Boat Bunker board installation

[poppop]

I need to replace a couple of boat trailer bunkers boards or runners. Do you use lag bolts to hold them down... or do you run carriage bolts all the way through the wood with a washer and just tighten them down enough to countersink them. Using lag bolts I can go ahead and have the carpet already installed, using carriage bolts the carpet would be after the fact. Thanks in advance for any help.

[bigfish5]

i used carriage bolts and marked and drill the runners. then installed the carriage bolts and pulled them down into the wood with washers and nuts. then filled over the heads with wood filler, glued and stapled the carpet to the runners. then bolted the runners in place. it worked great. i have not had any problems with them. i hope this helps.

[bearclaw]

Poppop,I used carriage bolts when I I had to replace mine ,that was the way it came from the factory,only thing the board was 4 1/2 wide.I used the same carpet but had to rip one inch off of a 2 x 6 so the carpet would fit right back.I took the old broke ones off measured and marked the holes,took a wood/paddle bit the size of the carriage bolt head 1 inch,and countersunk the wood bit about 1/2" or so,so the carriage bolt head would be for sure below the wood surface,then drilled the hole I think 3/8" dia. the rest of the way thru,put the carpet back on and then back on the trailor.I have a canadian made boat and trailor,it had regular white pine ,no treated stuff as the original bunk boards.I floated my boat off in the pond to do the work.I have heard folks jacking up the boat with a floor jack.