I have a 15'11" long john boat type aluminum bass boat from Fisher Marine.

I replace the boards on my boat trailer a few years back. I go the treated type but fear that the treatment was for insects not water. Oh Well. They can be replaced again if they rot. The first boards lasted me over 25 years. So I figure the new ones will last as long again.

If I were younger and had to do it all over again. I'd treat them with some type of water proofing stain. Thompson won't last long as I've used that on my back wooden deck and it didn't last very long. The Stain that I got from Benjamin Moore Lasted much longer and looked better.

Anyway I stapled indoor/outdoor carpet on the boards. I found that my boat would not slide off the trailer with the carpet on the boards.

The Boards are long 2x4 on edge. I guess that they are about 16 ft. long. Only two of them on the trailer.

When I went to Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's I found the plastic strips that you can screw onto the top edge of the boards and placed about 4 of them along the boards top edge with wood screws. They have a recessed area for the screw heads. Now my boat flies off the trailer with ease.

I replaced the side boards on my trailer too as they help me guide the boat onto the trailer more easily and keep the boat centered on the trailer.

You could get buy without the carpet if you wish. The plastic strips are slick and work well. I spaced them a few inches apart and made sure that I had enough to cover the length of the board. The space between each plastic strip was less than 1 ft. The bottom of the aluminum boat slides along the plastic strips easy.


Quote Originally Posted by llg View Post
I want to use the plastic slide pads because my pontoon is difficult to load and unload. It is a Bass Pro Sun Tracker set up for fishing, 21' length and 60 hp Mercury. It is heavy. The carpeted wood strips are 9 years old and one has rotted.

I am going to change all 4 bunks, 16' long, 2"x4" to 2"x6".

I want to change all the wood, seal it with something weatherproof, and install plastic pads on top. Plastic is supposed to be slicker and easier to load/unload. I am not installing carpet because the carpet will keep water trapped against the wood longer. The carpet would have no purpose with the plastic pads.

Lowes advertises 2 x 6 x 16 for $15. Ebay has several plastic pads and various prices.

Is my reasoning sound? Any places I should search for the plastic pads?