Trailer bunk

[Trem Blay]

It is my first time here but someone told me that you guys could help me out.

I've built my own boat trailer and want to add bunk guides or roller guides. My boat is a super pro 18 feet long.

Cabela's has a few. Mini, long, Deluxe and adjustables.

My Question is : What would you recommend ? from experiences with yours.

Thank you

[Kaz]

Trem: Well, I've had both. If you have a aluminum boat then rollers are good, as they are not going to indent your boat. If glass, I think the flat bunks are better. Rollers are easier to unload and load as you can crank the boat up tighter. Flat bunks, you almost have to run the trailer further into the water to get the boat to the front stop. If you are storing a glass boat on the trailer for any length of time, then go with the flat bunks covered with some GOOD THICK carpet. With bunks, I have them under my SportCRAFT 25'er, I feel more confident it's not going to roll off the trailer when the hook is off and the winch cable is disconnected as I back down a steep ramp. It's really a coin toss as to what you are comfortable with. Good LUCK DECIDING...Kaz

[stevefellegy]

I vote bunks all the way. For all the reasons you can think of. Loading and unloading is easier since the boat holds in place on the way up and off. I have never run into a situation where the water is too shallow to float the rig off my bunks or drive it most of the way on. (18'-19' Lund Pro V's)
Bunks....all the way.

[tim]

I would go with bunk all the way. If you ever tried loading a boat by yourself at a ramp with any angle to it with a roller trailer you will know what I am talking about. I had a boat at work roll off the trailer at a ramp whent the strap broke backing down the ramp.(never take the safty chain off untill you are in the water) I have been working around boats for the past 19 years and say bunk trailers are the only way to go. My new boat next year will be on a bunk trailer!

[Phil T.]

Your question asks about guides. I'll assume you mean the things above the trailer bed to keep your boat straight when you're driving the boat onto the trailer.
Go with carpeted boards. The longer the better. I'd like them as long as the straight rails of the trailer itself. If your trailer has 8' side rails, get 8' guide bunks.
In a stiff sidewind, short guides will let the boat wedge between the trailer bed and the front of the short guides. I know, my guides are only 4' long. Cursing doesn't make them grow either, I've tried.
Be aware that the carpeted guides will rub the boat's paint. But touching up the boat's paint after a few years is cheaper than getting your arm broken by a boat that's plunging over your trailer in the wind-blown surf.

[szopster]

Since bunks are the overwhelming favorite, a choice I completely agree with, another option you may want to consider.....

I had a custom trailer built a couple of years ago, it is a bit of a hybrid. I have drive on bunks (with two keel rollers) but instead of carpeted bunks I went with roller bunks. Each bunk has twenty rollers for a total of forty, more than enough to support any hull. The forty hull rollers and the the keel rollers allow me to drive it up to the bow stop with ease. I can load faster than most anyone with carpets at shallow or deep ramps by myself.

The only problem I had with all of these rollers is that the boat absolutely flies off the trailer when launching. I solved the problem by bolting an eight inch stainless steel cleat to the side of the winch. I wrap a mooring line off of one of the front cleats to the winch cleat and presto, release the winch & chain and let the boat down as slow as you want.

[Trem Blay]

I really appreciate.