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I'm needing to replace the carpet on my bunks. Can anyone tell me how to raise the boat safely off the bunks? I have a 17'6" Express with a 50 hp motor. Not sure of weight with 12 gal. fuel cell and 4 batteries. I need to get the boat up at least 4" off the bunks.I thought about taking it to the lake, launching, and doing it in the parking lot if nothing else.Also, where would be the best and cheapest place to get carpet for the boat?My bunks are about 6' long and are 2x6's.
Get your crap togethrr, go unload the boat at a ramp, do what you need to do and load the boat back up. Way easier than picking the boat up unless you have a pretty good lift handy.
exactly what i did. took a total of one hour at eng point and back in biz...
Steve, I re-carpeted my bunks last year. I used King's Carpets on Goodman Rd right across from the Neighborhood Wal-Mart in Horn Lake. They have marine carpet in several colors. I've used them twice.....good folks, fair price. I took my boat off the trailer like you said. I had no way to lift it, and I didn't want risk dropping my boat on the driveway. Take it to Butla and launch it. When you get ready, call me and I'll come help you. Forgot to mention...get you a couple cans of spray adhesive. I used it and it works good.
I'm gonna ride to Butla this PM, when are you going!
Get new wood.....cut it to length....measure and drill holes where needed....cover with new carpet...then go to lake launch boat.....remove bolts from old bunks.....bolt new ones on.
Like "G" said....if they've been on there a long time, might be time for some new wood. If you get the boat off and remove the old carpet and then see you need some new wood, you're behind the 8-ball! I replaced my bunks with pressure treated wood. What "G" said is what I did. Easier that way.
Do not use pressure treated wood
Slabin is right.....the chemicals in treated would will attack aluminum. What I did was go to a saw mill and I got some cypress 2x4's
When i did mine i left the bottom uncarpeted so to help it dry quicker
Cypress is the best wood to use for bunks a little more money but worth it
Good info.
Definitely what G said.
When I redid my bunks, a also added a piece of angle iron under the bunks the full length, it took the spongyness out and made the boat seat in the bunks firmly while loading. Seen a lot of cracked and broken bunks where the boat pushes in between the mounting brackets while loading.
I have boat building Epoxy and resin. I used reg wood and painted 2 coats on and then they will never rot. Got my carpet at lowes. Cheap. Did whole boat and it worked great.
Thanx for all the good info you guys!
I was thinking about use composite deck boards. Stand 2 or 3 of the 5/4 boards together and no carpet.