Bunk glides

[zepol379]

Does anyone have some thoughts on bunk glides. Have a brand new magic tilt trailer for a 228 and seems that the boat sticks on and off. Having to use considerable power to get on and off. Ramp angle is pretty good so I don’t think that is the issue. Anyone have some ideas to make it easier. Anyone recommend some bunk glides? Thanks

[Juan]

I think bunk glides work well for some and not so well for others. They tend to make the bunks too slick for some applications and you could find your boat laying on the concrete if not careful. I installed them on a previous trailer and they made the bunks slicker than snot on a stick. The boat would slide off at the slightest incline.
If you install them, you should probably keep your winch trap attached until the boat is close to floating off the trailer. A little silicone spray or Pam cooking oil on the bunk caret every month or two will make it slick too and you can adjust the amount you apply to somewhat control how fast the boat slips off.... bunk glides can't be easily adjusted once they're tacked down.

[985crabs]

Juan is absolutely correct, if you use slides or lubricants you need to stay hooked up until there's sufficient water under the hull. I made that mistake using a lubricant. Quite scary and embarrassing.

I added slicks last time I re-carpeted my bunks and I love them. There's probably some photos in the trailering section somewhere. They make getting on and off a lot smoother and my hull never touches the carpet. There's no abrasion and I really think the life of the carpet will be greatly extended. This is good because there's nothing fun about re-carpeting bunks.

With that being said, I unhook when there's water under the hull and my buddy backs me in the last few feet until I float off. When we recover, I get on the trailer and remain under power until my buddy gets the bow hook on and cranked up fairly close to where we want it. The boat will slide back off the trailer otherwise.

All in all, I recommend them. I think they prevent trailer rash too.

[Simple Man]

I personally don't like them for the same reason Juan mentioned. I have seen a boat come off the trailer and wind up on the concrete. If you back the trailer on into the water some more, it will slide on/off easily. Another thing that turns me off on the glides is the weight of the boat is concentrated on the smaller surface area and it just seems to me that can't be good for the hull.

[mosquito13]

Try putting some liquid dish soap on front half of your bunks carpet after you launch next time. On fresh carpet the boat will "stick" til it gets mashed down and fitted for your boat. Keep it hooked on the ramp until you know your ramp. On my last trailer I did end up putting some plastic on the bunks . Not a 100% but a couple feet towards the bow to make it slide on/off easier when it was still floating in the stern . Out of the water the rest of the 3/4 of the carpet gripped the hull. I don't have a link but they were U shaped and stapled on the sides to attach to the bunks. lasted about 5 years before started cracking.

[zepol379]

Thanks for all the info. Greatly appreciated.

[freezerfiller]

I wonder if you had glides on the front half of the bunks and carpet on the back if that would give you the best of both worlds? Just thinking out loud...

[catchersrock]

Hey, bringing this up again. I have a 228 also and am having a popular issue. The forward bunks are scratching the hull. The issue is that the hull on the new bay boats (and probably the older ones) transitions from sharp entry angle to flatter as the boat load and unloads. The forward section rubs the corner of the bunk until the boat flattens out and sits on it. Great for ride and handling, not so great for trailer bunks! I'm considering adding the slides for this issue, not so much for ease of loading and unloading.