Determining Trailer Bunk Board Length for 14 Foot Sailboat

Question:

I have a 14foot sailboat. I removed old bunks but didnt measure size for replacement. The boards were on pivot brackets that have rusted. What size bunks do I need? Thanks!

asked by: Andrea K

Helpful Expert Reply:

It's not an exact science but typically you want the bunk boards on a trailer to extend all the way to the rear of the boat. It wouldn't hurt to have them go a bit beyond this too to ensure proper support during travel. Since the front of the boat should be supported by the bow stop you usually see bunk boards that measure about half the length of the boat itself.

Since you no longer have the boards that originally came on your trailer it might also be a good idea to try and contact the sailboat manufacturer as they will likely have a recommended size for your particular model.

If you go by half the boat's length as mentioned above 7 foot bunk boards like the CE Smith # CE27845 will work nicely. For new bolster brackets you can use the 11" # CE10001G-4 or the 13" # CE10002G-4.

I have attached a short video demonstration that you can check out as well.

expert reply by: Chris R