Trailer bunk building and ...

[BillyBudd]

Ok. I'm out of my element when it comes to trailers and that's got to stop. I've recently seen a used 19' Shoreline trailer that comes with rollers, I need a trailer and this one might be the one, but I'll need to convert from rollers to bunks for the Bolger Chebacco (20'x7.5'), need to relocatae the wheels and the winch. The Shoreline 'seems' like it is a more substantial trailer than some others, but I don't know (do you?). I'll have to build up the bunks from meal cross pieces of, I guess, some metal fittings and PT wood with some sort of carpeting on the wood. The bunks will have to have the same rocker as the boat and that'll be fun to get. A pair of bunks by the keel, a pair at the bilge panels? The idea currently floating, if this is the trailer to buy is: suspend the 1200 lb. boat over the trailer/rest it on its small keel on a plank on the trailer, and using whatever fittings and/or wood pieces, build these bunks to match.

I'd like to listen to what you've got to say about all this. I'm all ears. :confused:

[Victor]

I converted from rollers to bunks, but if I were to buy a trailer now I'd rather just get a bunk, wouldn't you?

[mdevour]

I wasted a lot of time rebuilding a trailer to put under our 16' Weekend Skiff, including a fair amount of welding and grinding to customize the bunk arrangment. It's pretty much bulletproof now, but did I mention it took a really long time? :rolleyes:

The skiff is a flat bottom design, and I made custom full length bunks for it from 3 laminations of about 1/2" thick pine. With the boat upside down and covered with plastic, I glued them up and weighted them down with bricks to conform them to the rocker. Cleaned up and coated with epoxy, with carpet glued on with contact cement, they're perfect.

That's how I made conforming bunks, in case it might give you some ideas.

Mike D.

[NormMessinger]

Shorelander sells brackets for bunks. My Shorelander came with bunks but flat ones. I removed the bunks put extentions on the forward and aft most attach points, resawed 2x6's and laminated new bunks in situ. After the epoxy cured I removed the planks, covered with bunk cloth and reinstalled. They almost look like they were made for it. I'll email you pictures if you would like.

[BillyBudd]

OK, Norm. Thanks. Well, this is someting unexpected. Naively I thought: Trailer = put boat on it, go. Not so. The thought of considerable reconfiguring, reworking does bring up that a new trailer (and its price) is something to think about.

[NormMessinger]

Stand by. Gotta wait for the sun to come up.

[shadow99]

OK Guys, this is where cheapo :eek: 2x4's & 2x6's at those bargain lumber dealers come into play. When I customized an old utility trailer into a boat trailer, I found that the "hooks, bows, & twists," that come standard at Home Depo work great as bunkers. Bought some bunker carpet at a local marine for less that $20 bucks, made my own bunker supports from galv. angle iron.

The "SHADOW" is 12' long at the waterline, the 2x4's I used match the chine of the boat, when layed flat, the other 2 bunks act as guides on the garboards/keelson. I could take the boat/trailer off-roading :eek: , without any fear of hull damage :D . It's way more support than the 140lb boat needs, but grampa always said, "More is BETTER." :D

Rick

[NormMessinger]

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4ce33b3127ccea821839028000000003610
The curved side bunk laminated from 3 layers to make up a 2x6 covered with standard bunk cloth.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4ce33b3127ccea8218070e9490000003610
The forward end of the bunk with a strap iron extention between standard Shorelander hardware

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4ce33b3127ccea8218065686c0000003610
The aft end bunk bar has an extention on the back. The front is attached as the flat bunk was.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4ce33b3127ccea8218056e96f0000003610
The keel of the boat sits in a full length bunk trough. I made brackets from angle iron to attach the trough to the trailer's tow cross members.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4ce33b3127ccea821805d68540000003610
Note the winch, which should be above the bow eye is below it to avoid having to unrig the stay, hence the forward end of the keel bunk trough is upturned to diswade forward movement. However the arrangement is not yet to my satisfaction

[BillyBudd]

Nice photos Norm, thanks! I've been told by those who've built the boat type I'm building that, like you, they have put in a runner for the little keel and have put bunks to each side of that to support the bottom, then some people have added extra bunks further out for, I guess, stability and more bottom support.

One fellow suggested a website as a way for me to understand how to convert a power boat trailer into a bunkered trailer for a plywood boat. Here is the website:

http://marina.fortunecity.com/breakwater/274/1998/0115/index.html

This is the website of a boat designer I don't know much about, Jim Michalak. Seems straightforward helpful! I liked how they built up wood cross members and then progressed with the bunkers. Looks like pressure treated wood time soon.

It seems possible that, if I get the trailer that I'm dickering for, that I'll hoist the boat up from the barn rafters a foot or so, slip the old ladderback 2x8s out from underneath her, and back the trailer in. The next steps are problematic at the moment because it isn't a "do now" sort of thing. But I think I'd prepare the support for the keel and have it bolted in place, then lower the boat to it, and then start measuring and head scratching to see how to attach supports to the metal framework and go from there.

[warthog5]

Eeeeee Gaaaad's. A painted trailer. Don't get it anywhere around the coast. Even the galvinized one's rust here. :(

[BillyBudd]

Say, Norm...what's the 'aft end extension' doing? Does it support part of the boat that is longer than the trailer?

[NormMessinger]

Yup, painted trailer made in the Midwest for use in the Midwest. It was put in salt water this summer and as soon as I got home I dunked it in the lake with the hope that most of the salt would was off.

I believe the aft end extention carries the load exerted on the boat to one point on the trailer cross member. I can't say the load is equal on both ends of the extention but it does it's job more or less.

The keel trough goes all the way to the aft end of the rudder and supports the 40 lb. drop plate in the rudder. The entire weight of the boat is carried on the two trailer cross members.

Based on the web page you posted above I should rebuild the "bunks" on the trailer for Kit Kat, the simi-dory built to Devilin's Egret plans. Later maybe.