MacGregorSailors.com

Has anyone replaced the front v bunks with a roller? When putting the x on it's trailer i seem to be having trouble winching it all the way to the bow stop. I wonder if adding a roller to the front will help?

Hi Wally, welcome to the forum.

I have not learned how to embed links yet but if you scroll down the list of subjects and find EXPLAIN PLEASE Mac Bump (trailer) there is a discussion that may help you out. You could also do a search for that subject.

Search the archives using "bump" as the search word.

I've followed the recommendations of this board and the Mac Bump has only worked half the time for me. It has & has not worked on both the same flat or downsloped surfaces - I think my bottompaint is providing just enough friction against the bunks to not work. Important steps are wet bunks & loose bow winch line (keep the safety chain on). Sometime I'm going to atleast remove the bottompaint in the areas of the bunks, if not all. Good luck.

You can also search on the two words, "Roller Bunk" (all terms) to yield 22 threads on your topic. While reading those threads you'll find a couple of links to trailer Mods, with pictures, by owners who have added a roller. But it's not a panacea ... as Robert related in one of those 22 threads:

Robert wrote:The bow not quite making it to the stop is a trailer geometry issue. I once put a roller just aft of the foward most bow bunk and that made it a little easier to pull with the winch that last couple inches or use the MacGregor Bump. However, the first time I had a rough windy not graceful return to the trailer, the bracket for the roller was smashed.

For me, the easiest way was just to to the MacGregor Bump - - just after pulling up the ramp, apply a little bit of brakes and the Mac26X will slide right up to the stop. I had the bow bunk carpet wear through and replaced it using monel staples for corosion resistance.

When I had to replace the sillybolts holding the front bunks on, I knocked off so much rust off of the plates under the bunks that the metal went down to about half its original thickness. So, I installed a 9 inch roller in addition to the bunks. It sits just a few millimeters below the level of the bunks so the boat rolls most all the way on the roller and then during the very last few inches, rides up on the bunks. If the bunks break, the roller will catch the bow and prevent it from whacking the trailer frame.

I don't do the Mac bump anymore in favor of incremental winching as you pull the boat up a foot or two at a time. I only typically have to stop 2 or 3 times during the ride up the ramp and I can winch it all the way to the stop without doing the dangerous bump. Dangerous, because you always have to make sure there is no one behind you when you slam on the brakes.

Wally...I've had trouble with the "Mac Bump" too, it works about 60% of the time. Ive found that a droplets of liquid hand soap rubbed on the load areas of the bunks work. The Mac slides right on...

Great idea Louis, I'll try the soap next time. I tried the Mac Bump again this morning to no avail. Sure do notice the influence that a couple of inches back on the trailer has on trailer sway!

Strange as it may seem,PAM cooking spray also works great on the bunks. When I bought my Clipper Marine 21 last year,the PO handed me a can,calling it "boat grease". Wouldn't recommend the Garlic variety though! Haven't needed it with the 26M yet,as it just jumps onto the trailer-still nice new gelcoat.
Hi Andy,when will you be sailing with us again?
Dan
(sv Spice)

I avoid doing the bump. It's hard to control. If I remember to spray silicone lubricant on the carpet on the bunks, it usually winches up pretty easy.

Dan - How about rosemary PAM spray?

Can't make R.I. this weekend, but am planning to daysail Great Bay, (Newington NH). We're going back up to Champlain next week for 5 days. I'll email you some pics of SPICE from the last Champlain trip.

Andy

I don't like the idea of greasing up the bunks. Makes me think of Chip's accident (was it last year). Lower that friction too much on the bunks, get a bit of rust on your post, and that boat might come right into your vehicle's rear seat if you hit something. I know, that is what the big strap is for...but how many really use that for short ramp trips...not me.

As I posted earlier, the mac bump is not required to get the boat snug into the snub.

At the risk of being too repetitious, ( and it is frustrating to see Mac owners having trouble with this over and over again )

YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE WINCH STRAP OR ROPE A BIT LOOSE BEFORE THE BUMP. THE BUMP WILL WORK GREAT EVERY TIME IF YOU LEAVE THE STRAP LOOSE. Otherwise it is pulling down on the nose and adding friction. See the threads where this is discussed repeatedly.

ALX357 writes

YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THE WINCH STRAP OR ROPE A BIT LOOSE BEFORE THE BUMP. THE BUMP WILL WORK GREAT EVERY TIME IF YOU LEAVE THE STRAP LOOSE.

At the risk of being too repetitious: MY bottom paint against bunk carpet = too much friction. Bump not work EVERY time!

I posted a mod in the mod section on adding a v-bunk roller in addition to the bunk.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin ... record=690





Paul

I think I would prefer Paul's roller solution. I too had a hard time with the bump, sometimes I forgot to loosen the straps but othertimes it was just plain stubborn. So on one occasion I went a bit faster and jumped on that brake pedal and much to my dismay the boat lurched forward and bent the ladder, strut and post well over. I was choked, but I managed to straighten most of it with a come-a-long, I don't do it any more.