Bunk or roller trailer

[riprunner]

My current bunk trailer is getting a little old and I plan to trailer the boat more this summer to take advantage of the Bluefin tuna bite in Cape Cod Bay. The Falmouth ramp is only a couple hundred feet from where I wetslip the boat so throwing it on a trailer is much easier and more cost effective than the trip across buzzards bay & the canal.

The current trailer is a bunk and I have owned both but the roller trailer I owned was for an outboard boat. So what do you guys prefer and this is for a straight inboard 23, so I'm not even sure if a roller trailer will work. Also the two ramps I will use are both great and I can load/unload on any tide (Falmouth Inner Harbor & Sandwich Boat Basin). Any input is greatly appreciated.

[3rdday]

Bunks!

[Blue_Heron]

Bunks!

Me too. Never had a roller trailer, but I've seen plenty of boats with black streaks on the hull left by rollers.

My trailer has bunks under the stringers aft to support the hull and keel bunks forward to align the boat on the trailer. I drive it on, winch it about 4" to snug it to the winch stand roller, and drive it up the ramp. Twice a year or so, I'll spray silicone lubricant on the bunks to make things slide easier. Cuts down on wear & tear on the carpet too.
Dave

[1bayouboy]

The problem with rollers is salt water. I had a roller for a 24 WAC that had 48 rollers....it had great support for the boat....but after two years in salt water all the roller hardware was pretty much done. It sure was easy to launch and recover......although typically I'd have to start the motor and take the stress off the strap when launching....then it would just roll off. It could be a disaster if you unstrapped before backing in....

[jongolds]

If you don't have a problem with ramps at low tide, I'd opt for bunks because they're simpler and cheaper. That said, I switched from bunks to rollers because bunks were useless at low tide here.

[riprunner]

Thank you for all the replies and it's pretty much what I had thought I would here.

So now I guess I'm looking for a good bunk trailer, any suggestions on good brands and or brands to steer away from?

[Bushwacker]

It could be a disaster if you unstrapped before backing in....

Amen to that! Somebody posted some pics here a couple of months ago showing a boat launched on road! The clutch/brake on my Powerwinch keeps mine secure, but my winch stand includes a safety chain snapped to bow eye just in case the winch fails, plus I used a big tie-down strap.

On the rollers rusting, the key is to use aluminum shafts and nylon bushings instead of steel in the rollers. My use is 100% saltwater and only problem I've had is with the mild steel retaining washers; coating 'em with waterproof grease helps a lot.

[abl1111]

I have an old Rocket trailer w/ bunks for my 23 Tsunami and there is one thing that is a hassle - getting the boat centered up on the aft most roller ! If I don't get this dead on the $, when I start to crank, the boat 'falls off this first roller and onto the rollers bracket - taking a little gel and paint on the hulls forward "V" entry as I unknowingly continue to winch the boat forward !

Pisses me off!

Any ideas how to rectify this ? I either need a V roller setup aft to hold the boat in place, or those vertical PVC guides ( that I heard are not so great )

What'cha think ?

[thehermit]

Denny,
24 rollers for your 20. How are they set up? How many forward vs aft? Seems like the 2800lb from Load Rite I am looking at (new) comes with 20 rollers.

Anyone on torsion vs leaf spring?

[ocuyler]

IMHO - a bunk trailer is the way to go if you have good ramps. The days of winching your boat from way out on the first set of rollers is long gone for most of us. I don't like the support rollers give you on the hull.

I also like the second set of bunks forward to keep the front of the boat unitized with the trailer and allowing you to tie down the bow without putting all the pressure on one roller.