, the eitire aft portion sits on the bunks. The only part of the boat supported by a roller is the bow (the boat is only 15'-6" long).

So, the bunks end up aligned with the boat's bottom no matter what angle they are set.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Proper Bunk Positioning

Maybe another way of stating my question is to ask advice on the angle that I should have between the flat, aft part of my hull bottom and the trailer frame. Parallel? Sloped to the rear?

I single hand the boat most of the time and want to have it set up for easiest launching and retreival (preferably without gettng wet).