Was wondering what a lot of people to do prevent rust besides a rinse down. I sprayed all of the critical areas with white lithium grease, before I dipped it in salt for the first time. Was this a good idea? Or does the salt stick to the grease and make it worse? thanks
I put grease on all of my nuts, bolts, etc… It does not prevent all rust but it does seem to slow it down.
I like to hit a fresh water landing on the way back to the house. Back it in and let it sit for a few minutes. I will usualy run the motor while there also.
Ditto with the fresh water dip. I sprayed nuts,bolts,etc on my trailer with white lithium also and it seems to have worked very well.
when i first got my trailer i loaded it up with corrosion block on all of the places that i would have trouble with rust and it works good. Then after every use i hose it down with fresh water.
I spray mine with salt away and the hose. Other than that, I like to pretend it is not rotting in the driveway as I sleep. My brakes are rusted beyond repair.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
I replaced all the bunk supports on mine 4 years ago. I sprayed all of them with rubber undercoating which seems to help. I did the same thing to the springs and they are just starting to show some rust between the individual springs. I put a good coating of grease ion the studs and lug nuts. So far the only real rust I have is on the axle which is 10 years old and will be replaced soon (after shrimp season). I think dipping it into fresh water is probably the best thing you can do overall if such a landing is available to you. Otherwise, at least rinse it off as best you can after each time out.
The real problem is that we dunk them in salt water and then park them and the sit for hours usually in he heat and the water dries leaving the salt. By the time most of us get home and rinse the trailer off, the damage is already done. I too put grease and anti-corrison agents on all the parts that need it and I have have been pretty lucky with mine, which is 11 years old. The only parts I have replaced are the leaf springs twice and the wench once. This winter I am replacing my axle, hubs, bunks and supports.Of course I have gone through about 4 sets of lights. I am getting the pipe lights soon I think.
Jack Taylor
quote:
Originally posted by Jack TaylorThe real problem is that we dunk them in salt water and then park them and the sit for hours usually in he heat and the water dries leaving the salt. By the time most of us get home and rinse the trailer off, the damage is already done. I too put grease and anti-corrison agents on all the parts that need it and I have have been pretty lucky with mine, which is 11 years old. The only parts I have replaced are the leaf springs twice and the wench once. This winter I am replacing my axle, hubs, bunks and supports.Of course I have gone through about 4 sets of lights. I am getting the pipe lights soon I think.
Jack Taylor
This is exactly right. Your trailer sitting at the ramp after you launch is when salt attacks mercilessly.
The big guy
Anyone want top start a mobile trailer washing business? Sit at the ramps and hose down trailers.
As soon as i get the boat out of the water, I try to find the nearest car wash so I can at least rinse the boat and trailer off. When we get home there’s usually a period of soaking up some A/C before I get my butt up and give the boat/trailer a wash and flush the motor. As far as the boat sitting at the landing while fishing, I’m almost tempted to bring a handheld pump sprayer to give the trailer at least a little rinse while I’m gone.Too little to late, or a viable idea?
17’ High Tide CC
60 Yamaha
Steel trailer in salt no matter what you do is limited, galvanized no matter what you do lasts a little longer, but the springs and shackles go fast, and an aluminun lasts a little longer. 
Everyone’s replies were good for helping, but in the end salt water wins! It’s just a matter of time.
Brav302 does what I do. I live near Walterboro and usually put in at Grey’s Hill or Parris Island for salt water recreation or fishing. I stop at Roadside landing(hyw 21) on the Combahee, pull the plug, back in and run the engine. I still flush and rinse when I get home though.
< Evil is simply the absence of God >
Another advantage of our neighborhood landing. When i back the boat off, whoever is pulling my truck up and parking it is instructed to stop at the top of the ramp and rinse the trailer off. I still do the lithium grease, wash it after, etc. but it doesn’t sit covered in salt water while i am out for the day.
@ Killswitch, i think anything you could do would have to help. A 3 gallon pump sprayer with fresh water or some anti corrosive mixture can’t hurt.
But like we all know and some have already said. Living at the coast we are only slowing the corrosion down not stopping it, no matter what lengths we go to.
quote:
Originally posted by Bolbie…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.
My brother-in-law Skippy says “saltwater will rust a plastic buchet” so you better use those precautions!
I clean kitchen exhaust systems for a living. We remove a lot of grease. I keep 2 five gallon buckets around at all times. I don’t have a boat but I do use the grease on my work trailer. Once this stuff goes on it doesn’t come off. Its great for leaf springs. I’ve been trying to find a use for this stuff for a while. This just might be it!