Replacing wood

[Lawnpro979]

after the purchase of my new boat.10 yrs old..... I noticed the wood on the trailer is rotten.....

not sure what ya call those runners..... But was wondering whats the best way to replace them.....was thinking about jacking up the boat pulling out the old using the covering for the new runners and slipping them back in....... the lake is about 30 miles from my place...... is it better to put boat in water then replacing them ?


thx

 

[MTboatguy]

If you have the ability to lift it and block it, it works to replace them at home, it is not normally a very complicated process. Now in my earlier days, I have been known to head for the water, unload the boat, turn it over to the wife and kids and replace springs and bunks in the parking lot of the local boat launch! What ever works out for your situation is the best way to go. One thing if you do it in the parking lot at the ramp, make sure you have every single tool you need, make sure you have penetrating oil, make sure you have extra bolts, washers and nuts, because I can tell you from experience, if it can go wrong, it will go wrong.

 

[Lawnpro979]

yea, it looks like there 2 x 6 I'm thinking to jack it up with 2x4's but i'll be working in Grass. after removing the old ones it should be an easy fix. remove the covering "it looks Good" then staple it to the new wood, drill some pilot holes and reinstall...... if taking to lake, like you. I need to be prepared for something to go wrong.... looks like the back yard method may be better for me....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Two suggestions from years of experience....

First..... Don't reuse the carpet... It's cheap and just not worth it...
Second.... Get the boat off the trailer.... So much easier to work on it that way... You don't need a lake tho, your yard will work just fine.

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/gener...d-in-5-minutes

 

[Lawnpro979]

ok....the carpet, what type is it? is it an astro turf or some type of water repealing type ? it not a home depot thing is it ?

 

[MTboatguy]

Any outdoor carpeting will work, it will need to be replaced every few years, but that stuff is really inexpensive. I normally get 3-4 years out of the carpet I get at Home Depot, but you should be able to get carpet at virtually any upper end hardware, homestore, etc. It is really pretty easy to find, but for gods sake, don't use your old carpet for anything other than a pattern.

 

[Lawnpro979]

upon further research....it looks like some say the marine carpet from lowes is just fine.others say NO..... Looks like I could get the wood.cover it. then take boat to lake and install the runs......Anyone have any experience with the carpet from lowes? Home Depot ?

 

[MTboatguy]

I have been buying my carpet from Home Depot for over 15 years now, for the price, I have nothing to complain about, you are not going to find anything that lasts forever and you just need to plan and understand it will be an ongoing part of what you have to do every few years. Bunks get wet, they get scuffed, they get beat up, just part of the maintenance of owning a boat. Being a boat owner for many years now, believe me, the carpet on your bunks are going to be the least of your worries... We are only talking about maybe at the most $20 bucks worth of carpet and probably less on the cost of wood. Don't over think it, get it fixed and get out on the water. Hell we used to use old pieces of shag carpet on our bunks.

 

[smokeonthewater]

I buy my carpet from ebay already cut into a long strip... Costs a little more maybe but oh so convenient.

 

[Lawnpro979]

Got it, Thx Guys. Will do this week and post pics.......

 

[JASinIL2006]

I did my bunks last year. I blocked up the boat, but if I had a some place nearby, I'd launch the boat and replace the bunks while the boat is floating. Would have been faster and easier. If you have your bunks already cut and covered, all you'll have to do is drill the holes and screw in the lag bolts. (If you're using some sort of through-the-wood fastener, like carriage bolts, you'll probably want to drill your holes before covering the bunks.)

Covering the bunks goes a LOT faster if you have a pneumatic stapler. Use stainless steel or monel staples (don't use monel if the wood is pressure treated) and wrap the wood like you're gift-wrapping a present. Most people leave a gap on the underside to allow air to dry the bunks.

I also used plain old exterior carpet from Lowe's. The hardest part was measuring and cutting it, and that wasn't that difficult. It also was a lot cheaper than ordering pre-cut 'bunk' carpet and I had a wider selection of colors, etc.

Good luck!

 

[Maclin]

There are pre-made bunks from many places, like etrailer, Cab_elas, BassPrpo, etc. I did not see any on iboats.com so I misspelled and mentioned these outlets A pair of 6 footers seem to be about $40-$45. I do not have any experience with these, I looked into them for my larger boat but no one had any listed long enough for even my shortest run I took mine to the lake and replaced them with the boat off the trailer. I did all the fab work there. In July. In Texas.

 

[gm280]

Lots of interesting ideas provide here. I like to use carriage type bolts in stainless steel. However, you do have to counter drill the heads below the surface or the bolt heads will wear through the carpet quickly. But to stop that from happening, counter bore them and then epoxy them in and level the epoxy with the surface. Then apply the carpet and they will never wear through. And then you simple use either a flat and lock washers and nut or a lock nut and flat washer when installing them on the trailer. Works for me... You can see how my refurbished trailer came out using this method... :thumb:

 

[bruceb58]

Or use lag bolts from the bottom.

Lots of bunk carpet on eBay. That is where I bought mine. The place where I bought mine from was selling certain colors for half off their normal prices. I trim my carpet flush with the bottom side.

 

[smokeonthewater]

you DID click on the link I posted above didn't you?

 

[Scott Danforth]

My last bunk trailer I replaced the bunks in about 30 minutes in the parking lot at the boat ramp.had the wood pre-cut and drilled, had the carpet pre-cut. A few lag bolts, a bunch of monel staples, a few roofing nails for the ends and a few cans of liquid work enhancer. Boat was tied on back side of launch doc out of everyone's way during high tide

 

[Bonus Check]

Just replaced my carpet on my bunks during memorial Day weekend. Launched the boat at the river and took the bunks off in the parking lot. Had a cabin rented and used the table at the cabin to install about 550 Stainless Steel staples with an electric stapler. I bought my carpet at Bass Pro for $0.98 per foot of 12" wide marine carpeting. I used 32 feet to recover my 4 bunks. The electric stapler was really handy as I could not have done it manually for 550 staples. Used new Lag screws from the bottom. Carriage bolts are to much trouble to countersink and glue in and then what if the glue turns lose when trying to unbolt it later on?

I reused my lumber as there was nothing wrong with it. The carpet was just thin in spots.

 

[Redfred1]

My bunk replacement went fairly fast. Pre made the bunks. Cut some Vees in two 2X4s. Used two bottle jacks to raise the boa. Sawsall took care of the bolts; used lag screws. Was cooler in garage; and refrig was closer.

 

[redneck joe]

everything you will need is here

http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac..._category.f--searched.1--session_id.490252578


I use these instead of carpet

http://www.iboats.com/Tie-Down-Modu...0742324--session_id.490252578--view_id.484002

 

[DALOW]

I replace my bunks on a 27' Chris craft Commander trailer. Used presure treated boards glued and carriage bolted together. That was 8 years ago. NO problem since. I tried to reuse the existing SS bolts but they wouldn't come apart without breaking. Had to get new ones.