After I figure out how I need to straighten my boat trailer frame out, I'd like to add some more support to mount my boards on. I really like how a fellow mmt member did his with uni strut, I plan to do the exact same but wanted to see how others may have done theirs. I'm curious to know how long boards should be for a 17ft boat? (I know they need to go past the transom, 10 bucks says someone still mentions it haha)
And the spacing between the supports that are holding the boards?
Also what material would you use the supports besides uni strut?
I've looked at square tubing prices and they don't seem to be bad terrible , but what size would you go with? 1" ? 2" ? Or in between.
The current supports look like I beams, and I wouldn't know where to find that, they were also welding inside the frames channel (I'll post a pic) which looks to be tricky if I were to duplicate and add more of those. Also keep in mind I have to attach the boards to the material as well , and my boat isn't near as heavy as others. 100 gauge boat.
Here is the other members rebuild

Here is what my current cross members look like

I'm wanting to do away with the adjustable bunk setup



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What kind of motor do you have? I've considered going straight to the trailer with my bunks...but I think my skeg would ride too low.


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When I redo my boards before hunting season I'm bolting them straight to the trailer. Drill your holes, get some cold galvanizing spray and spray the insides, use stainless carriage bolts and go straight to the frame and crossmembers. It should give the trailer some rigidity too. I'll be swapping from 4 2x4's to at least 5 2x6's, possibly 2x8's. I'll most likely sand and Gator Glide them as well and not use carpet. As for length, you already know how long in the back just make sure they go past where the rake starts to pull up so you have the whole bottom sitting on boards. I've seen some setups that look sketchy at best. No way they could be good for keeping anything flat supported.

I'd try to at least have the whole flat part of the bottom supported. I've seen other boats with the one horizontal support like yours and unless you keep it winched town tighter than a nun's junk it'll look like you repeatedly used the rake as a battering ram lol. I have always done fine without that board. I have played with the idea of just using wide boards horizontally on the trailer because it would probably support it better and hold the boat up on the stringers, not between them and would distribute the weight a little better. On a crimped bottom boat with traditional cross bracing, the widest board you can fit between the crimps so the boat isn't riding on the peak of the crimp would be your best bet. Run it front to back and support as much as possible (and the transom )

Also, don't put carpet on the boards put plastic caps. You can either get them from mcClain or get some cheap plastic downspouts from HD or Lowes for cheap.

Put GatorBase on the boards. you'll thank me later

If you're already put GatorGlide on the boat just use that for the boards

why not just gator glide on the boards? I got some left over that is why I am asking.