Trailer Question 2

[Sea Wolf]

I've always had bunk trailers on sail boats and smaller power boats I've owned before the C-Dory. My tandem E-Z Loader roller trailer has served me well, however, with this boat, often allowing launching at shallow ramps and irregular launching conditions that bunk trailers might have had more or less problems with.

I certainly can see the advantage of a bunk trailer when powering on or off, but if you don't have a dock along side and you're launching by yourself, you've got some adjustments to make however you handle it. Launching under difficult conditions can be a real test of your creativity and adaptability.

One often neglected advantage of a roller trailer is that you can paint the bottom of the boat while its on a roller trailer much easier than on a bunk trailer. Paint all over and around the rollers, then move the boat back about 15 inches on the trailer and paint the bare spots. Reduces a $400-$500 commercial shop job to a $100 DTY weekend project. Do it two or three times, and you've probably paid for the cost difference between a single axle and a tandem axel trailer.

Another couple of points:

A good high set of guide-ons to keep the boat centered are very useful not just in cross winds, but just to center the boat properly for either bunk or roller trailers.

Adding a sheet of 1/2"-3/4" plywood behind the bow post (toward the axels) will allow you to walk out onto the trailer further to put the hook on the bow upon retrieval and will also allow you to push the bow out further upon launch as well. Be sure to treat/paint it properly.

Moving the trailer lights up on the guide-ons where they never are immersed can greatly reduce trailer maintainance problems. Be sure all electrical connections are sealed as completely as possible to prevent any water intrusion.

Bunk trailers need to have the staples in the carpet checked at least yearly for rust and looseness. Use stainless staples as replacements.

Roller trailers can stand a yearly spray of lubricant/rust preventative (your choice) to work better and help minimize corrosion.

Check the whole trailer over yearly for loose bolts, broken welds, etc

Tires, bearings. and brakes require constant supervision and evaluation. Keep them in A-1 condition at all times and check for hot bearings and brake problems every few hundred miles when trailering. Also, check your coupler at these times.

Sorry to get carried away, just some additional things to think about! Joe.

[C-Gypsy]

Having had quite a few trailers, some with rollers and some with bunks, I have given up on the debate. Doesn't matter much to me.

One thing we do around here is put dishwashing liquid on the carpet that is on the bunks. Seems to make the boat slide off easier when it hits the water.

Also makes a few "clean" stripes on the hull!