Roller Vs Bunk
 

I realize the bunk gives more support, but i'd like some comments on this...

I'm looking at an 80's 34' Scarab III, I have a triple axle 12,000 lb EZ loader w/rollers...everyone is telling me to get a triple axle bunk trailer....is the roller really that bad for the hull? this trailer will only be used for haul out, short drive, then winter storage, so not much distance, but a lot of time...I do have about 12 extra rollers that I can add at the rear for more support.

Any opinions would be much appreciated....

Its not if you trailer or not its the weight of the boat being supported by a small area touching the boat. in time it could put small dimples in the hull where the roller contacts the hull. Rollers are good for really shallow ramps but that's it.

My old 24ft was on a roller trailer, 1st boat i ever bought... sold the trailer and bought a bunk trailer. Was a pain in the ass to load the boat on it, if you didnt align it right on when loading the boat would never settle straight on the rollers, even so after gougeing the bottom of the boat 2 times, it went bye bye to a bunk trailer.

I wonder if you could get it converted to bunks for a reasonable amount of $$.......?

I think the friction and stability provided by the bunks is important when you are loading a boat of that size especially if there is any current or wind. I know when retrieving mine I often don't put the trailer all the way in because having to gently force it up that last little bit keeps it from floating off.

My .02

Loading a boat on a bunk trailer is differnet than a roller. You need to have some friction to load it properly, its not a float on.. The more bunks the better, no gouges is capteted properly. We load hundreds a week.

Bunk trailers [at least the "good ones"] usually have bunks that extend PAST the rear of the boat [transom area] that prevent hooking and support the heaviest part of the boat, its pretty hard to get a roller trailer to do that.

When I bought my boat I looked at the trailer [its a "Champion"] and the bunks stuck out at the back about a foot past the hull, I ALMOST trimmed them off, until a few board members [and buddies] told me not too and why. Roller trailers in some cases are easier to load, but, all it takes is ONE of those center rollers to be bent or tweaked just a small amount and the whole boat will keep slipping to one side, trust me, it can be a real PITA!!

Michael

Think of it this way, a roller trailer is like putting your hull on a bed of nails to rest comfortably. A properly designed bunk trailer distributes the weight over a much greater area and in the places where your hull has the most strength. I never recommend a roller trailer to anybody. We use them around the boat yard for temporary storage and movement (from the water to a set of blocks) only.

I agree, although, I have no problem with a roller trailer on a "small" boat, for example, I have a small 15ft tempest with a 55HP outboard the kids splash around and fish in, it sits on a roller trailer, but, its so darn small, and light that I dont think it really makes that much of a difference, I also dont trailer it any distance either, but, as I mentioned earlier, if just ONE of those rollers is bent or shifted it makes retrieving a real hassle.

I agree with "Stroked", his analogy of the the "bed of nails" is spot on, think about when your trailering down a rough road, do you really want all the shock from bumps and ruts in the road to be transferred through a few rollers, or a set of carpeted bunks that are much, much longer?

Michael

U can convert the trailer easy and cheap to bunk set up !!