"Slicking up" the trailer bunk carpet????

[190SigSeaRay]

The carpet on my trailer bunks is still in pretty good shape, but near the end of this year I noticed there was a little more drag getting the boat winched up that last 6 inches. Is there a treatment, either storebought or homemade that you guys use to treat the carpet on your bunks????? FWIW, I haven't applied anything to them since I bought the boat, and the only maintenance the bunks get is the odd "backbrush" by hand before I head for the ramp at the end of the day....

Your input is much appreciated.

Paul

 

[Nehalennia]

The carpet on my trailer bunks is still in pretty good shape, but near the end of this year I noticed there was a little more drag getting the boat winched up that last 6 inches. Is there a treatment, either storebought or homemade that you guys use to treat the carpet on your bunks????? FWIW, I haven't applied anything to them since I bought the boat, and the only maintenance the bunks get is the odd "backbrush" by hand before I head for the ramp at the end of the day....

Your input is much appreciated.

Paul

"GLIDE KING" BUNK SYSTEM]Glide-King Bunks
Glide-King Bunks, standard on most King bunk trailers, are super-slick, ultra-durable, high-density polyethylene bunk sleeves that allow smooth, easy launching and loading in all conditions while providing the full hull support that makes launching and loading in all conditions while providing the full hull support that makes bunk-type trailers so popular. See how many ways Glide-King bunks will help you enjoy boating more:

- Glide-King bunks offer the ease of rollers plus the extra support, low profile and cost advantage of bunks!

- Reduces friction dramatically relieving strain on winches, cables, straps and bow eyes.

- No more worn out bunk carpet to replace.

- Glide-King bunks' molded design channels away abrasive silt and grit that is normally trapped on carpeted bunks!

I know they sell just the skids of material.

 

[Sundancer]

Or Dawn dishwashing detergent..... Your choice!

 

[MAKC]

i actually prefer some friction when launching and retrieving my boat. It holds the boat nicely as my momentum glides me up the carpeted bunks and hold me so i dont slide backwards on steep ramps. I winch until it starts to get somewhat difficult and then back my truck up another foot or two to finish winching. Makes it nice and easy and very predictable.

I saw a boat slide off a bunk trailer this past summer because the bunks were so slick. Luckily the first time it happened, the outdrive was in the water and there was enough water to float the boat, get it started, and drive away from the rocks just to the side of the launch ramp. The second time i saw it happen, the safety chain snapped and the boat slid right off the trailer and onto the loading ramp. It took quite a while with a lot of guys to winch the boat into the water. As it was sliding off the trailer, it looked like it was riding in ice. Thats how slick the bunks were! I prefer the friction thank you very much

Mike

 

[First Born]

I agree with Mike, I personally like the friction. But if you do not here are a couple of options. First one which the enviormental people are not going to be happy with me but I have seen guys spray pam (cooking spray) on their bunks. I have never done it so I am not sure how often but I have seen it done. The second and probably better option which I have done while reloading my boat in the past is first back down deeper into the water to get the bunks completely wet then pull up a little to your normal loading position and then load the boat. The bunks being wet help out a lot. I also have used this approach when unloading the boat as well.

Good luck with it.

Wesley

 

[190SigSeaRay]

Thanks for the feedback, lads.

The second and probably better option which I have done while reloading my boat in the past is first back down deeper into the water to get the bunks completely wet then pull up a little to your normal loading position and then load the boat.

This is what I've started doing, and it helps a bit, but I'm still looking for a little more slipperyness, without going to a super slick non-carpeted surface for the same reasons as mentioned by the above members. I was hoping someone had some sort of spray-on teflon solution or something along those lines.

Paul

 

[RiverRat]

When I trailered, my bunks would get really "sticky" also. I mainly boated on the mississippi so the water for most of the season was reasonably muddy. I would drop the boat in the water and then run the empty trailer to the car wash and pressure wash the bunks. That carpet can hold a bunch of dirt and in turn make it stick to the bunks more than normal.

 

[Hampton]

When I trailered, I used to float on and off. I had to modify my trailer by moving the bow support and winch all the way forward and install a pinned, swing-arm bow support. When it came time to launch, I pulled the pin, lowered the swing arm (so the anchor wouldn't grab it), backed the boat in until it floated, unhooked, tied off, and drove the trailer away.

To get the boat back on, I backed up until the top of the front tires were at the water line, then pulled the boat up until it stopped. Then, I hooked it up and winched it up to a point which was marked on the strap. I'd drive out, raise and pin the swing arm, and drive away.

This method was very fast and didn't produce any wear to the bunks or the hull.