DIY - Replacing trailer bunk carpet

[CastingCall]

It's not rocket science, but thought I'd post a pictorial DIY of my trailer bunk carpet replacement process.
First: Make sure your tetanus shots are up to date. Lots of sharp rusty staples are in your future.
Spend money: Buy new bunk carpet, stainless or Monel staples, bunk boards (if you need them), and lag screws (again, if you need them).
I bought off-the-roll outdoor carpet from a home center, and new stainless lag screws and washers. My bunk boards were green-treat in excellent shape, so I removed the old carpet and simply recovered them. If you're replacing the boards, you can skip all the carpet removal steps.

Get the boat off the trailer - or in my case, I jacked the boat up off the bunks and blocked it.
For the aft end, I screwed two boards together, then cut a shallow vee to match the bottom contour of the boat - added a piece of carpet for padding.
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Remove lag screws - if you're lucky, they'll back out in one piece. Most of mine were rusty and snapped off. Go figure. Take the bunk off to work on it. I removed, re-covered and replaced one bunk at a time for safety reasons - I was paranoid about having the boat blocked up!

My carpet was pretty well shot - there were holes down to the wood in a few spots.
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Start prying staples! A straight-blade screwdriver works good. Get your kids to help - more hands makes the work go quick.
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More to come...

[CastingCall]

A view of how the factory end wrap was done:
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After the carpet is peeled off, here’s what’s left. A pliers and a pair of heavy workgloves works to peel the remaining rusty staples out.
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Since I snapped off several lag screws, but wanted to re-use the wood, I simply drilled new holes exactly 1/2" away from the originals.
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I also rounded the aft end of each bunk, to break the sharp edge to help with wear on trailing edge of bunks.
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Still more...

[CastingCall]

Cut the carpet. For my 2x4s, I cut carpet to 10” wide, and 7” longer than each board for end overlaps.
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Center bunk board on carpet back, and stretch lengthwise. Clamp or temporary staple each end to keep tension.
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Start in the center of the bunk, pull one side of carpet up and around to the center and staple. Work towards both ends on this one side.
Pull the other side of the carpet around to the center firmly, and staple. I used a pliers to grab the carpet with tension while my son ran the stapler. You could also glue the carpet to the bunk, but I chose not to.
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Almost done...

[CastingCall]

The ends are very easy: cut as shown in this picture. Don’t cut the slit all the way to the bunk!
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Fold one flap over tightly and staple, then the other flap and staple.
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Fold the carpet edges inward, then pull the flap up and over tightly and staple.
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Note: chalk marks are where the holes are - I cut out small squares to easily see the holes when re-attaching the bunks, and to keep the screws from winding up the carpet, which can cause torn threads.

Hang in there...

[CastingCall]

Voila! Finished top side edges are completely carpeted with no slits or raw carpet edges exposed!
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The finished product. Looks a lot better than the old, dirty, ratty carpet!
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Slide the new carpeted bunk in place, install new lag screws (I put flat washers on them this time) and snug down.
Repeat for the other bunks.

BTW- The 1/2" shift of the bunk with the new holes was unnoticeable.

[haveme1]

Good job !

[bpNClgmouth]

Do you have this for the wheel well bunks?

[haveme1]

My wheel well bunks are Aluminum with hd rubber trim. I put carpet over them, the ss bolts that attach them to wheel well holds carpet.
Some have put polly carbon pices there, no carpet.

[CastingCall]

Do you have this for the wheel well bunks?

My fender boards are wood/carpet, but I have not recovered those yet. They are actually still in good shape. But I've got enough leftover carpet to do those, and the side guide bunks to boot! Just need time.

[Bamaman]

I went to Lowes and got indoor outdoor carpet off a 12' roll in the back of the flooring department. The least they'd sell me was 2 linear feet.

I keep my boats in a boathouse, and had to build a 13' x 18' steel rack to sit my new Bennington tritoon on. I carpeted bolster boards on each side of my tritoon so it would center my boat on the rack. I just used galvanized roofing nails through the carpet, and it holds just fine.

This is my 3rd Summer with the same indoor outdoor carpet under my Waverunner, and it's aging well.

[wishin4thebiggin]

Well done good job thanks for the information

[Blackwoodz]

My four bunks need re-carpeted.
How did the jack block your boat?
I see the one pic but can you elaborate?

[Blackwoodz]

Never mind...just seen the jack stands photo.
Maybe I'll build a custom v cradle to fit the keel forward and aft...
Thanks has given me an idea.....lol

[mikesxpress]

Remove carpet. Install Gatorbak.

[haveme1]

My four bunks need re-carpeted.
How did the jack block your boat?
I see the one pic but can you elaborate?

I if you have lag bolts jack up the back, leave hook on front a tiny bit lose. All you need is an inch of room. Do them one by one.

[ifishinxs]

I if you have lag bolts jack up the back, leave hook on front a tiny bit lose. All you need is an inch of room. Do them one by one.

Yeap, easy peasy! I used a floor jack under the back of my boat. I was able to get one side off at a time. Also for you guys who have yet to recarpet. Go to the Basscat web site. They have the good carpet.

[jbh3]

Putting this back to the top so I can find it. Currently in the process of doing mine. Thanks for the great information and pic's. This would make a great sticky post up top, IMO.

[Islands]

Good info. Will just add - Monel staples.

[got_musky]

Remove carpet. Install Gatorbak.

THIS