Teflon slider strips on carpet covered trailer bunks?

[sheral]

We have a R21-EC with the factory trailer that has carpet covered bunks. As we do not have a real boat launch here (just a gravel slope in and out of the water) we have to try and time a good tide with low wind. However even the other day with a 16+ foot tide the boat still had to be ‘driven’ off the trailer quite forcefully.

I haven’t heard a lot of good things about the teflon strips so am wondering if maybe just using the teflon type sprays and or paraffin wax on the carpeted bunks is a better idea?

Have many of you installed the teflon strips? If so did you remove the carpet? What are the pros / cons and your experiences with the teflon strips or with the teflon sprays (on carpet)? Thanks.

 

[Red Raven]

We have used the Teflon spray with some success. It helps but there just isn't enough water under the boat to safely launch at our extremely gradual ramp (designed for WWII seaplanes). The factory does not recommend using the Teflon strips as they might damage the fiberglass bottom. I think they are designed for aluminum boats. If you can drive off as is, I would think the spray may be sufficient to meet your needs. Worth a try. Note that the factory standard practice is to drive the boats off, as shown in their launch video, so this is normal. If you can get to a steeper launch that would be the best option. That is what we intend to do next time as we just cannot get enough water under the boat at our launch. It will mean adding hours to the process but I have come to the conclusion it can't be helped (unless the Marina adds a heavier lift or changes the launch).

 

[tlkenyon]

I apply the West Marine Liquid Roller spray once a year, and it works well. It does not do the same as true rollers, but it makes loading and unloading a lot easier. It allows me to crank the R25SC far enough onto the trailer to avoid the Ranger Bump.

 

[sheral]

Thanks guys. I will give the wax or spray a try 🙂

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Liquid Roller spray for our R27 as well. For us I apply about twice per year. We use our boat in fresh and salt water and launch frequently when we're not on a long distance cruise away from home, so the application frequency will depend on your personal use I'm guessing . It does work well and I think you'd find it helpful.

Jim

 

[stwendl]

If applying liquid roller spray does it have any effect on trailering and the boat being more loose on the trailer while doing so. Just curious

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We've trailered Kismet across the USA, from Michigan to the PNW and back twice, as well as to and from Florida. We've experienced no problems trailering or pulling the boat out of the water, while using Liquid Rollers. We do have a transom strap, a bow strap as well as the bow chain and winch strap. The only problem we've had is made by human error when I forgot to take the transom strap off once when we were launching Kismet. Lisa called to me that the trailer was floating.....embarrassing but not a liquid roller problem.

Jim

 

[tlkenyon]

There is no discernible difference when towing. It just slides on and off a little easier. Make sure; however, not to take the bow strap off until you want to turn it loose...as in it will land in the water and not on the ramp.

 

[NorthernFocus]

When we purchased a C-Dory in 2005 it came with a trailer fitted with the "Teflon" trailer slides. We trailered fairly long distances. In a very short while the teflon bunks severely chaffed the gelcoat on the bottom of the boat. The chaffing doesn't occur during launch. It happens when towing from the minute movement/vibration while traveling on the road. What happens is that sand/dust/grime flies up during towing and gets between the Teflon and bottom of the boat. The Teflon is soft enough for the sand etc. to become imbedded in it. Then the Teflon basically becomes a piece of very fine emery board. The bottom of the boat looks as if it has been we sanded with 400 grit paper where it contacts the trailer bunks.

I used Teflon a good bit in my professional life as well. The same sort of thing occurs. Teflon is great stuff when used in an extremely clean environment or in static applications like gaskets. But if exposed to environments with very fine solid particles (like volcanic pumice dust in the PNW) it becomes a wear surface that chews away at an metal if there is any relative motion between the two due to vibration, rotation, or axial motion.

If you don't trailer long distances it is fine. But if you plan to do any road trips it will destroy the finish of your gelcoat or eat through bottom paint.

 

[Two killicks]

I will try this product, sounds like you are all thinking that it works great! Would it be overkill to use a gunwhale strap too? Just to make sure that the boat does not move at all on the trailer?

 

[tlkenyon]

I use heavy-duty ratchet straps from the aft cleats to an eye on the trailer to prevent side-to-side and aft movement. In addition to the bow winch strap, I use a ratchet strap from the bow eye downward to the main trailer beam to prevent upward movement of the bow, and as a kinda backup to the bow winch strap. It makes a pretty secure package. I relax all the straps when the boat is sitting on the trailer at home.

 

[stwendl]

When we purchased a C-Dory in 2005 it came with a trailer fitted with the "Teflon" trailer slides. We trailered fairly long distances. In a very short while the teflon bunks severely chaffed the gelcoat on the bottom of the boat. The chaffing doesn't occur during launch. It happens when towing from the minute movement/vibration while traveling on the road. What happens is that sand/dust/grime flies up during towing and gets between the Teflon and bottom of the boat. The Teflon is soft enough for the sand etc. to become imbedded in it. Then the Teflon basically becomes a piece of very fine emery board. The bottom of the boat looks as if it has been we sanded with 400 grit paper where it contacts the trailer bunks.

I used Teflon a good bit in my professional life as well. The same sort of thing occurs. Teflon is great stuff when used in an extremely clean environment or in static applications like gaskets. But if exposed to environments with very fine solid particles (like volcanic pumice dust in the PNW) it becomes a wear surface that chews away at an metal if there is any relative motion between the two due to vibration, rotation, or axial motion.

If you don't trailer long distances it is fine. But if you plan to do any road trips it will destroy the finish of your gelcoat or eat through bottom paint.

Just wondering. Would debris not also get trapped in carpeted bunks and have the same effect to some degree.
Note to self for maintenance: before putting boat on trailer vacuum bunks 🙂

 

[NorthernFocus]

Just wondering. Would debris not also get trapped in carpeted bunks and have the same effect to some degree.
Note to self for maintenance: before putting boat on trailer vacuum bunks 🙂

That has puzzled me as well. Intuitively it would seem like carpet would be even worse. But empirical data indicates otherwise. Teflon seems to be soft enough to trap the particulates yet hard enough to retain them and press them against the surface of the hull. I guess the carpet lets the sand etc. press down and through it such that it doesn't have the same effect. Carpeted bunks DO chaff the hull to some degree with significant road miles but nothing approaching the degree to which the Teflon does.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I'm a little late to this discussion, but I use ordinary silicone spray lubricant on the carpeted bunks of my cuddy's tandem axle trailer. It definitely makes the boat slide on and off more easily. I apply it several times a season. As has been mentioned, have the boat in the water ready to come off the trailer before undoing the safety chain and releasing the winch because easy-on translates to easy-off.

 

[Scuffy]

I think it's important that when using slicks on a bunk trailer that the bunks have to be adjusted so the hull is not just riding on an edge of the bunk. I noticed on the C-Brat site recently at least one of the posters have used slicks on bunk trailer since his boat was new and trailered back and forth cross country with no ill effects he reported. Their boat a C-Dory 25' cruiser I believe are in the 9000 pound weight range. Our bunks are mounted so the bunk can tilt from side to side insuring it is riding flat against the hull. We just use the slicks on the forward half of the trailer where our keel is supported by a v shaped plastic covered cross member. I think this takes some of the pressure off the bunks. The rear of the boat where the real weight is; on the just carpeted bunks. We use a turnbuckle from the trailer tongue to the bow eye and use a 4" strap over the gunnels down to the frame of the trailer. See our album. I don't believe the boat moves too much while being trailered. We have a 6000 + mile trailering trip scheduled. I guess we will find out what's shaking.