In a similar way as you did with the rollers, unscrew each bolt with the adjustable screw and reposition the trailer bunks so that they touch the boat, taking particular care not to place your finger between the bunk and the boat. Look at how the hull clears the fenders. You may relocate the tongue jack and / or the spare tire carrier to achieve to correct adjustment. But as for the boat itself, nothing is more important than the bunks that support the hull while it’s sitting on the trailer. My trailer seems to favor a boat with less of a "V" in the hull. Back the trailer down until the forward top of the bunks are above the water about 3 inches. Surfix, Incorporated: Trailer Bunk Slides/Glides, Trailer Parts Superstore: Bunks and Guides. This is someone trying to make a shorter trailer work for a longer boat that the trailer was not designed for. Put your vehicle in "Park" engage the emergency brake and chock both back wheels for safety. Schoonveld earned a Master Captain License from the Coast Guard. Also, the trailer doesn't have the smaller front bunks to cradle the bow of the boat. Remember, if the bow support vee brace is on the trailer you chose, the bottom of the boat can not go higher than the vee block support can reach. It will extent approximately 4". Tighten all nuts. Step 1. Load the boat on the trailer so that the transom is at the end of the bunks. Second, all trailers are not set up the same. Check boating catalogs for slick silicone strips that you attach to the top of wooden bunks to greatly diminish the amount of friction between trailer and boat. Makes sense, assuming your trailer was set up for your particular boat. The biggest thing I've found to get a boat centered properly on a bunk trailer is what REW stated in #2 on his list. You want bunks supported by the trailer in at least 2 places each. Prepare the new trailer by loosening the winch stop "Picture 1" and moving it as far to the front as possible. My 205 SL rides great on the Eagle bunk tandem axle trailer. The bunks overextend, the rollers come up to within 2 inches from the end. To a degree, the brackets enable you to raise, lower or move the bunks side to side and enable you to adjust the angle of the bunk to match the sloped bottom on a V-hulled watercraft. It is a 1995 Bayliner Capri 14ft closed bow boat (About 1,000 lbs) on a 16ft Continental single axle trailer. If you are sure your boat will NOT touch the new trailer's fenders proceed to step 2. First, is your trailer made for your boat or is it a generic or bought separately? Measure the placement of your bunks and make sure they are spaced the same on both sides. Double check tongue weight, clearances and bunk and vee block adjustments. Your prop won't be close to hitting, it is the fins you need to pay attention to. You want bunks supported by the trailer in at least 2 places each. Most shaft drive boats up to 24 feet will fit on our standard aluminum trailers. Look at your boat on the old trailer. a. if your boat is already on its old trailer and the tongue weight/balance is good, put tape on the boat over the center of the center axle on triple axle trailers or right between the axles if tandem. Please contact us for more information at 888 278-1991. Step 5. The width of our bunks adjust for boats 6’ to 8’6” wide. Remember, if the bow support vee brace is on the trailer you chose, the bottom of the boat can not go higher than the vee block support can reach. Call us at 888 278-1991 or email your concerns and pictures to. If you are sure your boat will NOT touch the new trailer's fenders proceed to step 2. It worked out perfect - just matched the aft spacing and the fwd spacing to match the trailer bunks. If you have any question about adjusting your trailer please call us toll free at 888 278-1991, 8 am to 5 pm Monday - Saturday. On an aluminum boat, determine some of this by examining the bottom of the hull. My 205 SL rides great on the Eagle bunk tandem axle trailer. There should be at least 3/4" between the boat and fender. Watch the boat coming up the trailer and make sure the bottom is clearing the frame and fenders and the bunks are positioned flat against the hull. If not you can either move the bunks up in height or closer together to make the boat sit higher. Reply from Chris R. 7/27/2020. Look at how the hull clears the fenders. That 6' difference is important to make sure the keel will not hit the crossmembers on the trailer. 2004 Cobalt 240 8.1 GiDP - SOLD 4/10 Also, as boats rest on the surface of the bunk style trailer, you will need more vertical space for storing with the boat on the trailer. Step 8. You will need it in step 6. 4. Remember to leave room for your vehicle to clear the trailer when turning. Step 6. BTW, Utilizing the spacing of your trailer bunks is exactly the way the Hydro Hoist guy told me to set mine up. There is little or no winching of the boat up the trailer anticipated, as there would be considerable friction between the boat and the four or more carpeted bunks which support it. Now manually float your boat into the trailer as far as it will go and connect the winch strap or cable to the bow towing eye on the boat. Thanks. To learn more about finding the proper trailer for your Bennington Pontoon Boat model, contact a local Bennington Pontoon Boat dealer BE SURE TO ENGAGE THE WINCH LATCH so the winch will not spool out on its own if you release the winch handle. hoist. The straight shaft places the engine more toward the front and the axle position on the trailer may have to be moved forward as well to achieve proper tongue weight. Boat Trailer Outlet makes every effort to properly fit our trailers to your boat. DO NOT drive on the road with the connector in this position! Your boat will require special fitting. 94851. Makes sense, assuming your trailer was set up for your particular boat. In this case they make great steps to climb into the boat. On fiberglass boats, check access panels to get the best look you can of what's below the deck. It forms and staples easily around the wooden bunk. To fit a boat to the trailer, make rough measurements to allow the boat to sit straight and level on the trailer, then crawl under the trailer and position each bunk, making sure that the bunks or rollers are positioned next to, not under strakes or other protrusions from the bottom, that the transom is well supported and that bunks are located under the interior stringers as well as any other areas needing additional support. Our bunk style pontoon trailers are fully adjustable to fit all known brands of pontoon boats. Step 2. The Ultimate Bunk Board is ideal for any boat trailer, PWC or boat lift! Look at your boat on the old trailer. The trailer just has a "V" wedge in the front to keep the keel from rub up against the cross members. The bunks may be positioned as much as 8" from the transom also. After completing a very thorough image search online, it appears that the most common bunk placement is about 2/3 of the way between the keel and the ridge that runs along the side of the hull. It can be functional or cosmetic. Also, the trailer doesn't have the smaller front bunks to cradle the bow of the boat. Raising your bunks all of the way up will just limit the boat going on if your water is low. Also make sure the trailer clears transducers, pulpits and anything else protruding from the hull. I'm probably not using the proper terminology, but look at your hull and should see what I mean. Look to see where the stringers (cross supports) are located inside the hull, the position of the fuel tank and other structural features. These boards will last virtually forever giving your trailer a sleek new look, while making launching and loading easier than ever before. Using a local boat ramp launch your boat in the water and off your old trailer. To fit a boat to the trailer, make rough measurements to allow the boat to sit straight and level on the trailer, then crawl under the trailer and position each bunk, making sure that the bunks or rollers are positioned next to, not under strakes or other protrusions from the bottom, that the transom is well supported and that bunks are located under the interior stringers as well as any other areas needing additional support. When a boat has a pulpit, the way the hull is supported while the boat is loaded and unloaded is important. Look at the height and shape of the bottom of the boat. After 30 years, we have thousands of happy customers. Raise the forward end of the bunk until it touches the bottom of the boat and tighten the forward-most bolt. Rivet lines can mark where the stringers are positioned, the location of seats, live wells or other features that should be supported. They are there to support the boat. I have attached photos of where the current bunk placement is. Adjust the bunks if your boat is setting on the keel, but is "tipsy" on the trailer. Our bunk boards are made from High-Density Polyethylene Plastic with a UV inhibitor added to help resist fading. The downside is that it’s often harder to launch and load boats from bunk trailers. Trailers will require some adjustments in most cases. I was under the impression most guys have the bunks spaced for the inner trailer bunks though, as these ones run more central on the boat. Now the boat that used to occupy my lift was 10’ bigger so I do have about 5” of exposed bunks off the rear. boat bunk spacing, This Rear Entry Fish and Cruise Style Pontoon Boat comes with a great running 2014 115 HP MERCURY EFI 4-STROKE Motor, a bow mounted MINNKOTA Electric Trolling Motor and a heavy duty 2014 SUN TRACKER Dual Axle Bunk Trailer with Surge Brakes that are all in Excellent Condition. BTW, Utilizing the spacing of your trailer bunks is exactly the way the Hydro Hoist guy told me to set mine up. If a hull drops off the trailer while sliding in the water too early the pulpit may hit the winch stand. He said he used Bear trailers and since their location is close to where I live I went and visited with them. Look at the trailer ball coupler and make sure you have tongue weight. They are there to support the boat. The bunks show a full inch behind the transom when the bow contacts the bow stop. Once you get a boat trailer larger than 4.5m in size you may need to be able to adjust the suspension forward or backward which will allow you to attain the correct draw bar weight to make sure the trailer tows correctly. Step 3. Be sure to tighten the nuts once the winch stop is moved forward because you will need to use the winch to get the boat positioned properly on the trailer. Axle position may have to be moved toward the rear to achieve correct tongue weight of 5% to 7% of the total boat’s weight. Bunk length is not critical and the overall length of bunks varies by trailer manufacturers. If required in your state, register your trailer and install the tag on it. Step 9. The width of our bunks adjust for boats 6’ to 8’6” wide. The following instructions are written assuming your boat is on the original old trailer. Adjusting our pontoon trailer to fit your pontoon boat. Look at the bunk height and the fender height. hoist. Look at the bunk height and the fender height. The trailer just has a "V" wedge in the front to keep the keel from rub up against the cross members. In some rare cases, transducers must be moved to allow a boat trailer to fit properly if not the transducer and the trailer will likely be damaged. H. Make sure boat is centered (engine should be on boat). Now look at the new trailer. Brackets will increase the amount of weight on the rear of a trailer and are NOT counted when measuring the length of the hull. Check fender clearance. Test your lights to be working properly. Now look at the new trailer. THINGS THAT REQUIRE EXTRA CONSIDERATION WHEN BUYINGGHMGHM. Step 7. These trailers have become very popular and represent a sizeable segment of what is offered for sale in the current trailer market. Back your new trailer in the water in front of your boat so you can float the boat on. Back the trailer down until the forward top of the bunks are above the water about 3 inches. Stretch the winch strap or cable to the back of the trailer and rest it on the frame of the trailer. If you need assistance snap a pictire from the back and the side of your boat on your old trailer and email them to, Step 10. This is easily accomplished with hand tools at a boat ramp. Get in your vehicle and slowly pull the boat up the ramp to a level road surface but stay in line with the ramp in case you have to go back in the water to reposition the boat. Call us at 888 278-1991 or email your concerns and pictures to info@topnotchmarine.com. They said they receive CAD drawings from the boat manufacturer showing where to place the bunks in order to give the boat proper support. On a lightweight boat such as an aluminum jon boat, a pair of bunks (one on each side) are sufficient to handle the load. Always retract your tabs prior to loading your trailer. It worked out perfect - just matched the aft spacing and the fwd spacing to match the trailer bunks. I currently have my trailer set up like picture #1 - the bunks were originally set up to close to the center of the boat, but I moved them further out closer to the edges. What is the rule of thumb for roller/bunk spacing left to right? In general, the bigger the boat, the more bunks need to be underneath for support. Step 3 – Adjusting the Boat Trailer Bunks. Where they are in relation to the trailer is directly related to the boat hull. Double check tongue weight, clearances and bunk and vee block adjustments. The bunks are not there to pretty up the trailer. The important thing is the tongue weight being in the correct range of 5% to 10%. Recommended Roller Bunks for Boat Trailer to Ease Launching and Loading Boat and Bunk Guides; Bunk style trailers are wider than scissor style, taking up more space. Most will leave 3’-5’ of the front nose cone unsupported. If required in your state, register your trailer and install the tag on it. If you attempt to back your new trailer and the wheels lock your brakes are engaging and the brake lockout solenoid is not working. Raise the forward end of the bunk until it touches the bottom of the boat and tighten the forward-most bolt. H. Make sure boat is centered (engine should be on boat). Secondly, additional clearance is needed for the shaft to clear the trailer frame. While examining the outside of the hull, note the position of strakes (the external ribs running lengthwise down the bottom of the boat) as well as any molded-in strakes, contours or grooves on fiberglass boats. Trim tabs should not effect trailering in most cases. 1 of mine has 3 (wood bunks brackets), the other is 2 (metal with rubber rollers) and the supports at the end of both frames come within a few inches of the boat's transom. In general, the heavier the boat, the harder it is to get them to slide off or back on. If less than 3/4" exists between the boat and fender, check for additional vertical adjustment on bunk bracket or riser kit or raise the rear vertical pivot adjustment to the 2nd hole. My boat rests very lightly on the bunks, and can be rocked very slightly from side-to-side before the tie down is snugged up Too much weight on bunks can make for very hard launching and retrieval. Adjust the bunks if your boat is setting on the keel, but is "tipsy" on the trailer. Proper placement of trailer axles can make the difference between a trailer that tows safely and easily and a trailer that is a danger to everyone around it anytime it is being towed. Look at the height and shape of the bottom of the boat. It will extent approximately 4". One is a straight shaft and the other is a V drive. If your boat is blocked and needs to be placed on the new trailer we recommend hiring a professional rigger to do this. The best support for a boat is a bunk system made from boards or planks covered with marine-grade carpet. We guarantee the trailer you purchase will be a proper fit based on you following our guidelines for loading and setup. I took 2 2x4's while the boat was on the trailer and screwed them together (at the transom making an X) to best match the angle of the hull. If everything looks good, loosen the winch stand nuts and slide the stand to the towing eye until the stop roller make contact with the hull/keel. If using a keel roller trailer the bunks just give the hull lateral support. Second, all trailers are not set up the same. The top of the bunks is 27 inches to the ground. Not sure? Most pontoon boats with 8’ wide decks usually have 72” bunk centers. In some cases the boat hull "bellies" in the middle requiring more clearance to pass the guides. At this point you should have approximately twice the required 5% to 10% of the boat's weight because the boat is floating in the back which will make the front of the boat push down more on the front of the trailer like a see-saw. The weight is similar to a stern drive engine configuration. 99% of the time there is no power getting to the solenoid through the blue wire on the harness. The spacing from bunk to bunk is important but you also need to remember that the hull has a "V" to it. Step 4. Probable causes could be you are not using a 5 pin adapter for your vehicle or your vehicle wiring is malfunctioning. Where they are in relation to the trailer is directly related to the boat hull. When I bought my Alumacraft TS 185 in 2004 I told the dealer I wanted a custom, 4 bunk trailer. Jeff: Casco Bay Outrage: posted 04-23-2008 04:41 PM ET (US) I could end up with the bunks within 2 ft of each other (or less). Smaller rollers would allow the boat to drop closer to the bunks. Would a picture help? A 30" spacing from bunk to bunk might be good if the bunk sits vertical (the 4" dimension of a 2x4 is vertical). Bow guide boards are a common solution. Pulpits usually provide support and extension to an anchor davit that supports the anchor on the end of the pulpit. Use your adjustable wrench to loosen the bolts that hold the bunk supports in place on the trailer. Once placed correctly, retighten the screw. If not you can either move the bunks up in height or closer together to make the boat sit higher. There are 2 types of inboard engine configurations that concern trailer fit. If the trailer has side guides installed remove them. If bunks require left or right adjustment see Picture 2 below.Stop pulling the boat up when th back or transom of the boat lignes up with the back end of the bunks. Remember we are always here to help at 888 278-1991. He holds a Bachelor of Science in wildlife science from Purdue University. The trailer should be submerged, with the bunks and/or the rollers wet so that the boat can float up onto the trailer, he adds. Position your boat on the lift so that the motor sits in the middle. Pontoon Trailer Bunks and Coverings : Most pontoon trailers have 2” x 4” wooden bunks. My boat rests very lightly on the bunks, and can be rocked very slightly from side-to-side before the tie down is snugged up Too much weight on bunks can make for very hard launching and retrieval. See below for more info. First, is your trailer made for your boat or is it a generic or bought separately? I used the trailer bunk placement to set up my Shore Station 4000 lb. If the 2" dimension is vertical you may not have enough clearance and the hull could scrap the trailer cross member. The weight of the boat is supported by the rollers. Fig. Here I will briefly show you the process for building new boat trailer boards or bunks and carpeting them. Manufacturers often use roller trailers for the boats they make, which testifies that they can offer adequate support, but for optimum support of any boat, go with carpeted wooden bunks. If your boat has thru-hull or transom mount transducers you must be sure to position trailer bunks so they do not come into contact with transducers. If less than 3/4" exists between the boat and fender, check for additional vertical adjustment on bunk bracket or riser kit or raise the rear vertical pivot adjustment to the 2nd hole. There should be at least 3/4" between the boat and fender. This will supply power to the solenoid only allowing you to back up. The bunks show a full inch behind the transom when the bow contacts the bow stop. Most pontoon boats with 8’ wide decks usually have 72” bunk centers. Use your adjustable wrench to loosen the bolts that hold the bunk supports in place on the trailer. Bring the boat up on land with the winch line on the bow eye for safety, but the winch post/bow rest not necessarily touching the bow. Step 10. Check fender clearance. If you have any question about adjusting your trailer please call us toll free at 888 278-1991, 8 am to 5 pm Monday - Saturday. Install your side guides if you have them. Once you get a boat trailer larger than 4.5m in size you may need to be able to adjust the suspension forward or backward which will allow you to attain the correct draw bar weight to make sure the trailer tows correctly.