Trailer: Rotten woods

[kurz]

Hello,

My original trailer (2 axles) has been standing outside for over 10 years now.
The wooden supports have rotted away.

Obviously, they need to be replaced. How did you do it? What kind of wood did you use?

Or: A one-time solution: Could aluminum profiles be used? Then I would have peace of mind forever...

Thanks and have a good day.

[NiceAft]

This may help with how to do it?
viewtopic.php?t=30618&hilit=Bunks

As to what to use, i imagine that you would duplicate what is there with a marine grade wood that you would first wrap with carpet?

[TonyHouk]

Kurz,
Just did this for my trailer. Pressure treated two by (width you want) is what I used. Backed the boat into the water at the ramp and worked on it while it was on the dock. If you have a busy dock just anchor out and park your trailer while you work on it. Tony

[lelandmorris]

I got new trailer bunks online from Amazon. Treated wood fully marine carpeted,high quality and not very expensive. Sawed to size, drilled holes and used stainless steel bolts. Looks better than the originals.
Lee

[NiceAft]

Can you post some pictures. With some close ups if possible?

[lelandmorris]

Sorry can't send pictures. boat in shop on trailer getting new 60HP Honda. Check Amazon web site for picture of carpeted bunks.

Lee

[OverEasy]

Hi Kurz

I feel your pain!
I just replaced the bunks on our Sea Lion dual axel trailer a couple of months ago.

I wouldn’t use aluminum extrusions or metal bunks without putting som serious padding and all weather carpet on them first.
Bunks are expected to give and conform to the boat hull as it settles onto the trailer.
A hard rigid surface puts a lot of concentrated force on the hull.

What I did was remove the old bunks and replaced with 2x6 IGC (in-ground-contact) pressure treated which I over wrapped with a quality all-weather indoor/outdoor looped carpet. I used 1” long SST Crown Staples on the surface away from the boat hull to attach the carpet. Yeah I probably used twice as many staples than I needed but what the heck, I don’t expect that I’ll be replacing these new bunks in the next 20+ years or more. The carpeted bunks were mounted to the trailer with HD hot dipped galvanized brackets and SST bolted hardware.
(Yes there is a very minimal galvanic reaction potential between galvanizing and SST but I took the precaution of applying several heavy coats of epoxy paint to the brackets after pickling the galvanized brackets in acetic acid (vinegar) to help ensure the epoxy paint bonded.)

These were the existing brackets that came with the trailer and were in very good shape so reusing them was a no brainer.

The old factory bunks were low grade old tech pressure treat that had wimpy carpeting stapled with minimal mild steel staples.
The old wood had a high number of knots which really weakened them.
The old carpet was disintegrated.
The old staples were rusted away.
The old bolts and nuts were heavily and deeply rusted away.
It was time….

The new current IGC pressure treat is substantially better than the old versions but you can’t use galvanized hardware or the wood preservatives will eat it away in short order… hence the SST hardware.

The cost of materials from Lowe’s Hardware was reasonable for the task and expectations.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Over Easy