Association Forum - Roller bunks VS wood bunks ??

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Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Roller bunks VS wood bunks ??

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tblanco
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/09/2002 : 19:52:32

Howdy sailors...

I've just bought a motor boat trailer to convert it for my 25ft swing keel.

It is a tandem steel trailer for up to 5000 punds.

I've got to do quite a bit of work on it before I even try to place the boat on it.

Questions:

Anyone have any suggestions or experience on the use of roller bunks as opposed to wood bunks.

I'm worried about the axels being too far back ( usually motor boats have more weight on the back). Does anoyone have the specs for this that could make them available to me? <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

This would have to do with equilibrium and tongue weight etc...

I'm really a rookie at this and would appreciate anyone's help.

Thanks in advance to ya'll

Tony

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 04:48:27

I have an EZ Loader and like the rollers, but the bunks give better support, some say. I think that unless the roller assemblies came with your trailer, you'd find it WAY more expensive to go that route; the bunks are much cheaper to build. The one sling I use (for salt water) charges more for slinging from a bunk (tougher to fight the sling through). If I was starting from scratch, I would consider leaving gaps in the bunks at the sling positions fore and aft of the keel, if you ever need to sling the boat. Rollers have worked well for me (there are 32 of 'em on the EZLoader. It's advantage, of course is in ramp launching and loading. If you want, I can go out tomorrow and measure from ball to bow and ball back to the axle positions, if that would help you. I have pretty hefty tongue weight; probably in the viscinity of 500 # or so.

Gary SK/SR Encore! #685 and Suede Shoes SK/SR #496

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2002 : 10:01:31

Tony,
The ramp at our marina is so steep that once you get the boat and trailer up onto the level, the boat sits back about 6" from the v-blocks, requiring you to winch the boat forward. This works very well with rollers - but not possible with wood bunks, at least not without over stressing all the hardware invloved.
The Trail-Rite has four racks of rollers, which is nice for bottom painting as you can lower one rack at a time.
Good luck!

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2002 : 00:38:56

...just a quick thought to add: I also have a Trailrite with rollers...there are 64 of those black rollers at around $7 each (you can do the math). I replaced all of them because they were cracking badly when I bought this old trailer and I was afraid the rollers would not roll. Steep ramps? Would it ever just roll off the trailer? <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle> Probably not as my wing keel seems to sit pretty solidly on the keel plate and then there is the winch and hook.
I once saw a Merit 25 get "roller launched" off the trailer off the ramp...the owner did this on purpose: He backed down the ramp and just as his trailer dove into the water he hit the brakes. The boat proceeded to roll off the rollers and splashed down into the water with the rollers above the water line. It sure was quick and it worked. You won't see me doing this stunt on purpose.
Gary N.

C25 tall/wing
Classical Cat #5944

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2002 : 09:40:09

Gary,
Excellent points - I wrap a dock line around the winch stand as a back-up to the winch itself.
I do the brake thing too, but only after the trailer in completely submerged. Funny on such a steep ramp, it still takes a little nudge to free the boat from the trailer <img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle> !

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Jeff
1st Mate

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37 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2002 : 18:00:25

I watched a guy do the "brake thing" with a C-25 swing keel one time. He got frustrated after several unsuccessful attempts to float the boat off the trailer so he backed the trailer down the ramp, got a good running start, and then stood on the brake. The tactic worked and the boat did come off the trailer. Unfortunately the reason the boat wouldn't float off the trailer had to do with insufficient water depth at the ramp. He discovered this when his rudder bottomed out on the not too deeply submerged asphalt.

In my book launching and docking a boat calls for "slow and easy". Don't come in any faster than you are willing to make contact.

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Gary B.
Admiral

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USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 06/18/2002 : 01:46:07

I just ramp-launched my project boat, Suede Shoes, last Friday. It's a steep ramp/EZ Loader. I stopped the truck short of the water to release the winch cable and safety chain before getting too deep. The stern was barely touching the water. A freighter wake/surge came into the marina/ just slapped the transom. Before I could get back in the cab "WHUMP"! That sucker launched herself! She was SO anxious to get back in the water, I guess. No problem, but was I surprised....

Gary B. Encore! #685 SK/SR

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.