Brad Christy

Dan,

Have you ever noticed any scratches on the bottom of your boat? I know plastics are known for harboring abrasives, which can be quite prolific in the water around boat ramps. Just curious.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

ICDEDPPL

Hey Brad , I haven`t noticed any scratches but I would think the flat plastic would hold less than fuzzy carpet .

Brad Christy

Dan,

It can, but it's got someplace to go without being pressed into the gelcoat. With the plastic, grit can get embedded and can't get away. This is how a brass lap works. The grit gets embedded into the soft brass, typically being softer than what is being lapped, then used to cut into whatever it is that's being lapped. I've actually made plastic lapping tooling for lapping aluminum parts. The grit will always embed into the softer material, then act on the harder material. But gritty debris won't likely actually embed into carpet, as the carpet is very porous and flexible, which will allow for the release of the debris.

Being in the machine trades is sometimes a curse. That was the first thing that came to mind when I saw your pic.

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

Plowtownmissile

I've had the plastic slides on a previous trailer/boat and the vibration caused them to wear through the gelcoat. I noticed it when I raised my boat on my lift at LOTO. Bottom gelcoat repair was a couple grand and ripped the plastic slides off the trailer immediately.

blownhammer2000

I have used Lowes carpet for years. Trick is to get the stuff that has a little elasticity to it, I double up the ends that take the brunt and leave at least an inch of bunk exposed on the bottom to dry out. Hasn't ripped in 5 years. Any carpet will rip if a boat is drug across it over time, especially if the trailer is dunked too shallow

ICDEDPPL

Ive had the plastic slides on every trailer I`ve ever had including jet skis and never a single problem, I`ll be putting them on the new boat too. Makes loading and unloading much easier too .

what "vibration" would make it wear thru the gelcoat .. does not compute to me .

Plowtownmissile

The movement between the boat and trailer while towing it. It was a brand new Venture VATB-8725 trailer.

snapmorgan

Here is my tip for replacing bunk carpet. It doesn't matter what condition you existing wood is in, buy new. By the time you pull all of the old staples out, you will wish you did.

PA.WOODCHUCK

got mine here
Custom Boat Trailer Bunk System - Snaptraxx

Wildman_grafix

I also dunk the trailer in and get the carpet wet then pull it out to where the boat loads.