Trailer Bunk Guide Clearance

T

Tug

New member
I am moving my trailer's Bunk Guides from the bottom clamp on position to the top of the trailer beam to raise the guides higher on the side of the boat. Here are some photo's of the proposed new position, i was concerned if there was enough clearance between the boat and the bunk guide support bar.Would like some opinions before i cut the bar down to fit snug against the trailer beam...Tug

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... 0_0784.jpg

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... 0_0785.jpg

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... 0_0786.jpg
 
Personally, anything protruding above the trailer beam gives me the willys, even those stern tiedown receptacles. I scratched the heck out of my boat's bottom once when it caught a wave while I was loading it up. It only happened once, but those scratches never go away.
 
Tug-

I'd try it, then put the boat carefully on the trailer and check the fit.

The biggest problem may be the bow striking one of the support bars when the boat's off center during loading.

Of course, the clearance of the support bars with the basic boat bottom may be too little. You could shorten them by cutting them.

You could also leave the mounting where it is under the beams, and cut and insert some extending box channel into the vertical bars. Could be welded or bolted. Could use "Cold Galvanize" (epoxy) spray over the cuts in the galvanized finish.

Hard choice!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Joe..that was my second choice, i have a long piece of galvanized tubing that will fit inside the bunk's channel . I was thinking of just extending the height about 5 inches. The only reason i didn't do that it is once i make the cut l'm committed and may ruin the bunks completely................ Can a welding shop just extend the height by 5 inches and would the weld be strong enough..Tug
 
Tug-

The weld will be strong enough.

Bolts would be fine, too, since this member isn't really load stressed continually.

Just be sure to keep the weld or cuts covered in epoxy paint, or go ahead and have the entire re-configured support bar re-galvanized.

The latter could be pretty expensive, however, depending on whether you have a facility locally and how they price their services.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I have about 8" total clearance, and don't worry about iot. The boat moves around a bit on the trailer--so what (even with the straps on). I don't want the bunk contacting the side of the hull. The side bunks ae just for safety on loading and in case of an accident. Ideal to be perfectly cnteret, but not essential.
 
Good advice..i removed the bunk guides from my trailer this morning and brought them to the wielding shop and will have 5 inches to the height.Hopefully that will help in loading the boat..Will post pictures when i pick them up next week.Tug
 
Tug
I have the bunk guides as well on my trailer and found I had some difficulty centering the boat when loading since those bunks were under water.
I added some vertical guides at the back end of the trailer and found them very good at solving my loading problems.
They are made by Fulton Part # WM-FUL-GB150-0100
I did make one little change to them.
I tapered the top of the guide to make sure the rub rail did not get caught on the top of the guide. Picture 37 in my album
I only paid $112.00 in Edmonton a couple of years ago.
Found it to be a cheap fix
Good luck
Ed
 
Installed my higher bunk guides today as well as my new roller guide on's..

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... 0_0809.jpg

i am not sure if the roller guide on's will help much in centering the boat so i will have a back up option that Edwin suggested: i bought a couple of lengths of 5 foot.. 1.5 inch square tubing to use as vertical guides that will rest on the rub rails. The 1.5 inch tubing fits tightly into the roller guide on receivers which bolts right in.These i will cover with that black PVC tubing and adjust as needed....Now, i have more sharp edges to scratch the hull of my boat..

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... 0_0816.jpg

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... 0_0810.jpg


Who said things fit right out of the box.. Tug
 
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