Longer Bunk Boards To Support The Front Of PWC On A Trailer
Updated 10/28/2026 | Published 10/26/2026
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Question:
If I load my PWC with no hangover at the back of the trailer, the skis center of gravity and thus all its weight is smack on the front bunk support, point loading the hull. Bolting on an extra crossmember forward of the bunk is easy, but raises this question: Should I add a third pair of bunk supports and replace my bunks with longer ones, or is there an off-the-shelf single support on the market intended to support the keel forward of its bunks to spread the load?
asked by: Mike F
Expert Reply:
Hi Mike!
While there probably is an option somewhere out there that would support the keel forward of the bunk boards, it's not something we currently carry. I suppose you could use something like the CE Smith V-Wing Bolster Bracket for Pontoon Boat Trailers - Galvanized Steel - Qty 1 # CE26244G, but it would require some serious customization to make work.
The way I think would be best is with the 3rd pair of short bunk boards to support the front. In your case, I think having a little more support up front is definitely a good idea, especially if you are going to be tying it down as tight as you are wanting to. Something like the 2' long # CES44XR (which are the shortest we carry), might work for this, but I will admit to being kind of limited on the smaller bunk boards. The CE Smith Bolster and Swivel Bracket Assemblies - Galvanized Steel - 9" - Qty 4 # CE10000G-4 and CE Smith U-Bolts - Qty 4 # CE15283GA-4 would be a good way to attach them as well.
The easier way to do it would be to replace the bunks with longer ones though. The longest options we carry is the CE Smith Carpeted Bunk Boards for Boat Trailers - 7' Long - 1 Pair # CE27845. We do have the CE Smith Deluxe Marine-Grade Carpeting for Bunk Boards - Black - 18' Long x 18" Wide # CE11349 if you need them to be longer than that, but you will need to find boards locally.
Is this the same trailer as before?
Product Page this Question was Asked From
CE Smith V-Wing Bolster Bracket for Pontoon Boat Trailers - Galvanized Steel - Qty 1
- Boat Trailer Parts
- Bunks
- Bolster Bracket
- 6 Inch Tall
- Galvanized Steel
- 15-1/2 Inch Long
- CE Smith
more information >
Mike F.
10/28/2026
I've considered those, and on my last trailer I replaced my OEM 5' bunks with 7' bunks and added a third CE Smith support up front on a simple U-bolt-on third crossmember. All bolt-on stuff ... no drilling, nothing I can't adjust to fit or remove entirely without a trace. In researching a comparable third support for my new double-wide, I ran across a simple, even more effective solution with extra benefits: bolt a https://store.cesmith.com/adjustable-keel-roller-bracket-assembly---4-yellow-tpr-roller-p125.aspx onto the same longitudinal frame member the winch is mounted on. It has several advantages over extending or supplementing the OEM bunks. 1. Utter simplicity. Just bolt it on and fugheddaboutit bedsides occasionally lubing their axles so they roll easily. 2. Infinite adjustability in height and position. 3. No extra crossmembers to bolt on. 4. The keel is the strongest part of the hull. The hull on both sides of the keel can distort over time, ESPECIALLY with the point loading short bunks provide. Stock, my ski may as well bounce down the road resting its entire weight on a single pair of lightly padded cinder blocks beneath the tender hull. 5. No, tighter transom straps do NOT alleviate that point load; they INCREASE it. 6. You can bolt on more than one keel support if your load warrants it, all positioned to match your keel curvature. 7. Reduced friction compared to bunks makes launching and recovering even easier, even though I float my ski(s) on and off the trailer. 8. There are many CE Smith clones on the market, but Smith claims their roller material uniquely cushions the keel. 9. I now will have the best of both worlds --- bunks to guide the skis into their nests, good customization of my load distribution, and a 10-minute installation effort. (The crossmember/bunk supports/curvature-matching/frustrating nightmare approach I took last time took days. This will take minutes, and can be adjusted in minutes if I change skis.) Yup ... same old trailer, same new trailer ... just different aspects and solutions. This discussion, your involvement, the associated research, and the solutions have vastly improved my confidence in my trailering, my hull longevity, and my own diligence. Thanks for your help.