DIY Boat bunks

skeeter85 · 07-19-2009, 05:33 PM

I have a boat bunk that the wood has rotted...Don't understand why. The other bunks are perfectly fine. Has anyone made their own bunk or should I just take it in. They seem pretty simple to make and install. Any recommendations on wood type and carpeting. Do they make specific marine grade materials? Any advice is helpful.

Alex T. · 07-19-2009, 06:18 PM

had one of mine break a few years back. Pulled the staples out of the carpet and replaced it with a treated piece(mine are 2x4)from a local lumber store. Replaced the carpet and haven't had any issues yet.Not a tough project at all.

Alex

skeeter85 · 07-19-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex T.

had one of mine break a few years back. Pulled the staples out of the carpet and replaced it with a treated piece(mine are 2x4)from a local lumber store. Replaced the carpet and haven't had any issues yet.Not a tough project at all.

Alex

Thanks, that's kind of what I was thinking... Looks simple, but I just wanted to make sure I did it right... I didn't even notice when I bought the boat but the thing was rotted from day one and didn't notice until today because I guess I never paid attention when I had the boat off the trailer. But the last guy had just pulled the bolts out and hooked it on with a couple pieces of rope! Why can't people take care of there stuff right?

ArizonaNative · 07-20-2009, 03:55 AM

Replacing your bunks is pretty easy. As Alex said, get a treated 2x4 or 2x6 or whatever size board your bunks are, cut to length, and either replace your carpet with marine carpet from Menards or Lowes or somewhere or use your old carpet if you can salvage it. When replacing the hardware that goes into the wood such as staples or lag bolts, make sure you use STAINLESS, otherwise the chemical added to "treat" the wood will corrode the hardware - VERY IMPORTANT (unless you want to do it again soon)!! Some guys opt to chamfer or bevel the top edge of the bunk where the boat first contacts when loading to prevent the carpet from wearing prematurely, but that's a little more complicated when it comes to your carpet cuts and so on.

SetItOff · 07-20-2009, 05:06 PM

What Arizona said, except I had stainless that actually corroded on me. I think you would be even better off with galvanized.

Fish On · 07-20-2009, 05:29 PM

Yellow pine is what Shorelander uses, I'm not sure what 'treated' is treated with nowadays, but the older formula had arsnic (sp?)

I believe.

skeeter85 · 07-20-2009, 10:28 PM

Thanks for the great advice guys... I think I'll take pictures and post up a how to.

swhit · 07-26-2009, 02:55 PM

Monel staples are supposed to be more corrosion resistant than stainless. They are a little pricey, though. I think Lowe's has them. Be sure to use both hands on the staple gun to get the staples set tightly.

skeeter85 · 08-16-2009, 05:55 PM

Before... Yes that is duct tape holding on the one bunk. The two outside ones are already done in this picture. I did those two first because the one wouldn't last another recovery.

After

It's actually not to hard to do. I probably spent a little over a hundred bucks because I had to buy some tools. The old ones were just put on with lag bolts...Hence the reason as soon as the wood started to rot they just came right off. I used T Nuts and bolts. I had to buy a bore and a drill bit set so if you take those out of the picture it was less than a hundred.

I may throw up a DIY thread in the DIY section.

ArizonaNative · 08-16-2009, 09:31 PM

Looks much better!

07-19-2009, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
skeeter85 skeeter85 is winter blows Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bellevue, NE Posts: 970 Thanks: 231 Thanked 284 Times in 186 Posts	DIY Boat bunks I have a boat bunk that the wood has rotted...Don't understand why. The other bunks are perfectly fine. Has anyone made their own bunk or should I just take it in. They seem pretty simple to make and install. Any recommendations on wood type and carpeting. Do they make specific marine grade materials? Any advice is helpful. __________________ dave Tell a man there are 100 billion stars in the universe and he will believe you. Tell a man a bench has wet paint and he'll have to touch it to be sure.

07-20-2009, 03:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
ArizonaNative ArizonaNative is wishing all the ducks weren't in one spot... Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pawnee County Posts: 590 Thanks: 52 Thanked 134 Times in 72 Posts	Replacing your bunks is pretty easy. As Alex said, get a treated 2x4 or 2x6 or whatever size board your bunks are, cut to length, and either replace your carpet with marine carpet from Menards or Lowes or somewhere or use your old carpet if you can salvage it. When replacing the hardware that goes into the wood such as staples or lag bolts, make sure you use STAINLESS, otherwise the chemical added to "treat" the wood will corrode the hardware - VERY IMPORTANT (unless you want to do it again soon)!! Some guys opt to chamfer or bevel the top edge of the bunk where the boat first contacts when loading to prevent the carpet from wearing prematurely, but that's a little more complicated when it comes to your carpet cuts and so on. __________________ . So much to do, so little time.

07-20-2009, 05:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Fish On Fish On is lookin' for bambi...Mmmm bambi 2008 Catch and Continue Finalist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: next to the trolling rod Posts: 1,701 Thanks: 31 Thanked 197 Times in 135 Posts	Yellow pine is what Shorelander uses, I'm not sure what 'treated' is treated with nowadays, but the older formula had arsnic (sp?) I believe. __________________ When you have the option, please buy American made. If it does not save your job, it might save mine.

07-20-2009, 10:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
skeeter85 skeeter85 is winter blows Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bellevue, NE Posts: 970 Thanks: 231 Thanked 284 Times in 186 Posts	Thanks for the great advice guys... I think I'll take pictures and post up a how to. __________________ dave Tell a man there are 100 billion stars in the universe and he will believe you. Tell a man a bench has wet paint and he'll have to touch it to be sure.

07-26-2009, 02:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
swhit swhit has no status. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Omaha Posts: 17 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Monel staples Monel staples are supposed to be more corrosion resistant than stainless. They are a little pricey, though. I think Lowe's has them. Be sure to use both hands on the staple gun to get the staples set tightly. __________________ Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

07-19-2009, 06:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alex T. Alex T. has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: under the doors of a laydown blind Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 4,793 Thanks: 0 Thanked 408 Times in 277 Posts	had one of mine break a few years back. Pulled the staples out of the carpet and replaced it with a treated piece(mine are 2x4)from a local lumber store. Replaced the carpet and haven't had any issues yet.Not a tough project at all. Alex

07-20-2009, 05:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
SetItOff SetItOff has no status. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 9 Posts	What Arizona said, except I had stainless that actually corroded on me. I think you would be even better off with galvanized.

08-16-2009, 05:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
skeeter85 skeeter85 is winter blows Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bellevue, NE Posts: 970 Thanks: 231 Thanked 284 Times in 186 Posts	Before... Yes that is duct tape holding on the one bunk. The two outside ones are already done in this picture. I did those two first because the one wouldn't last another recovery. After It's actually not to hard to do. I probably spent a little over a hundred bucks because I had to buy some tools. The old ones were just put on with lag bolts...Hence the reason as soon as the wood started to rot they just came right off. I used T Nuts and bolts. I had to buy a bore and a drill bit set so if you take those out of the picture it was less than a hundred. I may throw up a DIY thread in the DIY section. __________________ dave Tell a man there are 100 billion stars in the universe and he will believe you. Tell a man a bench has wet paint and he'll have to touch it to be sure.

08-16-2009, 09:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
ArizonaNative ArizonaNative is wishing all the ducks weren't in one spot... Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pawnee County Posts: 590 Thanks: 52 Thanked 134 Times in 72 Posts	Looks much better! __________________ . So much to do, so little time.

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