Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Is it typical for carpet to rip easily on trailers or am I loading my pontoon wrong?
See pictures...
I've owned by pontoon since spring of 2015, brand new pontoon, brand new trailer.
I load like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtAxrQGww9k
But I do put the trailer a little farther into the water. Basically til my suburban tires meet the water. My pontoon is 23'.
After one season of use my trailer carpet is ripping (see pictures) and the company says I'm loading it wrong.

(sorry the one picture is upside down. Not sure how to flip it)

looks like felt to me instead of carpet. That's pretty weak carpet. It should not wear in one season! Warranty issue?

Mine doesn't have carpet, it has the plastic sheaths.

My old boat trailer had carpet and it lasted a decade at a time, so this appears to be inferior material.

http://www.easternmarine.com/self-cente ... lack-86295

is what is on my trailer.

Wait. You didn't by any chance buy that trailer from T&M up in Grand Rapids, did you?
If you did, it's definitely a case of extremely inferior materials, that they build right there (look up the owner of "Grand Island" and T&M, and you'll see it's the same person).

I had to replace the axles on my trailer I bought from them. Don't get me started. Oh, and don't expect any kind of satisfaction on it either.

That is power loading, it is not the correct way. if its on cement its fine I guess. your carpet should not be ripped. mine is a 2015 I've loaded and unloaded 30 times this year still looks brand new. what brand is it? It does look like felt.

Shouldn't put an aluminum pontoon on carpet anyway, especially if its salt or brackish water. The wet carpet will keep the bad stuff on your hulls and it will pit them. Use a plastic on the bunkboards and your boat will slide off and on easier and the plastic protects the wood as well.

Since the OP is in Minnesota, I don't think salt water would be an issue?

I don't believe putting plastic on the bunks. The more friction keeping the boat on the trailer is better as far as I am concerned. I have no problem launching my boat with carpeted bunks.

I always back in far enough to get my bunks completely wet, then pull forward until about 2 or 3 feet is exposed before loading.

babock wrote:Since the OP is in Minnesota, I don't think salt water would be an issue?

I don't believe putting plastic on the bunks. The more friction keeping the boat on the trailer is better as far as I am concerned. I have no problem launching my boat with carpeted bunks.

As far as I'm concerned you can go fuck yourself!

your carpet shouldnt be tearing after 1 season... I bought my boat and trailer in 2010 and the carpet still looks good.. now we do back the trailer down and get the bunks good and wet before loading.. and also, about 3 or 4 times a season I spray the bunks with a product called liquid rollers... supposedly causes less friction / drag when loading and unloading... a word of caution though before using anything like that on your bunks... if you use it make sure you keep your boat winch hooked until you are ready to put her in the lake.... I have a friend who used a "similar" product on their bunks and when they were backing down the launch, the boat slid right off the trailer onto the launch.... wasn't a pontoon boat but the same principle applies...

RcgTexas wrote: As far as I'm concerned ...

On any other forum, you would be permanently banned. Hopefully the mods here have enough sense to do the same.

Well if that's the case I wont have to see your left coast blather and contradictions anymore.

Who made you the last word on anything? Every time I make a post and offer an opinion you come back and make some smart ass comment and I'm sick of it.

Now go do what I said!

I think this is a matter off loading. Seems your bunks are 80% out of the water and all the weight is sliding on a dry surface. If you have the small keel on the bottom of your toons not right away centered on the bunks that will rip felt or carpet.
Should be an easy fix or use the plastic bunk covers.
Happy Tooning!

Reiner wrote:I think this is a matter off loading. Seems your bunks are 80% out of the water and all the weight is sliding on a dry surface. If you have the small keel on the bottom of your toons not right away centered on the bunks that will rip felt or carpet.
Should be an easy fix or use the plastic bunk covers.
Happy Tooning!

careful, I just noticed your from San Diego.

Reiner wrote:I think this is a matter off loading. Seems your bunks are 80% out of the water and all the weight is sliding on a dry surface.

The video is not of him. He states he backs in further. You better stop that west coast blather!

Most of the ramps near me do not allow power loading like that guy does because it ruins the ramps.

Probably just cheap carpet.