I have a new boat & trailer on order and wanted to get advice on how to prevent rust on the trailer.
Is there something I should do from the get go help with this, some coating or something?
Thanks a lot
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Use only in fresh water, stay out of salt!
Spray or paint anything that might rust with cosmoline.
quote:
Originally posted by smanSpray or paint anything that might rust with cosmoline.
Thanks sman. So this is my first trailer with aluminum wheels and brakes. Should I spray/paint everything except the brake rotors? Anything I can do on the rotors without negatively impacting whatvtheyvarecthere for?
Thanks a lot
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I never had a boat trailer with brakes,so can’t help you there.Maybe just rinse down with fresh water when you get home.I back my trailer into a freshwater on the way home but I don’t think that’s an option for you.
quote:
Originally posted by smanI never had a boat trailer with brakes,so can’t help you there.Maybe just rinse down with fresh water when you get home.I back my trailer into a freshwater on the way home but I don’t think that’s an option for you.
Thanks, I’m gonna rig up something a a couple of sprinklers and run that under the trailer while I’m flushing the engine.
Thanks a lot.
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The sprayer underneath is a good idea, but the biggest issue is when you put in, salt will immediately start affecting anything rustable. You can rinse the salt off at home, but it’s already got a head start.
Best thing you can do to try and hold off rust is take one or two of those pump up sprayer tanks like you’d use around the house bug spraying, use those to try and spray salt off of the trailer after you put in
Run a sprinkler under you boat while on trailer after every trip. Rinse wheels/hubs as well.
Stella Blue
I mix salt away/No Salt and keep it in a sprayer in the truck. Pull it out of salt then spray it down. Supposedly it neutralizes salt and leaves a protective film. Been using it a good while and I do believe it works to some degree. Nothing can stop rust but it does seem to slow it down. Order online or get it at Bass Pro I believe. Or maybe some of the local guys have it which would be even better
Thanks a lot guys, will get some of the salt away as well.
I’m not a Dr, those are my initials and I cant edit my user name. Please do not contact me regarding medical issues
Just buy a new trailer every 4 years hahahah … boat trailers SUCK
17’ Mako //90hp Mercury
16’ Alumacraft // 20hp Yamaha
14’ War Eagle // 9.8hp Tohatsu
17’ Key West // 90hp Yamaha
I have heard it’s not recommended, but I do it anyway… remove all the lugs on the rims and coat EVERYTHING that is threaded w never seize. The first flat tire you have to fix on the side of the highway, you will be happy you did this. I even coat the surfaces of the rim that touches the hub. Had to change a tire on the way back from the keys and it made my life much easier. Also, I always ran a sprinkler under my trailer while cleaning. Just my $.02
“NICE REPORT” LIKKA LOGGA
MY HERO!!!
One other thing… change out all hardware to stainless as soon as you can, if the hardware isn’t already stainless.
“NICE REPORT” LIKKA LOGGA
MY HERO!!!
Best two pieces of advice I was ever given… crawl under trailer once a year with tub of cheap axle grease and smear it all over the axles…and when you think you have washed it down with fresh water enough wash it some more.
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz DF60
What Beaufort Boy wrote!
I slather grease on my wheels and springs as well.
Not the best look; but it works.
16’ Alumacraft Mod V Hull Jon Boat
25hp Yammy 4 stroke
Thanks a lot guys!
I’m not a Dr, those are my initials and I cant edit my user name. Please do not contact me regarding medical issues
Good quality stainless fasteners.
Marine type wheel bearing grease on all threads.
Acorn type lug nuts.
Spray bunk brackets and other magnetic fixtures with motorcycle chain wax - clings better than grease and makes fewer rainbows.
Only wrap bunks’ top & sides, leave 1" of wood sides and bottom exposed to better dry & not trap water/salt.
Make a pvc pipe H piece to attach your hose to and slowly back truck over it with water on. Several condos in Florida on the coast I have visited have under-wash with vertical pieces too so folks can rinse their vehicles when they return/leave.
Years ago when I brought my boat home from the coast I would always stop at Lake Murray and back my trailer up and down the ramp for 5 min to wash it off!
The best thing you can do is find a freshwater ramp on your route home. Dunk trailer deep and run motor/s for a few minutes.
This will do more for your trailer and motors than any treatment or spraying. You can also run the washdown pumps, leave the plug out to rinse the bilge, rinse rods and nets, etc…
Stainless Steel (Kodiak) brakes and rotors. Yes they cost money but they last and your not constantly fixing them. Worth every penny.
The other benefit is you dont have to run the motors at the house on the muffs. One less thing to do when you get home.
Charleston Trailer, advertisers here on the Boats and Motors page build a heck of a nice trailer, they swear by those kodiaks brakes; it’s all they use.
I Wish our local saltwater boat ramps would consider some type of a pull through wash or dunk tank but then again the ramps are already A cluster adding something like this I’m sure would make it even worse