Replace Bunk on Trailer with Boat On the Trailer

LawyerMan

Member
Jul 12, 2012
443
Texas Gulf Coast
Boat Info
270 SLX w/ Sport Arch
Engines
496 Mag DTS, Bravo III, Corsa
Over the weekend we took the boat out, had a great time, and came back in. As I was backing the trailer into the ramp I noticed one of the bottom support bunks was loose. I wiggled it, and it turns out it was completely off. The board is broken and the carpet is holding it together. I used a bungee cord to hold it in place on the trailer and trailered the boat. The boat is now sitting at my house. I know I need to change the board, but I can't put it in the water because around me there's really nowhere to leave the boat while I do the work.

We are taking the boat out this weekend when family comes into town and I want to fix it before then. My question is: Can I change the bunk out in my driveway with the boat on the trailer? If so, what do I need to do? Where do I jack up the boat from?

Thanks for your help guys.
 
How many bunks are on each side?

First, I would hook up to your tow vehicle and block the trailer wheels. Start jacking at the transom with a large support block against the bottom of the hull. As it begins to raise off the bunks, insert support blocks between the hull and the good bunk(s). Move to the keel at the front again with a large support block. You may need to make a block for the keel so it captures the "V" shape of the hull. The idea being to raise and re-block as you go a little at a time until the bad bunk can be removed.
 
i have replaced bunks and carpet on two different trailers with the boat still on the trailer....trust me when i say it is a major PITA but it can be done...i see you are in Texas so i imagine the weather is very warm to hot there now....that makes this job even worse.....

maybe you can check with a local marina and ask them if they will lift your boat off the trailer with a lift truck and store it for a day so you can work on the trailer...it might cost you a $100 but to me that would be money well spent....as a 'fast' repair to get you through this W/E with family maybe you could use a piece of galvanized steel or aluminum plate and some screws to hold the two pieces of the bunk together....another thought is maybe you can take your repair materials and tools to the boat ramp and launch the boat...then beach the boat nearby and make the repairs to the trailer in the parking lot....take a buddy with you to watch the boat in case you need to go to the store for materials you find you need but didn't bring with you....

good luck....

cliff
 
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I see you are in Texas so i imagine the weather is very warm to hot there now....that makes this job even worse.....

90* with 80% humidity today.

as a 'fast' repair to get you through this W/E with family maybe you could use a piece of galvanized steel or aluminum plate and some screws to hold the two pieces of the bunk together....

That's a damn good idea. My problem, though, is that the bunk came off the support (I guess that's where it broke - I didn't look closely at it because I was hauling butt to get my boat out since other boats were waiting). I think when the bolts were put in they cracked the bunk and that's where it split.
 
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You can jack the boat up from the keel (put blocks under it) at the rear (under the garboard drain plug) and the front (about where the windshield is... before the keel starts to slop upwards). Jack it up just enough that it's off the bunks (2" is plenty). Then you can physically tilt the boat onto the good bunk, which will give you more room to work. It will be easier to tilt the boat by hand than you might think.

Tie the boat fast to the trailer (on the good bunk side) so it doesn't flop back the other way. Or, use more blocks under the aft-corner of the chine (the extreme back end of the left or right side) to keep the boat away from the bad bunk.

Yes, the "keel" is the bottom of the "V", when looking at the stern.
 
Hi LM,

I am sure you thought of this already, but I would recommend you have all the materials you need ready, and the board and carpet cut and measured. Plan ahead. Have the bunk board measured and cut. Cut the carpet and glue and staple (SS staples) to the new bunk. Have all the tools you need at hand. Then all you have to do is remove the old bunk, put the brackets in the new bunk, and replace. I would use all new hardware. With a good plan, you minimize the time the boat is off the trailer, and your frustration will be minimized as well. Have you decided what carpet you are going to use? When I replaced mine a couple of years ago, I got the black bunk carpet from West Marine.

Dennis is spot on with how to get the boat off the bad bunk. Just a thought: how long is the other bunk going to last? You may want to replace it as well. Same principle, a little more complicated. Get 3 jackstands and some wood blocks. Lower the trailer tongue as far as possible, which will raise the stern. Place a jackstand (with wood block on top) under each side of the stern, maybe a little inboard of the lifting strakes. Then jack the tongue up, which will lower the stern onto the jackstands/blocks and lift the boat off of both bunks. Then take the 3rd stand/block, and put it under the keel, as Dennis said under the windshield. Carefully lower the tongue, and the front of the boat should come off the bunks. Only a couple of inches clearance is needed. For safety, you could add addition blocks under the hull.

I hope this helps, and good luck. Let us know how it goes. Nice looking boat!

John
 

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