Aluminum boats, treated pine bunks

[gran398]

Guys, in 1995 bought a new Lowe 14 doublewide jon. This is the second trailer. Both trailers had carpeted, pressure treated pine bunks.

The boat has been babied her entire life...always covered, always pampered...never beat. No leaks. Always dusty in the bilge at the end of the day...not a drop of water.

This past weekend...LOT of water in the bilge. Took it in...the mechanic lifted it up off the trailer with a hoist...found six holes each the size of a quarter...exactly above where she sat on the bunks.

Galvanic corrosion from the arsenic/copper napthanate in the pressure treated lumber...over the course of sixteen years...the poison won out. Holes are directly above the bunks, both sides. All at once.

Getting her fixed...but something to be aware of. He related a story....last year War Eagle aluminum boats replaced a brand-new 20 footer, same scenario.

[Circle Hooked]

Wow that's crazy,wonder how you avoid that,non treated wood or maybe those plastic bunk slicks  

[John Jones]

cypress bunks or the plastic slides

Sorry to hear that Scott.  I guess I need to check and see what's under my little aluminum boat.  I never looked under the carpet.

[gran398]

You guys are right on both accounts...but unfortunately, more to the story.

The "slicks" (plastic teflon runners) weren't introduced until  six years after I bought her. Then about two years after their intro, I put them on. So she basically sat on the carpet as the only buffer between the poison and the aluminum for eight years.

And when you load her from the salt...no way you can get sweet water in that area with a hose...so the years took over.

The welder and I pretty much came to the conclusion together that the saltwater soaked carpet really wasn't much of a barrier.

The boat is now repaired, new aluminum welded-in...will install taller slicks above the carpet tomorrow morning, full length, no gaps.

I love that little boat. Great all-purpose boat. Pedestal seats front and rear, like a bass boat. Trolling motor, like a flats boat. Flounder lights...like the gigging boat that she is...camo, and brush blind add-on rails for duck hunting.

If a guy could have only one boat...go with a good jon-boat.

[flounderpounder225]

Hey Scott, did it look like this??


2 yrs ago when I bought my Pontoon boat, saw water leaking from the "bunks" for a long while after on the trailer.  I figured this was just corrosion from the bare aluminum sitting in saltwater water logged carpet?  Anyway, fixed it all, and painted the bottom with epoxy to eliminate the corrosion possibility

[MarshMarlowe196]

That's good info Scott.  Thanks for Sharing  

I just helped a good friend of mine buy and rig a new 20' Duracraft.  I'm gonna pass this information on to him.

[gran398]

Marc, it sure did. Funny you should post that pic, the welder said this morning he had just fixed a pontoon boat with the side bunks, just like you mentioned.

Jess, that idea JJ had with the cypress makes real good sense. Your friend should be able to find it at a specialty wood shop.

[MarshMarlowe196]

So would you go with the cypress over simply adding some plastic "slats"?

[Capt. Bob]

Jess,
Both old school and new school treated lumber still contain high levels of copper and while a barrier of plastic should work (5200 adhesive placed between a stainless fastener and a piece of aluminum seems to work pretty good) I'd still err on the side of "don't have to think about it" and go with cypress. It's common around here in Tallahassee so I'd venture a guess you can find it in your neck of the woods.

[GoneFission]

I love that little boat. Great all-purpose boat. Pedestal seats front and rear, like a bass boat. Trolling motor, like a flats boat. Flounder lights...like the gigging boat that she is...camo, and brush blind add-on rails for duck hunting.

If a guy could have only one boat...go with a good jon-boat.

Nothing like a jon boat!  Easy, quick, inexpensive, and lightweight.  And Scott's got his jon boat laid out nicely - great flounder gigging rig or for inshore fishing.  That 3 cylinder 25 is one sweeeeeeeeet motor - smooth and responsive.  

[John Jones]

I ran across this site tonight.

http://www.ultimatebunkboards.com/faq.html

I did not compare the costs but they do away with wood and carpet.

[RickK]

Wonder if it's the same stuff I built the frame for my fresh water tank from?  Recycled plastic decking?

Seems you'd have to bolt several together to get the width a larger boat would require?

[slvrlng]

I'll be danged, those guys are in Grayson Ga. JJ. That's  where I keep my boat. I will check this stuff out and see what its like. Whats really funny, if you look at their home page, the pics of the old v hull aluminum and trailer were taken at Tribble Mill park. Which is only about 10 minutes from the house. The stuff looks pretty expensive but if you factor in carpet and monel staples and time in covering the boards it comes out about the same.

[John Jones]

At first glance it looks expensive but the prices are for 2 bunks and if you factor in one aluminum welding job you are covered.  ;)