Bunk vs Roller trailer ? Easy choice in NE

bgreene · #1 07-18-2012, 09:20 PM

Low tide at Shark River inlet and lots of boats at the ramp.

Too many of the float on / bunk guys had to deal with waiting out the tide to put their boats in. Water too low, risk of running off the edge of the ramp made it impossible.

The roller guys were able to ease back close to the ramp end, then lock it up and roll the boats easily off, some without much water under them up front.

So far, the dual axle SeaLion trailer I bought has been working out fine. Got disks on both axles and the V21 fits nicely. Now if I could only get better than about 10-11 mpg's while towing it would really be great....

macojoe · #2 07-19-2012, 05:18 AM

A bunch of ramps near me are the same, I have a few friends that got stuck at ramps all the time waiting for water! Thats why I have never owned a bunk, Its ok for the smaller boat guys or the gys that just store there boats on them in the winter, but for someone like me that trailers every where roller is the way to go!

reelapeelin · #3 07-19-2012, 06:19 AM

Boils down to matching your trailer to the ramps you use...

Then there's the discussion about who put the ramps in the way they did and their choice of where they were installed...down here, there are some short, shallow ramps...look around a bit and you can find ramps properly installed on the edge of deep water that are long enough to drop a boat from either style trailer even at the lowest tides...that way, the tax money used to build these ramps is better used by serving all the boaters who use them, whenever they can w/out regard for tidal changes...

tartuffe · #4 07-19-2012, 06:56 AM

Wonder why that is that the ramps up north just are not built at the proper angle and of sufficient length? I have a bunk trailer with 10" bunks so it sits pretty high. I've been to probably 30 ramps and have never had a problem.

RidgeRunner · #5 07-19-2012, 07:21 AM

I like the firm hold of the boat resting on bunks as it should 99% of the time. The ramp at Gandy Blvd. in Tampa on low tide with a bunk trailer. What a PITA. Long gradual slope very shallow. Roller trailer would have been nice for sure. Advantage roller on shallow ramps.
I used a ramp in the FL Keys near crash corner in Key Largo. I didn't think my truck could hold on the ramp it was so steep. It was cut into the land and the ramp was only about 4' deep when it got flush with the seawall where it ended. Straight down and about 25'-30' deep. I made the girls get out of the truck. Then gave the attendant at the marina a 5 spot to eyeball the axle to end of ramp ratio. Roller would have been nice there too. They make slide glide strips to mount on bunks that make the boat slide off easier but without enough water the keel would be dragging all the crossmembers coming off.

Glad your new trailer is working out for you Bgreene. Mileage while towing, good luck on that. The diesel in the GMC will haul the mail, thanks to TheFermanator, but mileage with a boat in tow is still not great.

spareparts · #6 07-19-2012, 07:27 AM

its rare to see a roller trailer down here, and we've got some pretty shallow ramps. Go to NC and you'll see even more shallow ramps, but still rare to see a roller. It cost a pretty penny to keep a roller in good operating shape in the salt down here. Most bunk trailers(especially aluminum ones) are rarely set up correctly for the boat. Usually the boats are just set in place, if the bunks are adjustable, they just move them so they won't sit directly on a strake. A properly set up bunk trailer will work as good as any roller if you can get it deep enough for water to cover the tires on the trailer(better still if you can cover the fender). The biggest difference is when it comes time to load up the boat, as we are allowed to power up a boat on the trailer, unlike some areas in the NE

tartuffe · #7 07-19-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spareparts

allowed to power up a boat on the trailer, unlike some areas in the NE

Did not know that, geesh, take all the fun out of loading the boat.

phatdaddy · #8 07-19-2012, 11:02 AM

i think spares right on with the salt issue. first boat i had was a 19 mako w/ a trailer that had 21 rollers. i could launch in a bird bath, but every year i was replacing rollers , brackets , axles, gang brackets, etc. after 3 years , i pulled all that off and put on two cypress bunks and only had wheel bearings to contend with.

no doubt a roller will do it all, but if local ramps will allow, i'll stick to bunks.

bgreene · #9 07-19-2012, 02:19 PM

Got a new roller recently so I'll inquire about any roller related maintainance.

Had a bunk - carpet wore out - put slip strips on - a litle better.

Roller - so easy to ease it off................ and winch it back up.

Destroyer · #10 07-19-2012, 02:40 PM

Not aware of anyplace in the NE that prohibits driving onto a trailer. Not saying there aren't, just that I don't know of any. But give me a roller trailer anytime... easy as pie for us old guys to get the boat back on the trailer.. Something you youngsters should think about when you get to our age...