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  1. #1
    Member
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    Nov 2018
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    MO
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    35

    Gator back bunk covers

    Does anyone know what it costs to have gator back bunk covers installed. Does anyone have experience with them on their ranger?

  2. Scraps
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Havertown, PA
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    9,572
    #2
    Dunno price for an install, know it's easy as hell to do yourself. Impact driver and maybe a router and bit is all that's needed. Pressure treated lumber and black stain or paint.
    2017 Phoenix 819
    2016 200ProXS, s/n 2B359849, Mod 1200P73BD

  3. BBC SPONSOR/ Shallow Water Anchors Moderator
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    New York
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    10,912
    #3
    Just ordered a set for my Ranger from Drewtek. I'll let ya know

  4. Member
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    May 2016
    Location
    MN
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    448
    #4
    Which years of rangers are most prone to blisters if any?

  5. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Vinton, VA.
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    633
    #5
    Any updates or pictures of the gator backs installed?
    2018 Ranger 520L with Mercury 250 Pro XS
    Fitzgerald Rods
    Lews Products
    River Runner Baits

  6. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    239
    #6
    Quote Originally Posted by BoilermakerRT178 View Post
    Which years of rangers are most prone to blisters if any?
    All of them when you put these on the trailer.

  7. mikesxpress
    Guest
    #7
    Quote Originally Posted by BoilermakerRT178 View Post
    Which years of rangers are most prone to blisters if any?
    All hulls are susceptible to osmotic blistering.

  8. mikesxpress
    Guest
    #8
    Quote Originally Posted by TripleT View Post
    Any updates or pictures of the gator backs installed?

  9. Member
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    Aug 2010
    Location
    Vinton, VA.
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    633
    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by TxRanger1 View Post
    All of them when you put these on the trailer.
    Are you saying the gator backs cause blisters?
    2018 Ranger 520L with Mercury 250 Pro XS
    Fitzgerald Rods
    Lews Products
    River Runner Baits

  10. Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Roanoke, Virginia
    Posts
    1,066
    #10
    No, he is saying any hull can blister when loaded on wet carpet covered bunks and left sitting on that wet environment for long periods of time, thus the need for Gatorbak covers which allow air between the bunk and hull so it dries out nicely.

  11. mikesxpress
    Guest
    #11
    The installation is very easy. You'll have a allot harder time getting all the staples out of the existing carpet.

  12. Member crank68's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
    Location
    Kenly, NC
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    17,403
    #12
    I wouldn’t take all the staples out....wayyy to much time. I’d just buy new boards. JMO
    BULLET 20 XRD/250 Merc Sport XS
    www.ncboatguy.com

  13. mikesxpress
    Guest
    #13
    Depends on how new your boards are. Allot of folks are installing Gatorbak's on new boat purchases.

  14. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Vinton, VA.
    Posts
    633
    #14
    I would think a pair of needle nose or channel locks and start ripping the carpet and most of the staples will come with it. Maybe not in a new bunk board but probably if the board has a few years on it.
    2018 Ranger 520L with Mercury 250 Pro XS
    Fitzgerald Rods
    Lews Products
    River Runner Baits

  15. Scraps
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Havertown, PA
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    9,572
    #15
    Quote Originally Posted by crank68 View Post
    I wouldn’t take all the staples out....wayyy to much time. I’d just buy new boards. JMO
    New broads. That way you can go to the lake with the new broads, remove the old broads, and install new. Real quick.
    2017 Phoenix 819
    2016 200ProXS, s/n 2B359849, Mod 1200P73BD

  16. Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Vinton, VA.
    Posts
    633
    #16
    I was also thinking you could take a majority of the staples out in the driveway and make it quick when you take the boat off the trailer.
    2018 Ranger 520L with Mercury 250 Pro XS
    Fitzgerald Rods
    Lews Products
    River Runner Baits

  17. Member crank68's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Kenly, NC
    Posts
    17,403
    #17
    I don’t care if my boards were new...I’d by new boards. I’ve installed to many sets. A few extra bucks is less important than my time. Just my opinion.
    BULLET 20 XRD/250 Merc Sport XS
    www.ncboatguy.com

  18. mikesxpress
    Guest
    #18
    Having done the Gatorbak installs on newer trailers it's a simple (but time consuming) process to remove all the staples at home under a dry trailer with no pressure to rush. When you launch it at the ramp the carpet just slides off.

    Mount the Gatorbak end caps. Cut the bunk coverings to length with a hacksaw or tin snips, lay them on the boards, pilot drill & install the SS screws every 8" down both sides. No getting under a wet trailer or needing to lay on your back at the ramp and no match drilling pilot holes to lag bolt attach new boards. Just a screw gun and extra battery.

  19. Member
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    Feb 2016
    Location
    Roanoke, Virginia
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    #19
    We didn't change boards on mine, but did on my buddies older trailer. I would say it took exactly the same amount of time for us, because we did them side by side, and finished at the exact same time. We pulled our boats to the closest public ramp, beached our boats on a soft spot and ran our Talons down. Pulled the trailers over in a spot out of the way and got to work. I stripped my carpet by running a utility knife blade down the center of the carpet, then peeled it off using channel locks. This got 75-85% of the staples. The channel locks made short work of the rest. Boards looked like new under the carpet, so I cut my Gatorbak to fit and got it all screwed in place with my #10x1" stainless pan head screws.

    My buddy just backed out his lags using an impact gun/drill, cut the new boards to that exact length, installed with new stainless lags, then installed his Gatorbaks the same as I did.

    And I can't get my pics to upload here now for some reason.....