I've seen these teflon and nylon slides that say they make a boat easier to launch and are easier on the boat. I've been using liquid rollers on my bunks for years (it makes the boat slide off very easily!), but it doesn't protect the gel coat from scratching. Does anyone have any actual experience with these products or know of one which might reduce the scratching done to the gel coat? :?:
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Bunk Slides
- Thread starter Noreaster
- Start date
Our trailer came from the factory with the hard rubber covers over the carpeted bunks. This may not be the same as the teflon slides, but we have not had an issue with the bunks causing scratching of the gelcoat. On our previous trailerable catboat, we found that if the trailer had been sitting for a while sans boat, the carpeted bunk would accumulate grit. A quick flush of the bunks before retrieving will take care of that.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
matt_unique
New member
Hi Lenny.
Your note is timely since I just replaced the forward 7' of my bunks.
Here is a thread that discusses it extensively (toward the end to get to the bunk and glide on information):
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... sc&start=0
Particularly with our Tomcats and the knife edge at the front of the sponsons; the carpet acts like sand paper and rubs off the gelcoat during retrieval. Bad Boy and others suggested "glide ons" to reduce the wear.
My trailer has 4, 6" wide bunks. The hardest part is removing the existing carpet and rusted staples. Once you have bare wood the installation is very easy. Glide ons will also reduce the holding friction compared to carpet so be careful if you install them. I'm sure you know this but NEVER release the bow hook or safety chain until your vessel is afloat.
Napoleon will not see the trailer until the end of the season (Oct 30) but hopefully these glide ons will minimize the friction damage to the bottom of the sponsons. (This past year I reinforced that area with epoxy thickened with colloidal silica).
Your note is timely since I just replaced the forward 7' of my bunks.
Here is a thread that discusses it extensively (toward the end to get to the bunk and glide on information):
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... sc&start=0
Particularly with our Tomcats and the knife edge at the front of the sponsons; the carpet acts like sand paper and rubs off the gelcoat during retrieval. Bad Boy and others suggested "glide ons" to reduce the wear.
My trailer has 4, 6" wide bunks. The hardest part is removing the existing carpet and rusted staples. Once you have bare wood the installation is very easy. Glide ons will also reduce the holding friction compared to carpet so be careful if you install them. I'm sure you know this but NEVER release the bow hook or safety chain until your vessel is afloat.
Napoleon will not see the trailer until the end of the season (Oct 30) but hopefully these glide ons will minimize the friction damage to the bottom of the sponsons. (This past year I reinforced that area with epoxy thickened with colloidal silica).
I am not sure I would use these glide ons for a 16. The boats are light weight, and it might make it too easy to come off (or stay on) the trailer.
We have not used ours on the Tom Cat--which are only on the first 8 feet (front) of the trailer many times--but so far, not any noticable wear.
We have not used ours on the Tom Cat--which are only on the first 8 feet (front) of the trailer many times--but so far, not any noticable wear.