Boat Buddy carpet?

I tried to search, but no luck.

I while back, someone was talking about covering their Boat Buddy with carpet. Sound like a great idea, so I got some bunk carpet, and some rubber cement. It didn't hold at all.

My questions are, What kind of glue did you use? How long has it lasted?

Thanks, Joe

Get a good roller and ditch the boat buddy. Boatmate actually recommends that also. They rebuilt my trailer and put a roller on it. Much nicer, and a lot easier to load the boat.

Contact cement, still going strong

the boat buddy on my 230 doesn't work for anything. the metal components actually wore through the rubber and put a nice scratch on my hull. i'm about ready to ditch it and put a roller and then get the fiberglass repaired.

Thanks, I'll pick up some contact cement tomorrow.

John, I have a good roller, but it's coming off asap. I can't wait to have my boat buddy back.

Tro, I don't know how you wore through the rubber. Did you come on crooked a couple times? I had a boat buddy on my last boat for 9 great years. I had to straighten the pin a couple times, but that was my fault.

i have a bent pin. how did you straighten it?

ty

I had a bent pin too. It looks better in the garbage can then on the boat trailer.

When the BB was on my trailer, I had a ton of trouble with it. You'd pull up and the pin would release, holding the boat, but when the truck pulled up, the boat would fall back and pull against the pin. Then when it came time to launch, you couldn't pull the pin out because it was jammed against the bow eye. I cussed at that thing a lot.....

John, I understand your frustration. It seems like the only time I had trouble was when the trailer was too deep. I would get a bent pin/stuck pin. Once I figured out the right depth for my lake and trailer, all my problems went away.

Michael, You have to take it off your trailer and take it apart. I heated it up with a cutting torch and bent it back. It's usually not the pin thats bent, but the arm that its welded to. If you do try to fix it, make sure you remove all the springs before you heat it. If you get the springs hot, they won't work.

Joe, it didn't matter what position the trailer was in.... If you like yours then that's all that matters

I have never owned a boat buddy but I was wondering if they make a pneumatic one. The reason I wondered is you could then make it actuate by remote control. The pneumatics would be strong enough to release and actuate. Just a thought. We use a similar device at my work so I know it would work. Anyone ever seen or heard of such a thing? I don't want to try and reinvent the wheel if I don't have to.

I have had to replace my boat buddy three times. Its annoying. If you don't hit it exactly perfect it is going to jack it up. I can't stand that stupid piece of equipment. When it works though, it sure does make loading easy.

I have had to replace my boat buddy three times. Its annoying. If you don't hit it exactly perfect it is going to jack it up. I can't stand that stupid piece of equipment. When it works though, it sure does make loading easy.

I hate the boat buddy too. just ditch that thing. After repeated use with no success, I removed the boat buddy and put a roller on. The boat is now much easier to load and does not scratch the hull. I think the boat buddy is a great concept on paper but does not work in practice. When it put a small scratch on the hull, that was the last straw. Every time a boat buddy thread starts, it seems to be about 10 - 1 against. I purchased a black rubber roller and end caps from Overtons for super cheap and everything work so much better/easier now.

The contact cement did the trick. Thanks Again!

Pics Joe? And let us know how it holds up.

You guys that hate'em, let us know before you destroy it & maybe someone will take it off your hands.... help you with the cost of the roller. Or just a straight trade.

I had a BB on my MC trailer & loved it. I'd put one on the Malibu trailer in a heartbeat. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I know what you mean Bill. I put a post on here a couple weeks ago, looking for a used BB. Where were all these people then?

I agree. I had one on my Boatmate trailer and we just added one to the Extreme Trailer.

They are great but you have to load the boat without slamming the bow into the Boat Buddy or you will damage it.

Bill just an FYI when you add it to the Malibu trailer you have to replace the boweye with a bigger one. The stock one wont connect.

I like the carpet idea. Any more installation pictures would be greatly appreciated.

Yea, I saw in the Kodiak Trailer docs about a longer bow eye is usually needed.

Carpet looks good. Looking forward to seeing how it holds up.

Another idea, wax your boat occasionally. It makes the rubber streaks coming off easily.

Bill, The BB comes with a longer bow eye. I have spray bottles filled with 50/50 vinager/water. It takes the water spots and streaks from the BB right off. It wasn't a big deal, but I thought I'd try the carpet this time. Plus, I think it looks nicer.

I may have come on crooked. nothing really that i noticed. it just seemed as if the rubber was wore down on the edge.

Either way, i can pull right up to it and it never latches. i'm taking it off one of these days when i get unlazy.

I love the boat buddy. I think it depends on your ramp as to whether you love it or hate it. I am very used to my ramp at rough river. What I like the best is that when the water is freezing cold or i dont want to take off my shoes, my wife just drives the boat up, then "click" and we are all set! And yes I do check it.

Anyone ever use a Boat Buddy on a Enzo SV240 using a VM trailer?