sib trailer (carpet bunks)

[bobbityrockstar]

Hi All

I want to put bunks on my trailer for my inflatable sib.

I will be mostly launching from the beach or muddy river bed.

I have this thing in my head that the sand will be in the carpet creating a form of sandpaper.

I was hoping for something that won't collect the sand.

Does everyone use carpet on a sib?

[Peter_C]

I beach launched all the time and never thought the sand would cause any issues *shrugs* <See photo on left.

If the sand builds up on the bunks some high pressure air will clear them right off.

[bobbityrockstar]

Peter c
Thanks for the help.

[Steve509926]

Hi Bobby, HDPE works wonders. It is a barsteward to machine as it's so slippery. Clamp it down well and router all edges. Mine has been on the trailer for about 4 years now and is still doing an excellent job.

From #11 onwards:-

https://www.rib.net/forum/f49/carava...ler-86495.html

[Peter_C]

HDPE is incredibly expensive and very easy to machine. Cuts and works like a hardwood. I use it on my trailer as I got it for free, and my RIB slides on and off super easily. In fact on the ramp it would fall off the trailer if not tied on.

My opinion is it is not the correct material for a SIB. Ever see HDPE side bunks?

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

HDPE is incredibly expensive and very easy to machine. Cuts and works like a hardwood. I use it on my trailer as I got it for free, and my RIB slides on and off super easily. In fact on the ramp it would fall off the trailer if not tied on.

My opinion is it is not the correct material for a SIB. Ever see HDPE side bunks?

Expensive - not in the UK. I do not consider £25 for trailer bunks to be expensive when it last for ever.

Cuts and works like a hardwood - which hardwood? I do not know of any hardwood that is as slippery as HDPE and cuts like hard candle wax. What hardwood has to be screwed down to stop it from moving when it's being machined? Iroko is the only hardwood I know of which is slightly slippy and difficult to hold steady when being machined. It's totally unsuitable for the surface of a bunk because when it splinters it breaks off into shards like small daggers!

Not the correct material for a sib - guess I've been wrong for the past 4 years, wish my sib could talk and tell me how upset it is that I've used HDPE.

Each to their own Peter, but I disagree with you on all points. If you like carpet, then fine, but my suggestion is from someone who has used it successfully and is still using it after 4 years.
How many times have you replaced the carpet on your bunks?

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Expensive - not in the UK. I do not consider £25 for trailer bunks to be expensive when it last for ever.

At roughly $370 a sheet I do not consider it cheap. If you can find off cuts, great as that is what I got for free. They sell HDPE bunk kits in the USA that are full 8ft length pre-cut for $200, so again not cheap.

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Cuts and works like a hardwood - which hardwood?

Okay I wasn't thinking hickory, but material is almost irrelevant, as with the right machinery even super hard Corian cuts/machines just fine. I was drilling a piece of metal to modify my excavator yesterday and looked over at my "wood drill press table" and noticed a bunch of HDPE strips from drilling previously. Sure does drill easily. Not everyone has a router and or router table, along with a host of bits and necessary items for woodworking either. Even carpet takes a decent stapler.

Originally Posted by Steve509926

What hardwood has to be screwed down to stop it from moving when it's being machined?

I don't have a CNC, but do have a few Festool MFT tables and clamp most everything I am working with or use cookies. *shrugs*

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Not the correct material for a sib - guess I've been wrong for the past 4 years, wish my sib could talk and tell me how upset it is that I've used HDPE.

Okay I agree it will work for a SIB without issue. So would PVC, ABS, or Starboard.

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Each to their own Peter, but I disagree with you on all points. If you like carpet, then fine, but my suggestion is from someone who has used it successfully and is still using it after 4 years.
How many times have you replaced the carpet on your bunks?

I did say "my opinion" twice above, and want to point out this is just a discussion and not personal. Carpet lasts around 10 years and costs $35 a roll with two rolls being required, which is very expensive for such a minor amount of carpet. Typically carpet gets replaced when the wood bunks fail. Never replaced the carpet for my SIB but I didn't own it for over a decade.

What kind of wood are you using in the UK for bunks? We use pressure treated fir, but quality has gone downhill due to environmental requirements banning nasty chemicals, that worked great. Plus these damn tree farms...produce small trees with large growth rings.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Peter_C

At roughly $370 a sheet I do not consider it cheap. If you can find off cuts, great as that is what I got for free. They sell HDPE bunk kits in the USA that are full 8ft length pre-cut for $200, so again not cheap

It has increased in price in the UK but lots of suppliers sell it cut to size. Bunks for my sib trailer would now cost £40

Originally Posted by Peter_C

as with the right machinery even super hard Corian cuts/machines just fine.

My worst nightmare! Not too many years ago there was a fashion for Corian kitchen worktops in the UK - seamless joints and all that. The joints had to be meticulously cut and jointed. The first one I ever fitted looked fantastic, I was so impressed with myself and the customer was delighted. Fast forward 2 years and the worktop exploded! Water from the sink/basin which the customer had never wiped up properly had found it's way along the worktop at least 3 meters into a pinprick where I hadn't sealed it completely. The fibre board backing absorbed the water and eventually the Corian cracked and exploded into small pieces.

Originally Posted by Peter_C

What kind of wood are you using in the UK for bunks? We use pressure treated fir, but quality has gone downhill due to environmental requirements banning nasty chemicals, that worked great. Plus these damn tree farms...produce small trees with large growth rings.

Lots of different species are used. I used pressure treated spruce.

I think one of the things to consider is that the vast majority of members will only have hand held tools (incl electric handheld) not CNC machines, Festools or even table routers and thins will be held in place with G clamps.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

It has increased in price in the UK but lots of suppliers sell it cut to size. Bunks for my sib trailer would now cost £40

Well at that price it is more reasonable. I just couldn't find a price cheaper than carpet in the USA Post a link for the OP so he can compare costs.

Originally Posted by Steve509926

My worst nightmare! Not too many years ago there was a fashion for Corian kitchen worktops in the UK - seamless joints and all that. The joints had to be meticulously cut and jointed. The first one I ever fitted looked fantastic, I was so impressed with myself and the customer was delighted. Fast forward 2 years and the worktop exploded! Water from the sink/basin which the customer had never wiped up properly had found it's way along the worktop at least 3 meters into a pinprick where I hadn't sealed it completely. The fibre board backing absorbed the water and eventually the Corian cracked and exploded into small pieces.

I have a love hate relationship with plastics, as environmentally it is horrible and I run awesome dust collectors connected to all my tools, but plastics can do SOOO much. My mentor is a Plastic's Master and has taught me a lot. All my counter tops are Corian and I stock sheets of it when I get it for cheap/free, although often used. The beauty of Corian is it works with wood working tools, but glues up any which way. A track saw can do all the cutting, so no need for a tablesaw, and a beefy router against the track can do the rest, although I would recommend making a larger base for the router. Damage like major scratches can often be sanded out, or just use a jig and cut a section out. Corian is one of my favorite counter top materials! A proper cove though takes a lot of work to not be lazy and just silicon a chunk on the back. https://www.solidsurface.com/counter...cksplash-coved

Originally Posted by Steve509926

I think one of the things to consider is that the vast majority of members will only have hand held tools (incl electric handheld) not CNC machines, Festools or even table routers and thins will be held in place with G clamps.

Correct as most folks don't take an interest in fabrication, which typically requires a lot of tools and equipment, which require large amounts of space.