Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hey guys. So I picked up my boat today to get it ready for tomorrow. When I was doing the walk around, I noticed the bunks on one side are shifted forward a bit which caused the brackets that are bolted to the trailer to rotate. On the other side, everything is still straight. There seems to be a gap, maybe 3/16'ths of an inch between the U-bolt and the frame. Is that why the bunk slid forward on the one side? Seems like I could move the bunk back to where it is supposed to be when I get the boat off the trailer tomorrow, but do you think I can keep this from happening again just by tightening the nuts down a little bit? I think they may have backed off enough. Any chance that this could shear those bolts if it happens again?

That would be a bad day...

Looks like that side took a blow while loading the boat. Just loosen the u bolts, readjust, and tighten back down. The helpers on my trailer get shifted just about everytime I load the toon. I've thought about bracing them up but I figure this way they're not gonna get bent if they move a little. So, just keep an eye on them from time to time.

dunny961 wrote:Looks like that side took a blow while loading the boat. Just loosen the u bolts, readjust, and tighten back down. The helpers on my trailer get shifted just about everytime I load the toon. I've thought about bracing them up but I figure this way they're not gonna get bent if they move a little. So, just keep an eye on them from time to time.

You think that is possible to do with the boat still on?

dunny961 wrote:Looks like that side took a blow while loading the boat. Just loosen the u bolts, readjust, and tighten back down. The helpers on my trailer get shifted just about everytime I load the toon. I've thought about bracing them up but I figure this way they're not gonna get bent if they move a little. So, just keep an eye on them from time to time.

Oh, and those are actually the brackets for the bunks. All the brackets on the starboard side are rotated like that. I'll just straighten it out. My guess is I came in a little cock-eyed and the boat didn't make it perfectly straight. It was dark too at the time whcih didn't help.

Maybe another set of bolts on each bracket? old jim

old jim wrote:Maybe another set of bolts on each bracket? old jim

Another set of U bolts on each bracket spread a few inches apart would make it impossible to turn like that.

And use nylon insert SS lock nuts

margaritaman wrote:

old jim wrote:Maybe another set of bolts on each bracket? old jim

Another set of U bolts on each bracket spread a few inches apart would make it impossible to turn like that.

Exactly what I was thinking