What Is The Difference Between Colours In Boat Trailer Bunks & Skids

If you visit your local boating chandlery store and ask customer service, Or visit your local boat ramp and ask other boat users what the differences are in colours when discussing boat trailer bunks or skids?

The most common reply you have likely heard in the past or will hear is that; Red is for fiberglass hulls while blue is for aluminium boat hulls.

Its only natural that people will give you this answer as in the past when we discuss colours in boat trailer parts, we are often referring to boat trailer rollers. In the past boat rollers were often identified as red being for fiberglass.

Red boat rollers are commonly manufactured out of a soft compound material known as polyurethane. Soft in nature but are still hard and durable and ideal for use with fiberglass boat hulls. Conversely, Blue boat trailer keel rollers are manufactured out of a harder Ultralene material which is designed for use with aluminium boat hulls.

Taking the above, people often give advice or comments to those asking that boat trailer skids, bunks and profiles are manufactured out of the same materials. Simply put, this information is incorrect!

When we discuss plastic boat trailer bunks, skids or other plastic profiles; the materials these boat trailer parts are made from are actually all the same. The materials used are the same as those used in the traditional blue keel rollers. With this, it is widely advised that plastic profiles should only be used with aluminium boat hulls.

What happens if you use plastic boat trailer bunks or skids with fiberglass hulls? This is a very hard questions to answer as there is no official answer to provide. The best answer we can give as to how plastic performs with fiberglass hulls actually comes down to how the trailer owner / user installs the plastic profiles to suit their boats hulls.

Plastic profiles when installed correctly for use with fiberglass hulls should allow for the boats hull to be resting on the flattest spot of the profile. This eliminates any pressure points in the plastic which is what causes any potential damage to the gel coating. It is extremely important that plastic boat trailer bunks or skids are installed correctly for use with fiberglass boats so that no damage does occur. 

In conclusion; When we often refer to boat rollers, Red rollers are for use with fiberglass hulls while blue hard rollers are for aluminium boat hulls.

For boat trailer bunks, skids or other plastic profiles; the colours do not matter. Colours only represent a visual change. Performance and the materials used are all the same. 

If you have any questions or comments in regards to the different colours used for different profiles; feel free to contact us as we are always more than happy to assist when needed.