---

Am thinking of installing either the guide posts or side bunks on our trailer to make loading at deep water ramps easier. Is there an advantage to one style or the other in terms of guiding the boat on straight? I like the idea of the posts as they make the trailer easier to see when backing down the ramp. They also run against the rub rail when loading and not the side of the boat, but it seems like the side bunks may do a better job overall of aligning the boat on the center rollers? I don't have any experience with either, so any input would be appreciated.

---

I have used both and yes the side bunks do offer a little more assistance than poles. I currently use post as they will help point the bow in the right direction and as you said they only touch the rub rail plus make it alot easier backing the trailer especially an empty trailer.

---

Hi Dave.

My boat is significantly smaller than yours however I beleive the poles are the way to go in your application. Not only do the poles make it easier to back the empty trailer down the ramp, they also keep your boat straight on the trailer while still in the water in case you're dealing with a crosswind too.

---

Dave - While there are fans of bunks and fans of PVC guide posts, I am a fan of rollers.

I find they are stronger than PVC and a bit more forgiving than bunks in rough conditions.

If you click on my profile, navigate to my photos and select the trailer album, you can see the setup. Purchased through Eastern Marine's website.

---

One significant factor is the ramp(s) you use - if your ramp is steep, and / or you need to get the trailer in deep to load, a roller, or particularly a bunk style guide, may be partially submerged and less effective.

I have post style guides, and like them a lot for my 15. However, they are not as strong as bunks or rollers - not an issue for my 15 but may be for a bigger boat. Some post guides have very little metal in the upright, and the plastic tube itself offers little support. I bought my post guides based on how far the metal support extended into the plastic tube - in fact, I bought a longer model and cut the plastic down just to maximize the amount of metal in there. My posts came out OK, but I wish I had seen these guys' version first: http://www.veveinc.com/shop/customer/home.php

I also have pipelights in my posts, as shown on my personal page. I am happy with them.

Tim

---

I have both, pole on the end of the trailer and 2 foot side bunks about 3 feet from the end of the trailer

---

I have pvc posts on my 22 Outrage's trailer and love them. Easy to see while backing and do a good job helping to center. Not as effective as bunks when loading in current, though.

I had side bunks on a previous trailer for a 17' Aquasport. Made loading a breeze, especially in heavy current and wind. The only thing I didn't like about them was the difficulty in waxing the hull--couldn't power buff, and had to reach my hand down into about a 3" clearance. That strip on each side never looked as nice as the rest of the hull.

---

Dave,
go with neither if you really want to center the boat each and every time. Go with lower bunks that capture the keel and keep it centered on the rollers. This is the only photo I can fine, it's of Buckda(Dave's) boat. note the lower bunks to center the boat. It is the one mod I am making to my trailer this year.
Buckda's Trailer

Guide posts are nice, it does help to see where the trailer is, you can also get your lights out of the water.

---

Thanks for all the replies, great info and very helpful.

Got me thinking, with the guide posts, is the loading process different? I'm wondering if they allow the trailer to be backed in further, allowing the boat for the most part to "float" in up to the winch as it's being cranked, then the poles help guide the stern down on the rollers as the rig is pulled out? Or is that wishful thinking? Right now I can't back in too deep as the trailer gets "lost" in the steep ramp water and it becomes somewhat of a guessing game where the boat is in relation.

---

Dave,

You'd be surprised at how much easier it is to load the boat with the guide posts. Yes, you will be able to back your trailer back further into the water and not have to play the guessing game as to where your trailer really is. Also, cross current and cross wind loading is much easier too.

---

I realy like tedious Trailer Guide Posts. I have the same with out the lights. I had side bunks on an other boat, Good in the wind but hard to wash around, and allways seem to rub on the hull. I do not have a problem with the strength, once in side the poles adjust the OB to the angle that will load the boat straight and there you go. I try not to spend a lot of time loading the boat, just come in to it with the wind and current in mind.

---

I actually prefer to do the opposite - keep the trailer out of the water as much as possible, particularly in salt water. I am still experimenting, but I think it will be possible to load my 15 without even putting the wheel bearings in the water. I guess I'm talking myself out of actually needing the posts, but I like them - makes backing down the ramp much easier - without the boat on it, my trailer just about disappears.

As part of my experimenting, on a steep ramp where the rear of the boat is still floating as you haul out, I found the posts do help guide the boat onto the rollers, but it doesn't get perfectly centered - if you winch the boat up, the keel will follow the notch in the center of the rollers. Winching up is more work, though.

I helped my neighbor load his POS 20' inboard on a very steep local ramp - what a nightmare! He didn't have guideposts, and it was an all-roller (also POS) trailer. He insisted on dunking the trailer all the way in, and the rear rollers were literally 3' below the boat when the bow was in the bow stop. The rear roller carriers also tried to float, so they would tilt up vertically when he tried to haul out. After trying several times and nearly having the boat fall off onto the ramp, I finally convinced him to pull the trailer up farther and winch it up - we then found the (POS - are we seeing a theme?) winch didn't work right, and wasn't strong enough to pull the boat. So he sank the trailer again, and after about 7 times, he finally got lucky and the boat fell onto the rollers properly.

Tim