Operating a boat trailer in an aggressive environment is a constant challenge for the materials it is made of. Water, salt, ultraviolet light and mechanical loads quickly disable even quality structural elements, especially high-quality structural elements. laying-pieceThey're the ones who take over the weight of the boat and are responsible for keeping it safe when it's transported, and if you're wondering what to do with the pawns, you're saying that the old material is broken or you want to improve your equipment.
Recovery or replacement of the skin is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a necessity to prevent damage. boat-hullA worn fabric or rotten plywood can cause scratches, scuffs and even more serious defects on the sides of the vessel. Properly selected material will ensure reliable sliding during descent and rigid fixation on the track. In this article, we will discuss all available options, their pros and cons, as well as installation technology.
The choice of material depends on many factors: type of boat (PVC or metal), frequency of use, budget and storage conditions. carpet Because of its availability, others are choosing more durable synthetic coatings, and it's important to understand that the savings at this point can lead to costly repairs to the boat itself. Let's look at what the current market offers and what's best for your case.
Material requirements for pawning
Before you go shopping, you need to clearly define the requirements for the future coating. Logs work in extreme conditions: constant contact with water, temperature changes, exposure to salts and reagents. The material must not only be durable, but also have specific properties that ensure the safety of the cargo. Moisture resistance This is the first and main criterion, since the wet skin loses its properties and becomes a breeding ground for mold.
The second important parameter is friction-rateThe coating should ensure that the boat is held securely on the highway, but it should be easy to launch the boat into the water or, conversely, to load it with a winch. Too rough material can damage the sensitive PVC coating, and too smooth will not give the necessary fixation. Balance between tenacity and slip is the key to success.
⚠️ Attention: The use of materials not designed for permanent contact with water (such as regular foam or cheap fabric) will lead to rapid rotting of the wooden base of the pad and corrosion of the metal pipe inside.
It is also important to consider the sustainability of UV radiationWhen you store a trailer in the open air, the sun quickly breaks down the structure of many polymers and dyes. A quality material should not fade and lose elasticity after the first season. Also, mechanical strength to break and abrasion is important, especially if you often load the boat manually or use a winch with high force.
Overview of popular materials: carpet and car carpets
The most common solution for pawning remains the use of carpets. boat-carpet Car carpets are good because they're soft, they fit in complex shapes and they provide great grip, but their longevity depends on the quality of the pile and the base, and cheap options are quickly wiped to holes, especially in contact with keels and transombs.
Car carpets, especially those with rubber base and pile coating, are often used as a budget alternative. They are more resistant to abrasion than thin carpet, but can be tougher. When choosing such a material, it is important to pay attention to the density of the pile. Too rare pile will pass water to the wooden base, causing it to rot. Needle-piercing coating It is considered a more wear-resistant option compared to woven analogues.
- 🚤 Carpet: perfectly fits the shape, good appearance, but requires frequent replacement during intensive operation.
- 🚙 Car Car Car Carpet: High wear resistance, affordable price, but can be tough for PVC boats.
- 💧 Moisture resistance: Both materials require high-quality impregnation or the use of a moisture-resistant substrate.
When you install carpets, you often have the problem of edges, and if you don't treat them, they will start to rag and break down first. To extend their life, you should use edge heat treatment or special edging tapes. It's also worth remembering that the dark colors of the carpet heat up in the sun more, which theoretically can affect PVC boats when you park for a long time, although this is rare in practice.
When you cut the carpet, leave a tolerance of 2-3 cm for the turn-around. This will securely secure the edges and prevent them from detaching in the water.
Wooden lodgings: plywood and larch
Using wood as a base or even a finishing surface is a classic approach that still has its adherents: Most often, a wooden bar or board is used as a supporting base, which is then stretched on by a carpet. larchThe larch is unique in its ability to only become stronger from contact with water.
Plywood, especially plywood (FSF) is also widely used. It's cheaper than an array and easy to work with. The main goal of using plywood is to provide perfect waterproofing. Even moisture-resistant plywood will eventually begin to dissipate if the water gets to the ends. So, good-quality painting, oliphide impregnation or epoxy formulations are mandatory. Without protection, this bed will last no more than one or two seasons.
Wooden lodgings have their advantages: they are rigid, do not topping up under the weight of a heavy boat, and provide a flat plane. This is especially important for flat-bottomed metal boats, where the supports must be strictly in the same plane. However, for PVC boats, the tree can be too rigid, requiring the use of a soft top layer (carpet or rubber) to avoid crushing cylinders.
| Materials | Term of service | Resistance to water | Difficulty of installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larch-dresser | 5-10 years | High. | Medium |
| Sea plywood | 2-4 years | Medium (requires protection) | Low. |
| Ordinary plywood | 1 season | Low. | Low. |
| Dusk | 10+ years | High. | High. |
⚠️ Warning: Never use pine or other soft wood without strong waterproofing. Once absorbed, they will swell, darken and rot, soiling the boat and losing load-bearing capacity.
Modern synthetic solutions and rubber
Progress is not in place, and today the market offers materials that are free from the disadvantages of natural analogues. grazing-rubber Or special rubber mats for swimming pools and garages, which are completely inert to water, salt and ultraviolet light, rubber doesn't rot, it doesn't mold, and it's easy to wash with a stream of water from a hose.
Another option is the use of composite These are often sold as off-the-shelf replacements, they have a high strength and a smooth but non-slip surface, and they don't absorb water, which eliminates the problem of increasing the weight of the trailer after long periods of time in the water, but the cost of these solutions can be much higher than traditional methods.
Rubber coatings are great for PVC boats because they provide soft but resilient support, they don't scratch the material of the boat even when sand gets between the sides and the pad. An important nuance is the fastening: rubber is difficult to nail, so it's most often used adhesives or clamping slats, which requires a more careful approach when mounting.
Secrets of working with rubber for lodgings
Spadment rubber is better glued to polyurethane sealants or special adhesives for rubber. Before gluing the surface, be sure to degrease and clean for maximum adhesion. Cut the material better with a sharp knife dipped in soap solution.
Technology of replacing the skin: step-by-step instructions
The process of replacing the padding requires preparation and adherence to technology to make the result happy for a long time. First, you need to dismantle the old material. If it is carpet or fabric, they are simply removed. If you used plywood, you may have to tinker with removing rotten residues and cleaning the metal pipe of the padment from rust. Cleanup. Metal is a critical step, as the new material must be laid on a clean surface.
Once the foundation is ready, we cut out the new material. Carpet and rubber are very convenient to use cardboard patterns that repeat the curves of the pad, so that you avoid errors and overconsumption of the material, you can do it with a margin, so that you can turn the edges. When working with wood, it is important to follow the geometry precisely, so that the pads are in the same plane and do not sway the boat.
☑️ Checklist for replacement preparations
The new coating is fixed in a variety of ways: Carpet is most often nailed with furniture stapler or boot nails to get into a wooden base; rubber and plastic are planted on glue or pressed with metal tapes; it is important that the fasteners do not stick out and can not damage the boat; all hats of nails or screws must be recessed into the material.
The final step is to test the geometry, and after you have installed the new skin, put the boat on the trailer and check the density of the attachment, there should be no voids where the body can sag, no points of overpressure, and if necessary, you can put additional gaskets of porous rubber in critical areas, which will ensure that the load is evenly distributed along the entire length of the keel.
The quality of the replacement of the skin depends not so much on the material, but on the thoroughness of the preparation of the base and the accuracy of cutting.
Care of lodgings and extension of service life
Even the best-quality skin requires care, especially if the trailer is often in salt water. After each trip to the sea, it is recommended to thoroughly wash the pawns with fresh water. The salt left in the carpet pile or the pores of the tree is hygroscopic and will constantly pull moisture from the air, maintaining the environment for corrosion of the metal underneath. Washing The simplest and most effective prevention.
At the end of the season, before the trailer is placed in winter storage, it is advisable to remove the boat and let the pawns dry completely. If you used carpet, it can be removed and washed, and the wooden base treated with antiseptic. Storing the trailer under a canopy or in the garage significantly prolongs the life of any materials, protecting them from the destructive effects of ultraviolet light and precipitation.
Check the condition of fasteners periodically. Vibration on the road can weaken ties, bolts or braces. Timely lifting will prevent the skin from shifting and scuffing on the boat. If you notice the first signs of carpet abrasion in the transom area, do not expect complete destruction - locally replacing the site will take a little time, but save the rest of the cover and the hull of the vessel.
⚠️ Warning: Do not dry wet carpet beds in the direct sun in a closed state (for example, covering with a cover) This will create a greenhouse effect and accelerate the rotting of the wooden base.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can linoleum be used to cover the beds?
It is not recommended to use linoleum, although it is moisture-resistant, it tends to stretch and deform under load, and it also becomes slippery when wet, which is dangerous when you descent a boat, and in the cold, linoleum bluffs and can crack.
How often should I change the trailer?
The service life depends on the material and intensity of operation. Carpet in active conditions is changed every 1-3 seasons. Rubber coatings and quality larch can last 5-7 years or more with proper care.
Is it better to fasten the carpet: nails or glue?
The best combination is a plywood or wood base attached to a metal pipe with bolts or clamps, and the carpet itself is pulled and fixed by a stapler or boot nails, and the glue may not withstand constant cycles of wetting and drying.
Will the usual flooring go for the skin?
Yes, it's a popular budget option, as long as the base of the track is rubberized and the pile is dense enough, synthetic tracks last longer than natural ones, because they're less likely to rot.