Trailer wearing out the bottom of the boat

[Todd j]

I have made 3 trips to California with the boat totaling over 5000 miles and 2 1/2 hour drives, more than I remember.  As it happened while lobster diving from the boat, I had a very clear view of the bottom of my boat.  I have wear on the fairbody where it is in contact with the main bunks.  It has worn through the bottom paint, the epoxy primer and I can clearly see the fiberglass weave.  I couldn?t tell if the weave had any wear.
  There is no way I ever would have seen this otherwise so I guess I?m glad I caught it now. The wear is not the full length and width of the bunks, but rather 1/4? wide stripes no more than an inch long.  The wear spots are scattered the length of the bunks.
  I haven?t yet decided how I will make this repair.  I have some ideas, but I haven?t bought any supplies yet. Maybe just coat the area with graphite in some epoxy while trying to avoid the bottom paint?  I?m not ready to tape the area and re- fair that bit of the hull.  I?m considering a thin rubber over the bunks with a carpet of sorts over that?  Right now it has the plastic caps over the bunks from the manufacturer.  It?s a Venture trailer Commander 8800.  Rbob, I think our trailers are identical.  Chuck has/had one too.  Maybe something we all need to think about?

[Rbob]

Todd,

I am curious if it is the target bunks or main bunks causing the wear.  I had issues with my Commando causing damage, it was at the bow. On rough roads the boat would lift at the bow and slam back down, just 2-3 inches was enough to cause damage. I fixed it twice, then changed to a double bow catch but the rollers do not fit my bow well, so I improvised.  I will post on my thread the details.

I just purchased a LoadRite Trailer LR-AB28T10000102TB2  The bunks are superior to the Venture, the bunks are able to pivot to fit the hull and are supported by steel bunk tube supports.

I will sell the 8800 once I get the boat onto the LoadRite.




 

[Brian.Dixon]

In addition, those plastic bunk caps sound like they're too hard and the slightest high spots are causing wear.  The Loadrite bunks that swivel and have carpet w/o plastic caps should go a long way towards solving the issues.  If not, then I wonder if you could strip the carpeting off, add a layer of closed-cell rubber pads to the bunks, then re-carpet them?  Spread out and ease the pressure on the high spots?

[Todd j]

A new trailer is not in the cards for me.  Brian?s suggestion is pretty much what I plan on doing.  It is the main bunks that are causing my problems.

[Brian.Dixon]

A new trailer is not in the cards for me.  Brian?s suggestion is pretty much what I plan on doing.  It is the main bunks that are causing my problems.

They don't give'm away, do they?