Makeover of My Pontoon Trailer

[Bamby]

We've been unsatisfied with this trailer since we purchased it. But it was still a far better trailer than what we had, it just needed a makeover to make it satisfactory.

Here are some shots of it as purchased.

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You can actually see in the photo above where the crappy hardware that came with the trailer actually slipped and the 2x4 is now actually in a vertical position with the pontoon only supported with a corner of the 2x4 more or less. Anyway I wasn't happy and felt I was putting my boat in jeopardy of actually sustaining some real damage.

I spent a lot of time searching for a available replacements and frankly found they are very difficult to find. I finally sourced them directly from a trailer manufacture because all the dealers selling their boats wouldn't be bothered with ordering them. So I contacted Mid-America Trailer through their website and they can through for us. Here's a few of our now hopefully improved trailer.

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The new wood is in actually treated 2x8's that were 20' long and I ripped them half. This trailer is close to 40' in overall length and I didn't want any more joints than I had to in the bunks. I utilized vinyl 4x4 post coverings that are 6' in length ea. to cover the wood and create a thermal barrier for my pontoons from any chemicals that may have been utilized in the treatment of the wood. I'm a hoping I'll now have a trailer I can have some confidence in.

[RcgTexas]

I have the type you took off but mine haven't spread yet(your boat is probably heavier). but I really like the new ones you have. Good job!

[MH Hawker]

Let me know how the PVC caps work out, i have been thinking about doing the same thing on mine. And if you dont mind a bit of details on how you attached them.

[Drago]

That just looks awesome. I'll bet the stuff you used was a lot cheaper than what I used!

[Bamaman]

Just make sure your boat is tightly lashed down front and rear at all times. With the vinyl on the runners, it could be susceptible to moving back and forth--slippery.

[Bamby]

Let me know how the PVC caps work out, i have been thinking about doing the same thing on mine. And if you dont mind a bit of details on how you attached them.

The slots and screws attaching the vinyl are pretty visible so if your meaning the boards themselves they're bolted. After drilling the boards up through the bottom through the bracket itself I changed out bits and countersunk the top enough to allow a galvanized carriage to sit flush with the boards surface and secured them down. Yea a bigger PIA than lag screws but one heck of a lot more secure in the long run as far as I was concerned anyway..

[MH Hawker]

Thanks very much. I have been saying im going to rebuild my trailer for the last 2 years and never seam to get around to it but I plan on adding the PVC caps. I do the same thing and counter sink carriage head bolts on the bunks and was thinking about slotting the area to attach the PVC to the bunks to give them a bit of flexing room.

[Bamby]

Let me know how the PVC caps work out, i have been thinking about doing the same thing on mine. And if you dont mind a bit of details on how you attached them.

Here's an affirmation, they worked out great. Experienced the easiest load out of this boat since I've owned it, despite the low water conditions yesterday when we loaded her out!

[Bamby]

An affirmative update for the trailer bunk modification. But on to the rest of the story... She let me down yesterday sitting inside of a lock on the river. Everything was working properly and she was running fine till I shut her down for the lock passage. As the lock-tender was opening the lock I hit the key and she stumbled and fired a few licks and it was all she wrote, we were dead in the water.

A gracious fellow boat who was actually planning on locking through going south made a hasty change of plans and tied off to us and towed us about ten miles upriver to our destination where our truck and trailer awaited us. He was able to put us into the boat ramp perfectly upon our arrival and the slicks were were about to be tested with the ultimate test, could or would she load without any motor power assistance.

I then went and fetched the truck and trailer while a couple of hands held the boat in place at the ramp. I carefully backed the trailer down the ramp observing the bunks and the boats pontoons and shouting directions out my window to my hands at the same time. Once I had them push out the front of boat to line on the bunks I had them hold a tight-line while I backed the trailer under her as far as I was comfortable going, and yes the exhaust was blowing bubbles and the boat was about half way up the trailer. Water conditions were low and this is a fairly shallow ramp to start with.

Anyway with a couple of tugging on lines and a man on the winch we managed to horse her the rest of the way on the trailer. As we stood there admiring the fruit of our labor it was unanimously agreed by all involved that it never would have happened with a typical trailer with carpeted bunks.

Now as far as what's went wrong with my Yamaha, I have no idea as of yet. I had no time or opportunity yesterday to do any troubleshooting what-so-ever to determine what ails it. I just barely got her towed to her winter storage and parked before the sun went west over the horizon. If the weather holds I may look at and fix her yet this year if not it will just haft to wait for spring.

[RcgTexas]

Glad she went on the new bunks ok! Too bad about the Yamaha do you have a filter water separator on board. might have gotten a shot of water.