Trailers - bunked or roller?

[slimtim]

What the title says, bunked or roller?! I feel that bunks might give more support and wouldn't mark the hull (if covered in carpet) but rollers would make launching and recovery easier.

I will soon be ordering but need to specify which one I want (there is no price differnence). Is there anything I need to look out for/ask for on either types of trailer?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers

Tim

[Jono]

Rollers! Bunks can be hard work... rollers shouldn't mark the hull unless, like me ..ahem...you make the odd "cross-wind" approach...

[slimtim]

Thanks for the advice Jono.

Just seen your ad in sportboat mag, very nice!

Cheers

Tim

[Bilge Rat]

Originally Posted by Jono

Rollers! Bunks can be hard work... rollers shouldn't mark the hull unless, like me ..ahem...you make the odd "cross-wind" approach...

Depends what size and weight of boat your putting on them, mine sits on a bunked trailer and i can almost pull the boat half way up the trailer by hand, the rest is winched and very easy even if at a steep angle, if its windy or choppy the bunks keep the boat in position while i faff around with the winch strap.

End of the day both will do the job though and it all depends what your willing to put up with !!

[DJL]

Originally Posted by Bilge Rat

Depends what size and weight of boat your putting on them, mine sits on a bunked trailer and i can almost pull the boat half way up the trailer by hand, the rest is winched and very easy even if at a steep angle, if its windy or choppy the bunks keep the boat in position while i faff around with the winch strap.

I would agree - my bunked trailer works really well, boat slides on and off pretty easily, but it won't roll off on its own if the winch fails etc.

[Jono]

I really ought to read peoples "profiles" before opening my mouth.... if you've got a little 'un, I'm sure a bunked trailer will work.

However, you asked for an opinion and that's mine..I had a bunked trailer for my 4 metre Avon and it was a pain in the ass.. you needed to get the trailer quite deep before launch/recovery. True the friction on the bunks would hold it if the winch fails, but how important is that? If you are just relying on the winch strap, it might be a good idea to add a back up, whatever type of trailer..plenty of tails on this forum to attest to that..

I know a man who recovers off the beach.. and when I say off the beach, I mean he sticks his boat on the beach.. then fetches his trailer when the tide's gone out and winches his 225HP outboarded 23' sports fisher straight onto the trailer... try doing that with bunks...

[Daniel TD5]

i agree with jono my first trailer was a roller i found it very good and easy to
use my new dr 450 came with a swing back type witch will recovery from a very low water mark or from the beach. which is top class as the back swings
it will pick up the angle of the front of the boat from much lower than any
bunk type

[Tim M]

I have a bunked trailer, and it's a real pain. The bunks have to be submerged to have a chance of letting the boat go, and when it comes to recovery at low tide, you need some serious effort on the winch to get it back on. If I had some spare cash I would buy a new roller-coaster trailer!

[slimtim]

Thanks for the help guys.

The trailer is for a 5m boat. I think I'll go with the roller option having read your comments!

Cheers

Tim

[The Jackeens]

yep. Roller is good Tim

Paul