The Boat Mill

Trailer Bunk Spacing / Support Count Calculator

Take off how many bunk supports fit along a hull support length at a chosen spacing (supports ≈ floor(L / spacing) + 1), and show the average gap.

When to use

This tool helps when you want a trailer bunk spacing / support count estimate with the assumptions written down. Enter hull support length (in), desired spacing (in), and number of bunks (rows).

Take off how many bunk supports fit along a hull support length at a chosen spacing (supports ≈ floor(L / spacing) + 1), and show the average gap.

Calculator

Length of bunk that should carry the hull (often less than full bunk board).
Center-to-center between supports.
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How this is calculated

Along one bunk, support count is floor(support_length / spacing) + 1 so both ends are covered. Actual average spacing is support_length / (count − 1). Multiply by bunk rows for a total takeoff.

supports_per_bunk = floor(L / spacing) + 1
avg_spacing = L / (supports_per_bunk − 1)
total_supports = supports_per_bunk × bunk_rows

Not a structural engineering stamp.

Worked example

Example inputs from the form defaults — Hull support length (in) = 144; Desired spacing (in) = 24; Number of bunks (rows) = 2 — are chosen to be plausible coastal/cruising figures, not your boat’s survey.

Compute with: supports_per_bunk = floor(L / spacing) + 1 avg_spacing = L / (supports_per_bunk − 1) total_supports = supports_per_bunk × bunk_rows.

When the calculator and your scratch math disagree, fix units first; the trailer bunk spacing / support count model is only as good as consistent inputs.

Limits / assumptions

This trailer bunk spacing / support count page models the arithmetic shown in the formula box only.

FAQ

Different from bunk length?

Bunk length is the board; this page spaces the vertical supports under the contact length.

What spacing is right?

Follow trailer maker guidance and hull shape. Closer spacing near the bilge can help — this tool only does the arithmetic.

Odd remainders?

floor(L/spacing)+1 may leave a shorter end bay; avg_spacing shows the even split if you redistribute.