Polyethylene Skids

[seasdes]

I have a trailer to carry my SIB that has timber skids that are covered with HDPE Polyethylene strips. I notice that a lot of photos on this forum have skids covered with a marine carpet. Is there a reason why HDPE Polyethylene is not suitable?

[seasdes]

Sorry here is a photo

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by seasdes

I have a trailer to carry my SIB that has timber skids that are covered with HDPE Polyethylene strips. I notice that a lot of photos on this forum have skids covered with a marine carpet. Is there a reason why HDPE Polyethylene is not suitable?

Welcome to Ribnet.
Can't see any reason why not.

Carpet is probably cheaper

[thomas]

Nope, my boat sits on HDPE tubes - it's slippery and softer than my hull so in a fight the hull will win.

I doubt a trailer manufacturer would fit carpet as it would look like an after thought.

[seasdes]

I already have the poly strips fitted. However, I was just wondering whether carpet may cause less wear. Although carpet can hold sand and grit which is abrasive against PVC.

[jyasaki]

The plastic strips are a low-cost (unless you intend to retrofit an existing trailer - then the price gets you) alternative to rollers when used with hard hulls. Low friction, so the boat slides off and on easier than carpet.

On another forum, there were quite a few posts about boats prematurely leaving the trailer after the mod was installed. Some reports of scuffing and wear as well.

On a SIB, I'm not sure it's necessary, as generally you don't (well, I didn't) want to drag the boat along the trailer much; better to float the boat into position as much as possible and raise the trailer under the boat as you pull it out.

But I doubt it will cause any problems compared to carpet. You will see your bunk covering lasting longer, I'm sure. Make sure that the edges are rounded off (if not take a router and a roundover bit to them) and the screws are well recessed (assuming they're fastened from the top down.)

jky