UHMWPE for trailer bunks

[martini]

I decided to give this stuff a go as my bunks needed replacing.

I bought 4off strips, 2000mm x 150mm x 12mm @ £28.00 ea from a company called F R Warren & Co Ltd in Bristol.

http://www.frwarren.co.uk/

I replaced the timber underneath with iroko then drilled and screwed the PE to it countersinking as deep as possible.

Haven't launched or recovered with it yet but will post my findings when I do.

[Poly]

I'll be interested to hear how you get on as I've been tempted to do mine. Quite expensive though?

[jyasaki]

Plastics are slippery: do *not* disconnect boat until the stern is over the water.

You'll probably find that you don't need to back the trailer in as far as usual either to launch or recover.

PE (which UHMW is a type of) is what are sold as bunk slicks which you screw onto the surface of your normal wood bunks.

jky

[CJL]

Yeah I would be interested to see how you get on with this.

The standard carpet type material never really seems that durable.

Good luck!!

Chris

[BogMonster]

Previous discussion on the subject: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=15697

No I never did "stop p^ssing around and just do it"

[martini]

Forgot all about updating this thread but at least I've had a good chance to trial this stuff out.

And the verdict is...really can't fault it.

Probably had at least half a dozen launches and recoveries, no sign at all of wear on the bunks and no apparent damage or marking to the hull.

Not bad considering this is a 3500kg boat and I use a good proportion of the 450hp available to force the boat right up to the winch post.

It has been said that this stuff is very slippery and the boat could come hurtling off the back. From the little winching I have done, I think it is marginally less grippy than the original canvas material but certainly not anything to worry about. Of course theres no way of knowing how close the boat is to breaking away and flying off the trailer until it actually does but I don't get the impression it's likely to happen.

Overall a good product well suited to the application and I'm happy to recommend it

[Mollers]

I might go for a mini version for the SR4 over the winter. The current set-up is useless.

[martini]

Originally Posted by Mollers

I might go for a mini version for the SR4 over the winter. The current set-up is useless.

You on bunks at the mo? It's the way forward, I don't reckon this stuff will need replacing in my lifetime

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by martini

You on bunks at the mo? It's the way forward, I don't reckon this stuff will need replacing in my lifetime

No, it's on a non-roller coaster roller trailer. There's no rear set to keep the thing inline.

[martini]

Originally Posted by Mollers

No, it's on a non-roller coaster roller trailer. There's no rear set to keep the thing inline.

I had hoped that bunks would keep the boat in line but I still ended up fitting docking arms.

Still, give it a go, at the very least you do away with roller maintenance/replacement. See 1st post for a supplier, they were v helpful and in Bristol which is where you're from right?

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by martini

I had hoped that bunks would keep the boat in line but I still ended up fitting docking arms.

Makes sense. When you're recovering, the bunks are angled downwards parallel (or roughly so) to the slip. The boat is horizontal. the only contact between the bunks and the hull wil be towards the nose. How much depends on how shallow your trailer is when you recover, and the slope of the slip.

jky

[BogMonster]

Interesting - I'm going to have to mod my trailer soon after getting it as unfortunately the Vipermax hull isn't straight along the keel and the SBS rollers are not adjustable - so it only sits on 3 in the middle. Haven't decided whether to try and build a row of raised rollers towards the stern, or take the easy route and just make a bunk supporting the stern section of the keel, but if I take the easy option some of this may be just the ticket