K1500 Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 It’s time for me to replace the 4 bunks on the trailer of my 20’ aluminum bass/bay boat. The factory boards are sagging and cracked, and look to be made of low quality lumber. The bunks have a ribbed plastic cover as opposed to the usual carpet. The covers on the factory bunks are definitely not the hdpe sliders, as there is some friction between the boat and the boards. The factory bunk covers look to be in good shape (5 years old). I could: 1. Replace the 2x4 bunks with new wood and recover with the original covers (cheapest option). 2. Replace the 2x4 bunks with now wood and cover with something new. Looking for advice on what covers to use. 3. Replace the bunks with some non-wood alternative. Haven’t done a lot of research but this looks to be the most expensive option. I am looking for advice on a) what material to cover the new bunks with, b) what wood to use, and c) any other alternatives I should consider. I am leaning toward using 2x4 non-pressure treated for the replacement bunks. I don’t know what to cover them with. I would also consider non-wood recommendations, especially if they were a permanent solution. Thanks in advance for any and all advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted February 9 Super User Share Posted February 9 If replacing with non-treated, before adding carpet - 2 coats of oil based Spar Urethane - then put the carpet on. If you want the best non-wood application - Original Ultimate Bunk Boards 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Jig Man Posted February 9 Super User Share Posted February 9 I had mine professionally done last year. The shop used treated lumber and covered them with the same carpet that is in my boat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted February 9 Global Moderator Share Posted February 9 I use PT and carpet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User A-Jay Posted February 9 Super User Share Posted February 9 I use spit & glue ~ A-Jay 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Today's " treated" lumber is a joke, I wouldn't waste the money on it. Becarefull with treated around aluminum as it has been known to cause corrosion. How easy do you want your boat to slide off ? That will determine the covering on the bunks. On my trailer, I spent the money and went with roller bunks and won't live long enough to worry about replacements. Do your research....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted February 9 Super User Share Posted February 9 I've had to replace my bunk carpet on one side twice. The bunks themselves are fine. I inspected them both times. The ripping of the bunk carpet was my own fault. When I was loading the boat, I used to sit in the driver's seat and there was extra weight on that side when loading, which led to the bunk carpet eventually getting ripped. I fixed that problem by moving my weight closer to the center of the boat when loading. Another item to consider is to make sure you back in fully when loading the boat back up so that the entire bunks get wet. It really helps the boat slide better on to the trailer. If you intend to replace with bunk carpet, make sure you use stainless steel staples too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K1500 Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 Thanks to all who have contributed so far. In doing a bit more research, I believe that what I have in the bunks now is gatorbak (or something that looks just like it). If I go wood I was concerned that PT could interact with and corrode the aluminum, especially when water is added to the mix. I assume this is a valid concern? I need to go fishing so I can assess if the gatorbak is in good enough if condition to reuse. I’m leaning toward two options based on the feedback I’ve gotten. 1. Use non-pt wood and reuse the gatorbak. This would be the budget option for sure. 2. Use ultimate bunk boards. Based on the pricing, it looks like ultimate supreme boards would be roughly $600. Gatorbak replacement strips would be $300. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to buy new gatorbak when I still have to use failure prone wood. I would just go ultimate in that case. Reusing my existing gatorbak would make the job super inexpensive (but I’d probably be redoing it once again in 5 or 6 years). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted February 9 Global Moderator Share Posted February 9 My 1957 aluminum boat has been sitting on PT wood for…… 67 yrs now? I’ll let ya know if it ever reacts 😂 it’s never seen a garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GReb Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Cypress and carpet from the manufacturer. Two layers of carpet on the facing side. Use new hardware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airshot Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Whew....a thousand bucks ?? You could convert to rollers for less and never have to replace them again. On my last conversion, I bought used roller sets off market place, less than 200 for all of them in great condition to...your call..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User GreenPig Posted February 11 Super User Share Posted February 11 I went with the Supreme Ultimate bunks on my jon. I was replacing bunk boards every 4 - 5 years, never again. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustache Dave Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 I used the Gatorbak covers instead of replacing the carpet. I think that is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K1500 Posted March 24 Author Share Posted March 24 Update, I finally got around to the job I was dreading. I replaced the bunks with Douglas Fir and recovered with my Gatorbak. The hardest part was finding a place to launch that had power and space to do the work (running an air compressor). The existing Gatorbak was in excellent condition and was surprisingly easy to remove and reuse. The factory bunk wood was garbage and falling apart. The boat loads better now on the new bunks. It probably helps that they are rigid and properly canted to align with the hull. If the Gatorbak was trashed, I would have gone with the ultimate bunks. I have a grand total of about $25 in materials in the job. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Baron Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 I replaced mine last year with pressure treated lumber and boat bunk carpet, bought at a local marine shop. Glued and stapled, was easy to do and the boat slides on easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 31 Global Moderator Share Posted March 31 This is on my list of things to due this year. The bolts are pretty rusted so I’m not looking forward to this project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted April 2 Super User Share Posted April 2 On 3/10/2024 at 8:30 AM, Mustache Dave said: I used the Gatorbak covers instead of replacing the carpet. I think that is the way to go. Hey Dave is see you’re in Maple Grove, MN. Can you post photos of your gatorbak on the bunks? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted April 3 Super User Share Posted April 3 1 hour ago, gimruis said: Can you post photos of your gatorbak on the bunks? Another local guy! Ya - pics of the Gatorbak would be nice....I'm still looking at Ultimates, but a less expensive option would be kewl. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 I hope I get a few more years out of mine but when I need to replace them I'm using regular wood covered with polyester paint. (bed liner material) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VolFan Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 I redid mine from wood/carpet to the Ultimate Bunk Boards, not that it’s the biggest boat, but the improvement is noticeable. It does slide off easier though, just something to be aware of… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bird Posted April 3 Super User Share Posted April 3 1 hour ago, VolFan said: I redid mine from wood/carpet to the Ultimate Bunk Boards, not that it’s the biggest boat, but the improvement is noticeable. It does slide off easier though, just something to be aware of… The ultimate bunk boards will be the route I take. The lessor friction won't be a problem, I don't unhook the bow until trailer tires are touching water.......drives my buddy crazy 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted April 3 Super User Share Posted April 3 58 minutes ago, Bird said: I don't unhook the bow until trailer tires are touching water. When I'm by myself, I don't unhook that from the bow until the trailer is fully backed in either. I am paranoid about the boat floating off the trailer before I can get in. When someone else is with me, then I unhook before backing in since I am already in the boat and the other person is backing me in with the truck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRiver Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Saw a guy at the ramp….. he used plastic gutters over his bunk boards, don’t know the longevity of them. He said they were very slick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deephaven Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 Does someone really have a problem getting their boat off carpeted bunks? I would just treat my own lumber and carpet. Not where I want to spend extra money would be on bunks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 5 Global Moderator Share Posted April 5 On 3/31/2024 at 7:59 AM, 12poundbass said: This is on my list of things to due this year. The bolts are pretty rusted so I’m not looking forward to this project. It’s a lot easier than cutting a road open 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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