Bunk Carpet

[Kern O]

I started carpeting my bunks today and putting them on the trailer. Here's the way I am doing it.

I've never understood why bunks are wrapped all the way around so they trap moisture between the carpet and the trailer. I've been doing mine differently for many years. I run the carpet down the sides of the bunk and stop there so the wood and the carpet can be rinsed and not turn into a growing salt deposit. The bunks on my Stamas were done in 1999 and still look just fine.

Oh, the trailer is dropped away from the boat so I can install the bunks, which is why you can see a gap between the bunks and the boat. It is really hard to put them in with all the weight on the trailer! I also use Monel staples since the corrode just enough to get a good grip on the wood. Stainless ones pull out too easily and steel ones are gone in a couple years. I guess that may be the only one good reason to completely wrap the bunks. That way when the staples dissolve, the trailer itself hold the carpet on. Here are the new bunks for the Venture:

[welder]

VERY NICE ,

Kern O , do ya have a pic of the coupler your going to use ?

Lester

[Kern O]

Welder: The hitch was supposed to be ready at galvanize today, but they did not get it done. I should have shot pictures of it before I dropped it off, but I did not. It should be ready Monday. I got the rest of the trailer stuff back from anodize today.

[welder]

Cool, sea trials soon .

She's looking VERY good Kern O.

Lester

[jenkinsph]

KernO, this trailer project is really looking good!

Question, with all the bunks shown I can see how the outside supports are fastened but how are the inside supports tied in? Do you have crossmembers at every juncture?



Steve

[Kern O]

Yes, there are supports at every station. Three of them on each side sit right on the axles. The rest of them sit on cross members. Happily, both the axle tubes and the crossmembers are 3 inches square, so I only had to make two types of plates. The small ones for the main channels and the bigger ones to go on the axles or crossmembers. Determining the angle for the supports was fairly easy. Shaping the individual blocks was not. The variable deadrise makes for a lot of template making and cutting.

[Country]

Not trying to derail the topic here...but whats the consesus on a quality bunk carpet that is least abrasive ( if that makes any sense ) as to not cause " bunk burn " on the fiberglass when loading and unloading. Is there some out there or am i just s.o.l.

Ive thought of the slide sticks and spraying down the carpet also with a lubricant.

[Kern O]

The project is on hold over Christmas since I am back in Maui and the boat is in California. I am very close to getting it shipped, but had to take the required "family break" for a week or so. It will get moving again about the 30th. One nice thing about Maui. It was 84 here today.

[Daddy'O]

Country - I've heard of folks spraying the bunks with a silicone based lubricant. Never done it myself. Don't know if this is a good idea or not. Sounds good in therory though.

Wayne

[Daddy'O]

Aloha Kern O -

Hope you & your family have a wonderful Christmas!

Wayne - anxiously awaiting updates on your boat.