J-Doc Posted June 9, 2013 Posted June 9, 2013 So some of you may have remembered where I posted something about checking your bunk boards as they may work loose or need replacing due to rot, etc. So yesterday I launched my boat and noticed the bunk board mounts were loose. You know, when the boards are able to rotate on the trailer? We've all seen a trailer in the lot with a loose bunk board that is rotated out of place. I have 2 that are loose now. I was going to tighten it but my tools were in the boat and i was in a hurry. Most of us back the trailer into the water and leave just enough of the trailer out of the water so we can drive the boat onto the trailer, then gas the motor and force it up in place onto the trailer. DOING THIS PUTS A LOT OF TORQUE AND STRESS ON THE BOARDS AND THE MOUNTS! As I drove up onto the trailer yesterday, I came in just a bit faster than idle and backed off just before hitting the trailer. As the boat went onto the trailer, that darn bunk board rotated on me. Then the force of the boat's impact caused the bolts to shear and pull out of the rear mount and allowed the bunk to move freely and allowed the hull to scrape against the front bunk mount. It's an angled piece of steel brackat that secures the bunk to the bunk unistrut support. Hearing a nice "scrrrrrrrrrrr" as I drove onto the trailer was NOT a good sound. Now I have this little scrape to repair. A little expoxy resin will seal the damage and prevent it from getting worse. The boat is over 30yrs old so I can't match the gelcoat and I don't have time or money to try. I'll just seal it with expoxy resin that I already have. So lesson learned........ Don't let this happen to you. Check your bunk boards at least every other trip. Look for loose bolts, check the bunks for density/strength, etc. All it takes is a loose board or a hard impact onto the trailer to break a bunk board then it's fiberglass damage or aluminum damage (if you have an alum. boat) A little routine observation can save you a lot of grief and aggrevation. As well as the appearance of your hull. I'm sure some will say, I have a new boat, I don't have that problem. Well I say............are you willing to bet a $30K boat that you're right? I'd check and check often. You never know until its too late. Need marine repair? Send our own forum friend "fishinwrench" a message. He will treat you like family!!! I owe fishinwrench a lot of thanks. He has been a great mechanic with lots of patience!
Quillback Posted June 9, 2013 Posted June 9, 2013 Good reminder, as a matter of fact I think I'll take a look at my bunks next time I put the boat in the water. Sorry to see you suffered some damage.
kjackson Posted June 9, 2013 Posted June 9, 2013 If the boat is black as it looks in the photo, you might try mixing some graphite powder in the epoxy. It produces a very black finish that is a bit on the shiny side. And you're right about the bunks, obviously. I've got the opposite problem right now. Apparently, I hit the bunk at too weird an angle, and the blasted thing rotated and won't move back. I know that I need to fix it, but the bolts and nuts are rusted badly and should be replaced as well on all the boards. What I should do is rent a slip for a couple of days and simply redo everything on the trailer. I hate maintenance, but I really hate the results of not doing it even more.
J-Doc Posted June 10, 2013 Author Posted June 10, 2013 Its brown, not black. Has a mixture of copper and stuff. Need marine repair? Send our own forum friend "fishinwrench" a message. He will treat you like family!!! I owe fishinwrench a lot of thanks. He has been a great mechanic with lots of patience!
fishinwrench Posted June 10, 2013 Posted June 10, 2013 Can you not leave the house WITHOUT tearing something up? I think you're just trying to move permanently into your man cave.
J-Doc Posted June 10, 2013 Author Posted June 10, 2013 Can you not leave the house WITHOUT tearing something up? I think you're just trying to move permanently into your man cave. I wish I could not tear up something. Seems like if it involves a boat.......its going to break. :-) And to think ......I just replaced the bunk boards too. I really think its the impact of the hull hitting the bunks. We all do it. It puts a lit of load on those little brackets and the boards too. Need marine repair? Send our own forum friend "fishinwrench" a message. He will treat you like family!!! I owe fishinwrench a lot of thanks. He has been a great mechanic with lots of patience!
J-Doc Posted June 10, 2013 Author Posted June 10, 2013 On a good note...... Your motor is working like a champ! I checked my fuel milage when I filled up yesterday morning and I got over 5mpg!! That double what I used to get. She's a bit "fussy" on starts and likes to be choked a bit.....(cough) Just a touch. Not enough to flood it. Other than that....she's flawless. :-) Need marine repair? Send our own forum friend "fishinwrench" a message. He will treat you like family!!! I owe fishinwrench a lot of thanks. He has been a great mechanic with lots of patience!
fishinwrench Posted June 10, 2013 Posted June 10, 2013 Glad to hear it. Try to blow it up sometime about late November though if ya can.....so we have something to talk about over a pot of chili.
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