How Trailer Bunks Can Help Reduce the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Every time you pull your boat out of the water, your trailer comes with it.

That means your trailer bunks, frame, axles, rollers and other components that were submerged or splashed can potentially carry water, mud, vegetation and other material away from the lake.

When boaters talk about preventing aquatic invasive species, we usually hear the same three words:

Clean. Drain. Dry.

But there is one part of the trailer that can be easy to overlook.

Your bunks.

Your Boat Trailer Goes in the Water, Too

It is easy to focus on the boat itself when leaving the launch.

We check the livewell. Pull the drain plug. Look around the motor and transom. Remove any weeds hanging from the trailer.

But your trailer bunks were underwater too.

That makes them another area worth inspecting before you head down the road—especially when you're moving from one body of water to another.

Aquatic plants, mud and debris can become caught around trailer components, including bunks and the areas surrounding them.

And the type of surface covering those bunks can make a difference in how easily you can see, clean and dry them.

Why Traditional Carpet Deserves a Closer Look

Carpet has been used on boat trailer bunks for decades.

It works as a cushioning surface, but carpet also has fibers that can hold water and collect sand, mud and organic debris.

Anyone who has pulled a carpeted trailer out of the water knows how long those bunks can stay wet.

That matters for more than just the condition of your bunk boards.

When you're trying to follow good Clean, Drain, Dry practices, a surface that holds water and hides debris isn't necessarily helping the process.

It can also make inspection more difficult.

A small piece of vegetation caught in carpet may be harder to notice than the same material sitting on an exposed synthetic surface.

What Does Clean, Drain, Dry Mean?

The idea is simple.

CLEAN your boat, trailer and equipment by removing visible plants, animals, mud and debris.

DRAIN water from your boat and equipment before leaving the access.

DRY your boat, trailer and equipment thoroughly before entering another body of water.

Specific aquatic invasive species regulations vary by state and region, so boaters should always check the requirements where they boat.

But regardless of where you launch, taking a few extra minutes to inspect your entire setup, including your trailer bunks, is a good habit.

Where Synthetic Bunk Covers Fit In

Changing your trailer bunks doesn't replace Clean, Drain, Dry.

And no trailer bunk material can guarantee that aquatic invasive species won't be transported.

What a better bunk surface can do is make part of the cleaning and inspection process easier.

Gatorbak synthetic bunk covers feature an open, ribbed surface designed to shed water, sand and debris rather than wrapping the bunk board in water-holding carpet.

That gives boat owners a surface that is easier to see, rinse and inspect after leaving the water.

Pull the boat.

Look over the trailer.

Remove anything that shouldn't be there.

Rinse when appropriate.

Let everything dry.

Simple.

Don't Forget These Areas of Your Trailer

Your bunks aren't the only place worth checking.

Before leaving a launch, take a quick walk around the entire boat and trailer.

Look closely around the bunks and bunk brackets, rollers, axle area, license plate, transom, motor, trim tabs and any other place where vegetation or debris could become caught.

The entire inspection might only take a few minutes.

Those few minutes can make a difference when thousands of boats are moving between lakes, rivers and reservoirs throughout a boating season.

Better Boating Habits Start at the Ramp

Most of us boat because we care about the water.

We want healthy lakes. Good fisheries. Clean launches. Great places for our kids and grandkids to enjoy someday.

Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species isn't one person's responsibility.

It's something every boater can help with.

Clean. Drain. Dry.

And next time you walk around your trailer before pulling away from the ramp, take an extra look at your bunks.

What they're covered with—and how easy they are to clean—may be worth thinking about.

Ready to Leave Carpet Behind?

Gatorbak synthetic boat trailer bunk covers are designed to shed water and debris without the water-holding carpet traditionally used on trailer bunks.

Choose the right material for your hull:

Fiberglass or painted hull? Choose Gatorbak XP.

Raw, unpainted aluminum? Choose Gatorbak E Plus.

Better protection for your boat. Easier maintenance for your trailer. And one more way to make good boating habits a little easier.

Built for the boat. Built for the trailer. Built for the water we all want to protect.