3 Questions: Side Bunks?? Trolling Motor Mounted on the Right Side?2 stroke/4 stroke

[wallifishrmn]

Question 1.

What do you think of side bunks on a lund trailer for a 16 ft rebel. Needed or not needed. Will it help get the boat on the trailer on those windy dark nights?

Question 2.

Have you ever seen a trolling motor mounted on the right front side--looking at a boat with it. Every other boat I have ever seen had the trolling motor mounted on the left front of the boat??? Why I don't know.

Question 3.

Looking at a boat with a mercury 50 hp 2 stroke. Should I really being looking for a 50 hp 4 stroke?

Thanks

[fish-n-hunt]

side bunks are always nice, trolling motors are on the left side so they are out of view for the driver, and 2 or 4 stroke is personal preference.

[Further North]

Side bunks are great - makes it easy to load in current, or in a wind, and easier by yourself. I won't have a trailer without them.

I have my TM mounted on the right side (that's where the old one was, and that's where the space in the cover is, so....that's where I put the new one.

Makes little difference to me as I can easily see over it.

I have no opinion on 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke...

[T Mac]

Question 1.
What do you think of side bunks on a lund trailer for a 16 ft rebel. Needed or not needed. Will it help get the boat on the trailer on those windy dark night?

~~May be of help, especially in certain situations.. (Mostly needed because trailer is backed in too deep).
They help moie with a flat bottom boat than a deep V.


Question 2.
Have you ever seen a trolling motor mounted on the right front side--looking at a boat with it. Every other boat I have ever seen had the trolling motor mounted on the left front of the boat??? Why I don't know.

~~Yes ...many. No problem. I have owned them that way.



Question 3.
Looking at a boat with a mercury 50 hp 2 stroke. Should I really being looking for a 50 hp 4 stroke?

~~Well....if it were me, I would.

Thanks

[1625rebel]

1) I don't have side bunks with my trailer, but I do have guide on poles. Main help is just to swing the boat around in windy conditions when I'm by myself.

2) TM preference. Mine is on the left. I'm not a tall guy and do feel like it makes a difference in forward vision,

3) 2S or 4S. I had an old carb'd 2S on my first boat. I will never go back. I now have a 4S EFI and it's like starting a car, even in the first trip in spring. DFI 2strokes are nice too. If it were me I'd try and upgrade to one of those 2.

[seeds]

I installed side bunks on my new trailer this spring and haven't "needed" them at all....yet.

Come spring with high water and fast current and a cross-wind and I'm loading the boat alone,I'll be glad I have them.

[TapOut64]

Liked mentioned earlier, if you do not back your boat in too far you will not need the side bunks. I bought guide on poles but once I learned (from this site, thank you very much) not to back my trailer in too far, I've not used them. (I leave about 25% of my bunks out of the water)

[MarkG]

The side bunks themselves are not what will really get the boat on the trailer straight, but rather a well designed trailer will do that. But yes get side bunks for those windy days on a steeper ramp where the back end of the trailer may be in a little deeper water. Will keep the stern from floating off center during loading.

Re Trolling motor..Mine also came dealer mounted on the left. I switched it to the right,just because being right handed found it easier to put in and retract. Never caused a forward vision issue.

Re 2 stroke or 4 stroke .....If buying new ...Go 4 stroke for sure unless a modern Optimax or Etec style high tech EFI 2 stroke.

If buying used and you found a nice rig at a reasonable price that you like,in good shape etc etc,,,if the price is right,don't be afraid of a carbed 2stroke. We used those old carbed 2 strokes for years with no problem. One of my best motors was an old Merc 90 HP 2 stroke. I Just put gas and oil in it ,and ran the piss out of it for years with no problems ,,and I didn't even buy it new. Not very many moving parts or complicated systems in an old carbed 2 stroke. They may sometimes cough, wheeze and smoke,but at the right price,simplicity can have its virtue !

[rebs]

If the boat is loaded and pressing against a carpeted gude on will it hurt the paint by rubbing while you trailering down the road ??

[Hot Runr Guy]

I've had side load guides on pretty much all my rigs, but if they aren't tall enough, you can ride-over the top of them while loading. I've never had the "post" style, but I can see where they could come in handy.
With regards to the 50hp 2S vs 4S, I'm not a big fan of the smaller 4 strokes, they just don't seem to have the low end "grunt" that an equivalent 2 stroke has. But, it sure is nice to have EFI/DFI, no more messing around with carbs, chokes, etc. Turn the key and she starts and settles into an idle.
Back in Jan 2009, Bass and Walleye Boats did a 50hp shoot-out. Might be worth a read.
http://www.bwbmag.com/images/element...pShootout_.pdf

HRG